"The three guys we have advancing to the semifinals are wrestling at a very high level and you can honestly see their focus when they step onto the mat," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "(Brad) Cieleski had a very close match today and I'm pleased with how he was able to come back and get the major decision in his final bout. I saw a lot of bright spots in our lineup today. One of those bright spots is our true freshman Chase Wetenkamp. He just gets better and better every time he gets out and wrestles."
On his way to setting a new Missouri season falls record, sophomore All-American Ben Askren (174) recorded three consecutive pins followed by a major decision in his final bout of the night. Ranked No.2 in the nation, Askren paired with Purdue's Barry Jackson for the third time of the 2004-05 season. Similar to their first meeting, Askren pinned Jackson, this time in 2:19. Askren's next bout came against Nate Rock of Buffalo, where he put his opponent on his back in 2:48, followed by a 1:14 pin on Cal Davis' Daniel Price. Askren holds a perfect 10-0 record, with nine wins coming in the form of a fall. (*Askren's one loss of the season to Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State at the Marines All Star Classic, does not count towards his official 2004-05 record). The current Missouri season falls record is set at 18 by 2003 heavyweight Kevin Herron. In his final match of the night, Askren held on for a 14-4 victory over Big 12 opponent Marc Harwood of Nebraska.
Sophomore Matt Pell (184) found his 16th win of the season against Dan Pitsch of Oregon State. Pell racked up 5:00 of riding time, making the final score 10-1. Earlier in the day, Pell helped the Tigers' overall team score, adding two technical fall wins to his name. The fifth-ranked wrestler outscored Dan Gallagher (Pennsylvania) 19-4 and Jeremy Colbert (NC State) 18-2. In his third match, Pell outpowered his opponent Webster Farris (Dana College) pinning him in 2:08.
Senior captain and All-American Tyron Woodley advanced to the semifinals at 165 pounds. Woodley scored his fifth technical fall of the season, and closed out his first match, 17-1, against Dale Seley (Montana State). Back on mat one of the 12-mat layout, Woodley dropped Leister Bowling (Dana College) in 3:46. Woodley's final bout came against Cal Poly's Brody Barrios. Ranked sixth in the nation, Woodley manhandled No. 18 Barrios, winning in a 12-1 major decision. Woodley is now 86-32 on his career, needing just 14 more wins to join the Missouri 100- win club.
Junior Chris McCormick suffered his first loss of the day in the quarterfinals of the 141 pound weight class. McCormick fell victim to No. 10 Brandon Lauer of West Virginia and was pinned in 4:32. Now 13-2 on the season, McCormick scored three of his wins on the day by decision. Opening the morning against Garrett Spooner (Fresno State), McCormick tallied 11 points through four takedowns, a two-point nearfall and 3:55 of riding time, to Spooners' four points. Back on the mat for his second bout of the morning, McCormick won a 6-3 decision against Anthony Constant (Columbia) followed with a close 4-3 defeat of Juan Mora (Cal State Fullerton) that was decided by McCormick's 1:15 of riding time.
Brad Cieleski (157) is Missouri's final remaining competitor in the consolation bracket. A graduate student, Cieleski's only loss of the day came to Keegan Mueller, 2-1, of Ohio State with his final victory recorded as a 9-0 shutout over Matt Hill of Edinboro.
The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational will resume action tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. (CT) in the Cashman Center.
125 Austin DeVoe (MU) decision Jeff Hedges (N. Idaho): 9-2 #12 Mark Moos (Michigan) decision Austin DeVoe (MU): 9-2 Robert Preston (Dana College) decision Austin DeVoe (MU): 7-2133 Tyler McCormick (MU) decision Justin Pearch (N. Idaho):2-1 #11 T.J. Enright (Ohio State) decision Tyler McCormick (MU): 3-2 Chris Bencivenga (UNC-Greensboro) decision Tyler McCormick (MU): 4-3
141 #15 Chris McCormick (MU) decision Garrett Spooner (Fresno State): 11-4 #15 Chris McCormick (MU) decision Anthony Constant (Columbia): 6-3 #15 Chris McCormick (MU) decision Juan Mora (Cal State Fullerton): 4-3 Brandon Lauer (West Virginia) fall #15 Chris McCormick (MU): 4:32
149 Daniel Cadwallader (Fresno State) fall Cody Greene (MU): 2:58 Cody Greene (MU) fall Aaron Haddorff (Augustana): 4:42 Pacifico Garcia (SF State) decision Cody Greene (MU): 8-7
157 #12 Brad Cieleski (MU) decision Mitch Webster (George Mason): 10-3 #12 Brad Cieleski (MU) decision Colton Salazar (Purdue): 9-3 Keegan Mueller (Ohio State) decision #12 Brad Cieleski (MU): 2-1 #12 Brad Cieleski (MU) decision Keith Garvin (Pittsburgh): 3-2 #12 Brad Cieleski (MU) major decision Matt Hill (Edinboro):9-0
165 #6 Tyron Woodley (MU) technical fall Dale Seley (Montana State): 17-1 (7:00) #6 Tyron Woodley (MU) fall Leister Bowling (Dana College): 3:46 #6 Tyron Woodley (MU) major decision #18 Brody Barrios (Cal Poly): 12-1
174 #2 Ben Askren (MU) fall Barry Jackson (Purdue): 2:19 #2 Ben Askren (MU) fall Nate Rock (Buffalo): 2:48 #2 Ben Askren (MU) fall Daniel Price (Cal Davis): 1:14 #2 Ben Askren (MU) major decision Marc Harwood (Nebraska): 14-4
184 #5 Matt Pell (MU) technical fall Dan Gallagher (Pennsylvania): 19-4 (6:30) #5 Matt Pell (MU) technical fall Jeremy Colbert (NC State): 18-2 (5:36) #5 Matt Pell (MU) fall Webster Farris (Dana College): 2:08 #5 Matt Pell (MU) major decision #15 Dan Pitsch (Oregon State):10-1
197 Shane Hall (Missouri Valley) decision Mark Wall (MU): 14-7 Mark Wall (MU) decision Mike Heist (Pittsburgh):2-1 Bryan Evans (VMI) decision Mark Wall (MU): 9-8
HWT #4 Greg Wagner (Michigan) fall Chase Wetenkamp (MU): 3:57 Chase Wetenkamp (MU) decision Billy Linane (Citadel): 5-3 SV Chase Wetenkamp (MU) decision Kirk Nail (Ohio State): 4-1 Chase Wetenkamp (MU) vs. Jainor Palm (NC State)
Team Standings 1. Michigan-95.5 2. Nebraska-92.5 3. Hofstra-73.5 4. Arizona State-68 5. Missouri-63