University of Missouri
Lindenwood
Missouri Wrestling Dominates Dual
1/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 30, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - With the help of seven falls and a technical fall, the fourth-ranked Missouri Tigers defeated third-ranked (NAIA) Lindenwood in their third home dual of the season 44-9 in front of a crowd of 564 fans in the Hearnes Center Arena.
"Tonight's dual was good for our team," head coach Brian Smith said. "We were able to wrestle some of our younger guys and get them some valuable experience. Overall, I'm pleased with the way they performed. I was really excited to look out in the crowd tonight and see some new faces. Hopefully we were able to give the fans a glimpse of what this team is truly capable of achieving by the end of the season."
The most falls in a dual under head coach Brian Smith's six years of coaching at Missouri, sophomore Austin DeVoe (125) opened the evening for the Tigers at 125-pounds. Wrestling against Andrew Bradbury of Lindenwood, Bradbury took the first takedown, with DeVoe managing an escape in the first period. 1:22 seconds into the second period, DeVoe found what he needed to get Bradbury on his back, pinning him in 3:38. The fall is DeVoe's third of the season.
After a forfeit at 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Amond Prater made his first dual debut of the season against Leo Martinez. With two takedowns to Martinez's name, Prater managed one escape to end the first period at 4-1. Exchanging shots throughout the final four minutes of competition, Martinez secured a 13-7 decision to put the Lindenwood Lions ahead in the team points, 9-6.
Lindenwood's lead would not last long as senior J.P. Reese took career fall number 45 over Josh Brining. Wrestling for the first time of his collegiate career at 149-pounds, Reese held Brining down in the third period, and managed a fall in 5:28. Now at 12 falls on the season, Reese is only seven pins shy of breaking former heavyweight Kevin Herron's record falls in a season at 18.
Next up for the Tigers was senior captain Kenny Burleson at 157 pounds. Burleson entered the dual against Nathan Martinez with a season-high five falls on the season. Only 1:15 into the match, Burleson was able to add one more pin to the list, bringing the Missouri score to 18-9, and Burleson's career record to 108-32. Burleson's fall would prove to be the fastest of the night, and third fastest of his 2003 campaign.
Redshirt freshman Gabe Conaghan took a rotation into Missouri's lineup at 165-pounds against Corey Johnson. With no score at the end of three minutes, Conaghan started the second period with an escape, followed with a takedown and three-point near fall. Johnson was able to counter with a two-point reversal ending period two with the score at 6-2. Holding onto his lead, Conaghan came out on the winning side, earning a 7-3 decision that helped Missouri to three team points (21-9).
Wisconsin native Ben Askren took center circle as the pins leader in the nation at 174 pounds. In a rapid exchange of takedowns and escapes, Askren was able to make his move on Bunch landing a fall in 2:21. The pin was Askren's 11th of the season, but far from his fastest, which came at 32 seconds at the Missouri Open on Nov. 23 (Kiel Griese, Missouri Valley).
Junior J.C. Russell wore a Missouri gold singlet for his 16th dual of the season. Taking win number eight in the form of a fall over James Bunch (1:39), Russell improved to .500 on the season, breaking a three match losing streak.
Blue Springs, Mo., native junior Jeff Foust brought the Tigers team points to 38 with a technical fall over David Bonilla. His second of the season, Foust closed the match to the sound of the second period buzzer in a 17-2 score.
Bouncing back from last weekend's upset by Nathan McClain of Nebraska, senior heavyweight Mike Whitehead took season win No. 18 over Lindenwood's Roger Miller. Whitehead opened period three with a 3-1 lead over Miller, putting him on his back and scoring a fall in 6:14.
The 44-9 win brings Missouri's season record to 11-2 as they prepare to compete against Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
"Our next several matches are really important in helping us prepare and work back toward our last two Big 12 Conference duals as well as the Big 12 Championships and NCAA Championships."
Senior Jeremy Spates will represent Missouri as he competes in the NWCA All-Star Competition Monday, Feb. 2, in Cedar Falls Iowa. Wrestling against Cornell's third-ranked David Monotti at 149 pounds, fourth-ranked Spates hopes to bring his career-win total to 99 wins.
Weight-Wrestler over Wrestler-Score Team Score
125-Austin DeVoe (MU) fall Andrew Bradbury (LU)- 3:38 MU 6 LU 0
133-Louis Edmonds (LU) wins by forfeit MU 6 LU 6
141-Leo Martinez (LU) decision Amond Prater (MU)-13-7 MU 6 LU 9
149-J.P. Reese (MU) fall Josh Brining (LU)-5:28 MU 12 LU 9
157-Kenny Burleson (MU) fall Nathan Martinez (LU)-1:15 MU 18 LU 9
165-Gabe Conaghan (MU) decision Corey Johnson (LU)-7-3 MU 21 LU 9
174-Ben Askren (MU) fall over James Bunch (LU)-2:21 MU 27 LU 9
184-J.C. Russell (MU) fall over Greg Burke (LU)-1:39 MU 33 LU 9
197-Jeff Foust (MU) technical fall David Bonilla (LU)-5:00 17-2 MU 38 LU 9
HWT-Mike Whitehead (MU) fall Roger Miller (LU)-6:14 MU 44 LU 9
