University of Missouri
Penn State
Missouri Wrestling Heads into Championship Round at National Duals
1/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 17, 2004
Day One Bracket
Jan. 17, 2004
Jan. 17, 2004
Cleveland, Ohio-The second-ranked Missouri wrestling team was 3-0 on the day, opening with a 29-3 win over No. 24 Michigan State, followed by a 19-16 victory over seventh-ranked Hofstra. In their third and final matchup of the day, second-seeded Missouri met with 11th-ranked Penn State in a 23-16 catfight at the Cleveland State Convocation Center. The final win of the night, helps Missouri improve to a 10-0 season record. Missouri will meet Big 12 competitor Oklahoma State for the second time of the season at 2 p.m. CT on mat two.
The day began at 10 a.m. CT as Missouri won nine of its 10 matches against No. 24 Michigan State. Competing against his alma mater, Smith led his team to a 29-3 victory with senior captains Jeremy Spates (149) and Kenny Burleson (157) earning major decisions at their respective weights. Senior J.P. Reese suffered his sixth loss of the season in a 7-5 decision to ninth-ranked Andy Simmons. Wrestling at 165-pounds, redshirt freshman Gabe Conaghan took a win over Mike Escobedo (7-3) improving to a 17-10 career-record.
In a close dual that found Missouri taking a 19-16 win over seventh-ranked Hofstra, the Tigers managed wins at 141-, 149-, 157-, 174-, 184- and heavyweight. The Pride of Hofstra jumped to an early 6-0 lead as sophomore Austin DeVoe suffered his first loss of the day to Tom Noto (10-4). Ricky LaForge also found a decision over junior Paul Collum (4-2) Returning from his loss against Simmons, Reese took the center circle with renewed intensity handing John Manarte a 10-4 loss and the Tigers their first team points.
With the score at 16-13 in favor of Missouri, senior Mike Whitehead stepped up to the challenge of taking Missouri into its third championship dual of the day. Wrestling against Dan Garay the two were scoreless through the second period. With two minutes on the clock, Whitehead scored two escapes and a takedown, and was awarded one point for riding time and one point for mat misconduct. In a final 6-0 score, Whitehead's decision was enough to keep Missouri on top, 19-13. The victory was the first that Missouri earned with its compete starting lineup.
The close win advanced Missouri to the semi-finals against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Two pins, scored by Reese and Burleson, helped secure the Tiger win. With his fall over DeWitt Driscal, Reese improves to 44 career-falls and 12 falls on the season, the highest of any MU wrestler this season. Burleson's fall in 52 seconds over James Woodall gave him his eighth fall of the season, a season high for the Neosho, Mo, native.
"We wrestled a little flat in our first two duals of the day," head coach Brian Smith said. "I have to admit I was a little worried heading into the final dual against Penn State. But, before we went in, I sat down with the team to help settle them and get them ready. Everyone on the team was fired up heading out to the mat. And you could tell by watching each match that we were out there giving all we could. We tapered off a little bit in the end, which is something we can't let happen tomorrow. Oklahoma State is going to be gunning for us after we took the win from them in late November. It should really be an intense matchup between two good programs."
Missouri defeated Oklahoma State in its first dual of the season on Nov. 21. With the all-time record at 1-29, the Tigers
#2 Missouri over #24 Michigan State: 29-3 Weight/Wrestler over Wrestler/Score Team Points 125-Austin DeVoe (MU) decision Craig Trombley (MSU): 8-2 MU 3 MSU 0 133-Paul Collum (MU) decision Tony Greathouse (MSU): 9-3 MU 6 MSU 0 141-Andy Simmons (MSU) decision J.P. Reese (MU): 7-5 MU 6 MSU 3 149-Jeremy Spates (MU) major decision Ryan L'Amoreaux (MSU): 11-8 MU 10 MSU 3 157-Kenny Burleson (MU) major decision Arsen Aleksanyan (MSU): 11-1 MU 14 MSU 3 165-Gabe Conaghan (MU) decision Mike Escobedo (MSU): 7-3 MU 17 MSU 3 174-Ben Askren (MU) decision Anton Hall (MSU): 8-5 MU 20 MSU 3 184-Matt Pell (MU) decision Nate Mesyn (MSU) 2-1 MU 23 MSU 3 197-Jeff Foust decision Alex Clemens (MSU): 4-1 MU 26 MSU 3 HWT-Mike Whitehead (MU) decision Michael Keenan (MSU): 8-1 MU 29 MSU 3#2 Missouri over #7 Hofstra: 19-13 Weight/Wrestler over Wrestler/Score Team Points 125-Tom Noto (Hofstra) decision Austin DeVoe (MU): 10-4 MU 0 Hofstra 3 133-Ricky LaForge (Hofstra) decision Paul Collum (MU): 4-2 MU 0 Hofstra 6 141-J.P. Reese (MU) decision John Manarte (Hofstra): 10-4 MU 3 Hofstra 6 149-Jeremy Spates (MU) major decision Chris Vondruska (Hofstra): 13-5 MU 7 Hofstra 6 157-Kenny Burleson (MU) decision Paul Siemon (Hofstra): 3-2 MU 10 Hofstra 6 165-Ralph Everett (Hofstra) decision Tyron Woodley(MU): 4-1 MU 10 Hofstra 9 174-Ben Askren (MU) decision Noel Thompson (Hofstra): 9-3 MU 13 Hofstra 9 184-Matt Pell (MU) decision Brad Christie (Hofstra): 6-4 MU 16 Hofstra 9 197-Chris Skretkowicz (Hofstra) major decision Jeff Foust (MU): 8-0 MU 16 Hofstra 13 HWT-Mike Whitehead (MU) decision Dan Garay (Hofstra): 6-0 MU 19 Hofstra 13
#2 Missouri #11 Penn State: 23-16 Weight/Wrestler over Wrestler/Score Team Points 125-Adam Smith (PSU) decision Austin DeVoe (MU): 4-6 OT MU 0 PSU 3 133-Paul Collum (MU) decision Josh Moore (PSU): 14-10 MU 3 PSU 3 141-J.P. Reese (MU) fall Dewitt Driscol (PSU): 4:48 MU 9 PSU 3 149-Matt Sturniolo (PSU) decision Jeremy Spates (MU):5-6 MU 9 PSU 6 157-Kenny Burleson (MU) fall James Woodall (PSU): 52 MU 15 PSU 6 165-Tyron Woodley (MU) tech fall Jared Turner (PSU): 3:17 MU 20 PSU 6 174-Ben Askren (MU) decision James Yonushonis (PSU): 4-0 MU 23 PSU 6 184-Eric Bradley (PSU) decision Matt Pell (MU): 3-7 MU 23 PSU 9 197-Joel Edwards (PSU) decision Jeff Foust (MU): 3-4 MU 23 PSU 12 HWT-Pat Cummins (PSU) major decision Mike Whitehead (MU) 14-3 MU 23 PSU 16
