University of Missouri
Purdue
No. 10 Missouri Wrestling Takes First Dual Win of Season
11/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 19, 2004
St. Louis, Mo. - Ranked 10th in the nation, the Missouri wrestling team earned its first win of the season, 25-10 over No. 19 Purdue in the Meramec College Gymnasium in St. Louis. A dual season-opener for both teams, the Tigers notched their third consecutive victory over the Boilermakers in four years with bonus point wins from sophomores Ben Askren (fall, 2:38) and Matt Pell (major decision, 13-5).
"The win tonight is a good way to start off our season," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "I'm pleased with the way some of our wrestlers came through tonight. Now, we just have to go back to the practice room and continue to improve and make adjustments for the rest of the season."
Ranked second in the nation at 174 pounds sophomore Ben Askren recorded his sixth consecutive fall of the season, putting Purdue's Barry Jackson on his back in 2:38. Prior to the fall, Askren had scored a takedown and two, three-point nearfalls.
In the only matchup to feature two, top-10 wrestlers, No. 5 sophomore Matt Pell held off No. 7 Ben Wissel with a 13-5 major decision by scoring a two-point takedown on the edge of the mat in the final seconds of the third period. With the major decision, the Tigers increased their team lead by 15 points.
Opening the night at 125 pounds, junior Austin DeVoe got things rolling for the Tigers with an 8-2 decision over Purdue's Brandon Tucker. While Tucker scored the first points of the match with an early first period takedown, DeVoe went on a run, scoring six unanswered points, while accumulating 2:18 seconds of riding time.
Bringing Missouri's next team points to the board was junior Chris McCormick. Battling with Ben Sprunger at 141 pounds, the match was decided in the final seconds of action with McCormick recording back-to-back takedowns for the 11-6 victory. McCormick racked up 1:42 seconds of riding time in his first collegiate dual since the 2002-03 season when he wrestled at 133 pounds.
Heading into triple overtime at 157 pounds, Missouri graduate student Brad Cieleski (No. 14) and Boilermaker Daniel Bedoy exchanged shots through nine minutes of competition. With over 1,000 fans cheering them on, Cieleski scored an escape in the second period, with Bedoy rebounding with an escape of his own early in the third. Neither wrestler was able to score in the first minute of overtime and BeDoy chose down for the first 30 second overtime. Cieleski was able to hold on for a full 30 seconds of riding time and scored a reversal within seconds of the whistle in the third OT. At the end of the match, Cieleski walked away with the 3-1 win.
Senior Tyron Woodley (No. 6) continued the Tigers' win streak with a 4-0 shutout over John DeCeault at 165 pounds. Scoreless through the first period, Woodley managed an escape and takedown in the second and added 3:28 of riding time for his four points.
With the team score at 22-7, junior 2004 Big 12 Champion Jeff Foust recorded a 7-2 decision over Nathan Moore to give the Tigers their final points of the night.
"The crowd tonight was great," Smith said. "They all really got into the matches and I think it helped our team charge through the dual. I'm constantly amazed at the support that our fans across the nation provide for us. The entire coaching staff and team is truly grateful."
The Tigers will travel back to Columbia, Mo., to host the fifth annual Missouri Open, Sunday, Nov. 21, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Hearnes Fieldhouse. Over 400 wrestlers are expected to attend the all-day event with several of the nation's top Division I student-athletes vying for a chance at the Missouri Open title.
Weight-Wrestler over Wrestler Purdue Missouri 125-Austin DeVoe decision. Brandon Tucker: 8-2 0 3 133- No. 2 Chris Fleeger major decision Tyler McCormick:14-2 4 3 141-Chris McCormick decision Ben Sprunger: 11-6 4 6 149- No. 15 Doug Withstandley decision Justin Cole: 5-3 7 6 157- No. 14 Brad Cieleski decision Daniel Bedoy: 3-1 (triple OT) 7 9 165-No. 6Tyron Woodley decision John DeCeault: 4-0 7 12 174-No. 2 Ben Askren fall Barry Jackson: 2:28 7 18 184-No. 5 Matt Pell major decision No. 7 Ben Wissel: 7 22 197-No. 12 Jeff Foust decision Nathan Moore: 7-2 7 25 HWT- Jake O'Brien decision Chase Wetenkamp: 8-4 10 25
