University of Missouri
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Session II
Ben Askren Claims Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Title
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 4, 2004
Las Vegas, Nev. - Sophomore wrestler Ben Askren ended the two-day Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with a championship title at 174 pounds in the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, with three other Tigers finishing in the top-eight of their respective weight class. The 11th ranked Missouri wrestling team totaled 90.5 points for a sixth place finish. Michigan won the tournament team title, Nebraska came in second, followed by Hofstra in third.
All-American captain Askren was the only Tiger to advance to the championship finals. Askren took on Hofstra's Paul Siemon in center circle and controlled his opponent for a 20-5 technical fall. Askren, the 2003 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational runner up, totaled eight takedowns in his bout and freely gave up five points by escape to Siemon. Opening his morning with a 17-5 major decision over Eric Ring of Edinboro, Askren scored six back points, two takedowns, a two-point reversal, three escapes, a point for riding time and one point due to a technical violation after Ring locked hands. With tonight's win, Askren improves to 12-0 on the season and becomes the only unbeaten MU starter this 2004-05 campaign.
Forced into the 165 pound consolation bracket after suffering a 3-1 loss to #5 Ryan Churella in the morning session, sixth-ranked Tyron Woodley went into an incredible seven overtime battle with Big 12 opponent Jacob Klein of Nebraska. After 12 minutes of wrestling, Klein managed an escape with 18 seconds left on the clock to win the hard-fought match. The two wrestlers were scoreless through the first two periods, when Klein was awarded a technical violation point after Woodley locked hands. Woodley returned with a takedown late in the third period, allowing Klein a one point escape. Woodley's riding time assured him a trip to overtime, where the two went through six scoreless periods.
Sophomore Matt Pell (No. 5, 184) fell victim to #13 C.B. Dolloway of Arizona State, 10-8 in a sudden victory match. Pell's loss placed him into a match with #11 Tyler Baier (Cornell), where he dropped his second straight bout, 3-1. Pell's day came to an end with a fifth place finish after Tom Meester (Augustana) turned in a medical forfeit.
Junior Chris McCormick got things started on a strong note for the Tigers at 141 pounds. Wrestling in his first match of the consolation bracket, the 15th-ranked wrestler outscored No. 19 Rene Hernandez (Purdue) 4-2. McCormick found his next competition in Donald Lockett (San Francisco State). Unfortunately he couldn't hold onto the momentum and lost the bout 4-3. McCormick finished the Invitational in seventh place after taking a 6-2 decision from Kortney Lake of Adams State.
Graduate student Brad Cieleski (No. 15) saw his chance at a tournament title come to an end after suffering a 7-2 loss to Tyler Turner of Wisconsin. Unable to put up points until the second period, Cieleski managed one takedown on the day.
The Tigers will resume action on Saturday, Dec. 18, in Columbus, Ohio as they take on both Ohio State and Virginia Tech in a triangular beginning at Noon. The following day, Missouri will travel to Athens, Ohio for a dual against the Bobcats of the University of Ohio.
141-Chris McCormick:7th 165-Tyron Woodley: 174-Ben Askren: 184-Matt Pell: 5th**December 4 Results** 141-Chris McCormick-Season Record: 15-3 Overall Record: 41-35 #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 #10 Brandon Lauer (West Virginia) fall #15 Chris McCormick (MU): 4:32 #15 Chris McCormick (MU) decision #19 Rene Hernandez (Purdue): 9-2
157-Brad Cieleski-Season Record: 12-4 Overall Record: 12-4 #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 Tyler Turner (Wisconsin) decision #12 Brad Cieleski (MU): 7-2
165-Tyron Woodley - Season Record: 14-2 Overall Record: 87-34 #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 #5 Ryan Churella (Michigan)decision #6 Tyron Woodley (MU): 3-1 #6 Tyron Woodley major decision Christian Arellano (Cal State Bakersfield):11-3 #4 Jacob Klein (Nebraska) decision #6 Tyron Woodley:4-3 (7OT)
174-Ben Askren - Season Record: 12-0 Overall Record: 44-5 #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 #2 Ben Askren (MU) major decision Eric Ring (Edinboro): 17-5 #2 Ben Askren technical fall Paul Siemon (Hofstra): 20-5
184 - Matt Pell Season Record: 17-2 Overall Record: 48-15 #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 #13 C.B. Dalloway (Arizona State)decision #5 Matt Pell (MU): 10-8 sv #11 Tyler Baier (Cornell) decision #5 Matt Pell (MU): 3-1 #5 Matt Pell (MU) medical forfeit Tom Meester (Augustana)
