Jan. 14, 2005
Hampton, Va. - Opening the Virginia Duals against the Citadel, the 12th ranked Missouri wrestling team dominated the Bulldogs 41-3, with four MU grapplers winning their bouts by fall. The win gives the Tigers a 9-1 record and advances them to a 2 p.m. (CT) dual against Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Redshirt freshman Tim Kephart (O'Fallon, Mo.) put a quick six points on the board for the Tigers after pinning his Citadel opponent Billy Bullwinkel in 2:11. In only his third collegiate start, Kephart landed an early first period takedown and followed with a quick three-point nearfall before the eventual fall was called.
Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) was next on the mat for Missouri at 133 pounds. Winning a 6-2 decision over Mike Arils, the redshirt freshman held his opponent scoreless through two periods before giving up a reversal in the final seconds of action. McCormick is ranked 20th in the nation at 133 pounds.
Recording the teams' only technical fall win of the morning, redshirt freshman Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) took his 16-0 victory in 4:30. Wagner scored 11 points in the first period alone, earning three consecutive three-point nearfalls after an early opening seconds takedown.
Wrestling at 149 pounds, senior Cody Greene (St. Charles, Mo.) entered the dual ranked 16th in the nation and held on for a 13-6 decision over Levi Duyn. At the end of Greene's match, Missouri held a 17 point lead over the Bulldogs of the Citadel.
Senior co-captain Tyron Woodley (Ferguson, Mo.) landed his fourth fall of the season after pinning Derek Neitz in 4:23. The win gives Woodley, ranked eighth in the nation, a 23-2 season record and 96-34 career record.
Sophomore Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis) followed Woodley with Missouri's fastest pin of the dual in 1:26 over Darius Caldwell. The pin is Askren's 14th on the season and 32nd of his career. Ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation, Askren is now only five falls away from setting a new MU season falls record and three away from tying his total falls of the entire 2003-04 season.
Tristan Hansen (Carrollton, Texas) stepped into the lineup at 184 pounds for the Tigers. Paired with John Buck, Hansen scored first in his match only allowing Buck a single escape late in the third period. In the end, Hansen walked away with the 6-1 victory.
Rebounding from a tough loss against Lehigh Tuesday night, junior Jeff Foust scored his fourth fall of the season in 1:15 over Aaron Brown. Eighteenth ranked Foust wasted no time in putting Brown on his back and planting both shoulders firmly on the mat.
True freshman Chase Wetenkamp helped Missouri seal its 41-3 victory over the Citadel. Despite a third period respite for blood, Wetenkamp scrambled his way to a 6-0 shutout over senior Billy Linane and improved to 2-0 over the Citadel wrestler. Earlier in the season, the two met at the Virginia Duals, where Wetenkamp won a close 5-3 sudden victory match.
Head Coach Brian Smith and his Tigers will take on Tennessee-Chattanooga in a 2 p.m. dual in the Hampton Coliseum this afternoon. The winner will advance to the championship semifinals Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. while the loser competes at 9 a.m. in the consolation bracket. Overall, Missouri is 3-0 over the Mocs.
Wt. Wrestler over Wrestler: Result Missouri Citadel 125 Tim Kephart (MU) fall Billy Bulwinkel (Citadel): 2:11 6 0 133 Tyler McCormick (MU) decision Mike Arils (Citadel):6-2 9 0 141 Josh Wagner (MU) tech. fall Alex Piper (Citadel): 16-0, 4:30 14 0 149 Cody Greene (MU) decision Levi Duyn (Citadel):13-6 17 0 157 Travis Piccard (Citadel) decision Brad Cieleski (MU): 9-4 17 3 165 Tyron Woodley (MU) fall Derek Neitz (Citadel): 4:23 23 3 174 Ben Askren (MU) fall Darius Caldwell (Citadel): 1:26 29 3 184 Tristan Hansen (MU) decision John Buck (Citadel):6-1 32 3 197 Jeff Foust (MU) fall Aaron Brown (Citadel): 1:15 38 3 HWT Chase Wetenkamp (MU) decision Billy Linane (Citadel): 6-0 41 3Missouri Lineup and Updated Records: Season (Career) 125-Tim Kephart: 17-9 (17-9) 133-#20 Tyler McCormick: 16-7 (16-7) 141-Josh Wagner: 11-3 (11-3) 149-#16 Cody Greene: 18-4 (57-21) 157-#14 Brad Cieleski: 19-5 (19-5) 165-#8 Tyron Woodley: 23-2 (96-34) 174-#2 Ben Askren: 20-0 (52-5) 184-Tristan Hansen: 11-3 (41-26) 197-#18 Jeff Foust: 17-4 (62-25) HWT-Chase Wetenkamp: 20-10 (20-10)