University of Missouri
Oklahoma State
Missouri Wrestling Takes Second at National Duals
1/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 18, 2004
Cleveland, Ohio-- - Taking wins at 141-, 197- and heavyweight, the second-ranked Missouri wrestling team finished second to No. 1 Oklahoma State at the NWCA National Duals (24-12), Sunday in the Cleveland State Convocation Center.
Senior heavyweight Mike Whitehead (ranked ninth nationally) found Missouri's only fall of the dual, cutting the Cowboys lead in half with a fall over Willie Gruenwald in 4:32.
"Going into the dual I was confident I could pin Gruenwald," Whitehead. "He ran the first time I wrestled him and I was surprised he chose bottom. Entering the match I wanted the team score to be within five. Unfortunately, all I could do was help bring the team points to 12."
Wrestling at 141-pounds senior J.P. Reese took a 4-0 win over Ronnie Delk. With no points scored in the first or second period, Reese entered the third period down and landed an escape and takedown with one point awarded for riding time.
Sophomore Jeff Foust managed to hold onto a four point lead, bringing the Tigers to a 6-24 team score. Wrestling against Rusty Blackmon at 197-pounds, Foust had back-to-back takedowns with Blackmon only managing an escape in the first five minute of action. With riding time awarded to Foust, the Blue Springs, Mo., native recorded a 5-2 victory.
Missouri dropped two matches by a score of 4-3. Wrestling at 125-pounds sophomore Austin DeVoe fell to Cody Stites and senior Jeremy Spates suffered to Zack Esposito. Both matches ended 3-3 with one point awarded to each Cowboy for riding time.
In another close match, junior Paul Collum suffered his second loss of the season to Johnny Thompson at 133-pounds. Collum took an escape in the second period, but Thompson had a takedown and escape to close the dual at 3-1. Senior Kenny Burleson (157) also finished 3-1 to Johny Hendricks.
Junior All-American Tyron Woodley made a strong run at Tyrone Lewis in the first and second period of the match. With no points scored in the first period, Woodley had two escapes to Lewis' one takedown. Lewis was able to take the lead with a two point reversal and takedown to Woodley's one escape (6-3).
"The team took the loss pretty hard," head coach Brian Smith said. "What we need to remember is that it's only January, and there's lots of time left in the season. Besides, second place is the highest we've ever finished at the National Duals."
The Big 12 had an excellent showing at the NWCA National Duals. With Missouri and Oklahoma State finishing in second and first respectively, Oklahoma finished the tournament in fifth. Iowa State, currently ranked sixth in the nation, was 0-2. Nebraska was the only Big 12 school not to compete in the two-day duals.
Suffering their first dual loss of the season, Missouri moves to 10-1 heading into Saturday's dual against fifth- ranked Nebraska.
"We need to turn this loss around and use as fuel for fire to come back," Whitehead said. "Over the next couple of months we need to think back to this time and remember the feeling of hurt deep down."
Missouri will travel to Lincoln, Neb, to take on the Cornhuskers on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
