University of Missouri
Iowa State
Third-Ranked Missouri Falls to Iowa State
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 13, 2004
University of Missouri Department of Athletics PO Box 677 n Columbia, MO n 65202 Phone: 573-884-8519 n Fax: 573-882-4720 www.mutigers.com
To: Sports Desks Date: Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 Contact: Emily Gatewood, Missouri Media Relations (wrestling) cell: 573-268-4275 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Missouri Wrestling Falls to Iowa State ...Final Score 20-15 ... Ames, Iowa - In a dual that came down to the final seconds of the final match, the third-ranked Missouri wrestling team dropped to Big 12 competitor and sixth-ranked Iowa State, 20-15.
The 7 p.m. dual opened at 125 pounds with sophomore Austin DeVoe taking on 18th-ranked Grant Nakamura of Iowa State. DeVoe scored the first takedown of the match, but Nakamura was able to land a three-point nearfall at the start of the second period. With a reversal by DeVoe, followed with an escape by Nakamura, the two closed out the second period tied at four. After an exchange of shots in the third period, Nakamura was able to get DeVoe on his back for a three-point nearfall. Totaling 10 points, Nakamura took the first decision of the dual, 10-5, giving Iowa State three team points.
True freshman Brett Watkins made his second dual appearance of the season. Wrestling at 133 pounds, the match ended with a 24-9 technical fall in favor of Iowa State's All-American and third-ranked wrestler Zach Roberson. Watkins managed nine escapes throughout the seven-minute period, while Roberson took 10 takedowns and a two-point nearfall.
2003 NCAA qualifier J.P. Reese wrestled at 141-pounds against second ranked Nate Gallick. Reese entered the match ranked 12th in the nation and the two wrestlers closed out the first period 4-1 in favor of Gallick. Reese scored the only point of the second period, with an escape at 1:31, cutting the score in half, 2-4. With riding time and an early escape, Gallick took the win, 6-2.
Taking career-win number 99, third-ranked senior Jeremy Spates met with one of the Paulson twins, fifth-ranked Trent, at 149-pounds taking the Tigers first team points of the night with a 3-2 win. Wrestling an intensive seven minutes, Spates entered the second period down by two points, but had an escape and takedown to bring his points to three. Holding onto Paulson for the final two minutes of action, Spates was able to cut Paulson's riding time down and win the match.
Senior captain Kenny Burleson, ranked as high as fifth in the nation, wrestled with Travis Paulson at 157 pounds adding three more team points with a 4-1 decision. Burleson landed the only takedown of the match at 2:03 and with an escape in the second period and 1:56 of riding time, Burleson scored his four points.
Missouri's 2003 All-American Tyron Woodley, ranked 10th at 165 pounds took his dual against seventh ranked Nick Passolano into three overtimes. Tied at four with Woodley's second period two-point nearfall and Passolano's two-point reversal, Woodley scored a third-period escape while Passolano landed a takedown in the final seconds of the third period. With 1:33 of riding time, Woodley took the match into overtime.
Wisconsin native Ben Askren (fifth-ranked) found fall number 15 on the season over Cyclone Grant Turner. After four takedowns, and with one second remaining in the first period, Askren put Turner's shoulders firmly on the mat. Askren currently leads the nation with falls on the season. Next on the mat was eighth-ranked redshirt freshman Matt Pell at 184 pounds. Wrestling against 10th-ranked Kurt Backes, Pell took an escape at 2:05, with Backes scoring his first takedown at 2:40. Opening the second period at 2-1 in favor of the Cyclones, Pell scored an early escape followed by a takedown. Backes closed the scoring gape with three escapes and a takedown. A final 1:17 of riding time put Pell on top 8-7 for the decision and gave the Tigers their first team lead of the night, 15-14.
Junior Jeff Foust lost a 6-3 battle to Trevor Smith, putting Missouri down by two team points. The full seven minute match consisted of an exchange of takedowns and escapes, with Smith getting the final escape.
Heavyweight Mike Whitehead dropped a 4-1 decision to 17th-ranked Cyclone Scott Coleman. With no score entering the second period, Whitehead deferred with Coleman chosing down. With a one point technical violation against Whitehead, Coleman added a second point with an escape at 33 seconds to enter the third at 2-0. In the end, Whitehead was only able to manage one excape, with Coleman taking a reversal with 24 seconds on the clock.
Missouri will head home to Columbia for the final two duals of the season. Wrestling against Northern Illinois on Feb. 18 at 4 p.m., the Tigers will meet with Big 12 competitor Oklahoma on Feb. 22 at noon in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
Weight Wrestler over Wrestler: Result Team Points 125 (18) Grant Nakamura (ISU) dec. Austin DeVoe (MU): 10-5 MU 0 ISU 3 133 (3) Zach Roberson (ISU) tech fall Brett Watkins (MU): 24-9 MU 0 ISU 8 141 (2) Nate Gallick (ISU) dec (12) J.P. Reese (MU): 6-2 MU 0 ISU 11 149 (3) Jeremy Spates (MU) dec (5) Trent Paulson (ISU): 3-2 MU 3 ISU 11 157 (5) Kenny Burleson (MU) dec (8) Travis Paulson (ISU): 4-1 MU 6 ISU 11 165 (7) Nick Passolano (ISU) dec (10) Tyron Woodley (MU): 5-4 (3OT) MU 6 ISU 14 174 (5) Ben Askren (MU) fall Grant Turner (ISU): 2:59 MU 12 ISU 14 184 (8) Matt Pell (MU) dec (10) Kurt Backes (ISU): 8-7 MU 15 ISU 14 197 Trevor Smith (ISU) dec (12) Jeff Foust (MU): 6-3 MU 15 ISU 17 HWT (17) Scott Coleman (ISU) dec (9) Mike Whitehead (MU): 4-1 MU 15 ISU 20
