Dec. 31, 2004
Returning home from Ohio with a 4-0 record, the 12th-ranked Missouri wrestling team will host the first annual Missouri Duals on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, in the Hearnes Center. Teams from Utah Valley State (0-3), Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (0-2) and Maryland (0-2) will go head-to-head on the mats beginning at noon. The Tigers will find their first opponent in the Wolverines of Utah Valley State at 1:30 p.m. Immediately following the dual, Missouri will take to center circle with Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at 3 p.m., followed by the final dual of the day against ACC school Maryland at 5 p.m. All six duals will be broadcast live on Takedown Radio's (TDR) webcast at www.takedownradio.com or through Missouri's website at www.mutigers.com. TDR host Steve Foster will anchor the event along side Missouri's 2004 All-American Kenny Burleson.
In Missouri's last outing (Dec. 18-19), the Tigers scored wins over first-time opponent Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Ohio University. Adding to their 1-0 record from the Nov. 19, win over Purdue, MU stands 12th in the nation at 4-0.
Two programs competing in the Missouri Duals will be familiar opponents. In prior meetings, the Tigers have taken 17 wins over the SIUE Cougars, losing only four duals in 35 years of battle. Coaching from the Cougars corner, will be former Missouri wrestler Khris Whelan. Whelan was a two-time All-American for the Tigers and is now in his first season with the Cougars. (For more information on Whelan see Where Whelan Went on Page 4).
Missouri looks to even the score with Maryland. The Terrapins enter the event with a 1-0 lead over the Tigers. In the first and only meeting between the two programs, Maryland closed the day with a two-point lead over Missouri, 20-18 during the 1983-84 campaign.
In their second year as a Division I wrestling program, the Wolverines of Utah Valley State will open the Missouri Duals at noon against SIUE. Guided by Head Coach Cody Sanderson, Utah Valley State has already battled with one top-five program, dropping to No. 5 Iowa State 41-15, on Nov. 20.
Eight members of Missouri's starting lineup are among the top-20 in the nation at their respective weight class. Sophomore All-American Ben Askren (174) continues to hold the highest ranking of his teammates, moving to first in the Dec. 21 W.I.N. Magazine poll. Previously, Askren had held the No. 2 spot behind Big 12 opponent Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State. Also ranked in their weight class are redshirt freshman Tyler McCormick (133), junior Chris McCormick (141), senior Cody Greene (149), graduate student Brad Cieleski (157), senior Tyron Woodley (165), sophomore Matt Pell (184) and junior Jeff Foust (197).
"We're really excited to be able to provide our local fans with an amazing day of competition," Head Coach Brian Smith said.