June 8, 2005

Intermat named the incoming 2005-06 Missouri wrestling class the 19th-best in the nation as announced today by Head Coach Brian Smith. The nationally recognized website places the Tigers fourth in the Big 12 Conference, arguably one of the most competitive leagues in the country.

Missouri natives Dane Espinosa (Neosho), Brian Sanguinet (Wildwood), Nathan Hewitt (St. Charles), and Bobby Conn (Ballwin), join six out-of-state recruits that make up the 10-member class. Max Askren comes to Columbia from Hartland, Wis., joining his brother Ben, a two-time All-American, while Ryan Sonderegger of Shawnee Mission, Kan., looks to continue a family tradition at MU, where his father, Jon, was a Big 12 Champion and an All-American in 1984.

Rounding out the class are Nick Marable of Memphis, Tenn., and two Virginia grapplers, Johnny Olanowski of Virginia Beach and Dirk Hurrin of Alexandria, as well as Erie, Penn. wrestler Sean Connole.

The Tigers closed the 2004-05 season with an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Division I Championships in March. It marked Missouri's highest team finish in 20 years and was an improvement from the 13th place finish recorded one year prior. Two All-Americans, Askren and Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) are returning for the upcoming campaign.