Jan. 15, 2005
Hampton, Va. - The 12th ranked Missouri wrestling team took a 31-14 victory over Cal State Bakersfield to finish third at the 25th annual Virginia Duals in the Hampton Coliseum. Big 12 opponent No. 6 Nebraska won its second consecutive Virginia Duals after holding off Indiana 25-9
With a 5-1 record in the two-day tournament, Missouri improves to 13-2 on the season. Missouri's captains had a special night on the mat, as senior Tyron Woodley earned his 100th win and sophomore Ben Askren was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler, set a new Missouri consecutive wins record and tied the current Missouri season falls record.
"I'm really pleased with the way this team was able to battle back through the consolation bracket and finish third at the Virginia Duals," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "Of course none of us, the staff or the team are fully satisfied with our performance. We expected to be in the championship dual and are definitely disappointed that we weren't able to perform as well as we know we can. It's time to go back into the room and work on our weaknesses. The conference season is only a week away and we want to be prepared for the road ahead."
A native of Hartland, Wis., the 2004 174 pound All-American Askren is a perfect 25-0 on the season, earning six of his wins at the Virginia Duals. Taking five of his six Virginia Dual victories by pin, Askren's fastest was clocked against Sean Jenkins of Rider in one minute flat. The Most Outstanding Wrestler award is voted on by all Virginia Dual participating coaches.
Askren scored his 25th win of the season by pining Jason Carrasco of Cal State Bakersfield in 2:10. The victory sets a new Missouri consecutive wins record, dropping Khris Whelan's previous 22-year old mark of 24 wins to second. Earning his win by fall, Askren is currently tied in the Tigers' record book for most falls in a season (18). Askren shares the title with 2003 heavyweight graduate Kevin Herron.
Wrestling against 15th ranked Christian Arellano of Cal State Bakersfield, Ferguson, Mo., native Woodley won his 100th career match with a 7-4 decision. To date, Woodley holds a 100-35 record. Woodley is the 11th Tiger to enter the prestigious Missouri 100 wins club and fifth to enter by decision. Missouri's last two inductees were 2004 All-Americans Kenny Burleson and Jeremy Spates.
Three Missouri wrestlers won their bouts by fall to help lock up a third place finish in the night's final dual against Cal-State Bakersfield. For the second time of the day junior Chris McCormick, ranked 12th in the nation at 133 pounds, was able to put Missouri's first points on the board. McCormick pinned Roberto Vargas in 2:01 to bring the Tigers' within four points of the Cal State Bakersfield 10 point lead.
Junior 16th ranked Cody Greene (149) helped Missouri close the team point gap with his 6-1 decision over Anthony Baza. Woodley, Askren and sophomore Matt Pell (184) followed with three consecutive falls. Out of 60 Missouri matches wrestled, the Tigers recorded 14 of their wins by fall. Blue Springs native Jeff Foust (junior at 197 pounds) managed MU's sixth win of the dual through an 11-6 decision of Ryan Bergman. With nothing to lose, true freshman Chase Wetenkamp shook hands with Roadrunner heavyweight Eric Parker. Dominating his opponent, the bandaged Wetenkamp shut out Parker with an 11-0 major decision to seal Missouri's 31-14 victory and third place finish.
Earlier in the day, Missouri battled back from a disappointing Friday afternoon loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga by taking wins over North Carolina (25-13), No. 19 Edinboro (27-12) and Rider (37-9). The four consecutive wins helped move the Tigers along the consolation bracket and into a fight for third place.
The Tigers will take on Virginia Duals Champion and Big 12 opponent Nebraska in their next home match, Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center.
Missouri over Cal State Bakersfield:31-14 Wt. Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU CSB 125 #6 Efren Ceballos (CSB) fall Tim Kephart (MU): 2:13 0 6 133 #4 Matt Sanchez major dec. #20 Tyler McCormick (MU): 15-2 0 10 141 #12 Chris McCormick (MU) fall Roberto Vargas (CSB): 2:01 6 10 149 #16 Cody Greene (MU) decision Anthony Baza: 6-1 9 10 157 #20 Brian Busby (CSB) major dec. Josh Wagner (MU): 12-0 9 14 `165 #8 Tyron Woodley (MU) decision #15 Christian Arellano (CSB): 7-4 12 14 174 #2 Ben Askren (MU) fall Jason Carrasco (CSB): 2:10 18 14 184 #9 Matt Pell (MU) fall Scott O'Rear (CSB): 2:02 24 14 197 #18 Jeff Foust (MU) decision Ryan Bergman: 11-6 27 14 HWT Chase Wetenkamp (MU) major dec. Eric Parker (CSB): 11-0 31 14Missouri over Rider: 37-9 Wt. Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU RU 125 Tim Kephart (MU) decision Ryan Smith (RU): 5-4 3 0 133 #20 Tyler McCormick (MU) maj. dec. Tim Harner (RU): 16-3 7 0 141 Don Fisch (RU) dec. #12 Chris McCormick (MU): 13-6 7 3 149 #16 Cody Greene (MU) major dec. Michael Palma (RU): 10-1 11 3 157 Rider wins by forfeit 11 9 `165 #8 Tyron Woodley (MU) fall Ryan Cunningham (RU): 6:48 17 9 174 #2 Ben Askren (MU) fall Sean Jenkins (RU): 1:00 23 9 184 #9 Matt Pell (MU) major dec. Doug Umbehauer (RU): 9-1 27 9 197 #18 Jeff Foust (MU) major dec. Jeff Black (RU): 10-2 31 9 HWT Chase Wetenkamp (MU) fall Nick Ciufo: 1:22 37 9
Missouri over Edinboro: 27-12 Wt. Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU EU 125 Tim Kephart (MU) major dec. Greg Sill (EU): 14-3 4 0 133 #1 Shawn Bunch decision #20 Tyler McCormick (MU): 8-5 4 3 141 #12 Chris McCormick (MU) decision Ron Doppelheuer (EU): 3-1 7 3 149 Josh Wagner (MU) decision Zach Plerhoples (EU): 10-9 10 3 157 #16 Cody Greene (MU) fall Hayden Harrison (EU): :52 16 3 165 #8 Tyron Woodley (MU) decision #11 Nate Yetzer (EU): 11-4 19 3 174 #2 Ben Askren (MU) major dec. Eric Ring (EU): 12-2 23 3 184 Jim Gibson (EU) decision Tristan Hansen (MU): 5-4 23 6 197 #18 Jeff Foust (MU) major dec. Mike LaBella (EU): 15-4 27 6 HWT Edinboro win by forfeit 27 12
Missouri over North Carolina: 25-13 Wt. Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU UNC 125 Bobby Shaw (UNC) dec. Tim Kephart (MU): 9-7 (OT) 0 3 133 #13 Evan Sola (UNC)dec. #20 Tyler McCormick (MU): 6-1 0 6 141 Chris McCormick (MU) dec. Isaiah Britton (UNC): 8-2 3 6 149 Chris Ramos (UNC) dec. Josh Wagner (MU): 12-0 3 10 157 Cody Greene (MU) fall KyleShelton (UNC): 4:57 9 10 165 Tyron Woodley (MU) major dec. Garrett Atkinson (UNC): 13-2 13 10 174 Ben Askren (MU) fall Alex Maciag (UNC): 3:41 19 10 184 Matt Pell (MU) dec. Justin Dobies (UNC): 4-1 22 10 197 Jeff Foust (MU) dec. David Dashiell (UNC): 3-1 25 10 HWT Spencer Nadolsky (UNC) dec. Chase Wetenkamp (MU): 7-6 25 13
Missouri Lineup and Updated Records: Season (Career) 125-Tim Kephart: 19-11 (19-11) 133-#20 Tyler McCormick: 18-10 (18-10) 141-#12 Chris McCormick: 24-6 (50-38) 141-Josh Wagner: 12-6 (12-6) 149-#16 Cody Greene: 23-4 (62-21) 157-#14 Brad Cieleski: 19-5 (19-5) 165-#8 Tyron Woodley: 27-3 (100-35) 174-#2 Ben Askren: 25-0 (57-5) 184-#9 Matt Pell: 27-4 (58-16) 184-Tristan Hansen: 11-4 (41-27) 197-#18 Jeff Foust: 22-4 (67-25) HWT-Chase Wetenkamp: 22-11 (22-11)