Dec. 27, 2005

Columbia, Mo. - The No. 11 Missouri wrestling squad finishes off the calendar year by traveling to Greensboro, N.C., to compete in the Southern Scuffle. Held at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center Dec. 29-30, the tournament boasts six nationally ranked teams and 58 individuals ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes.

Head Coach Brian Smith last led the Tigers into action at the Southern Scuffle in 2003, a year in which Missouri wrestlers dominated the competition. Taking home four individual titles, Missouri also finished atop the podium as the top team among the brackets.

One individual champion of the 2003 Southern Scuffle still compete in a Tigers singlet. Junior Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.), ranked No. 1 in the nation at 174 pounds, enters the bracket the highest-ranked wrestler in the tournament. Askren won the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2003 as a redshirt freshman, pinning three opponents on the way to the title. Bearing a 19-0 record heading into the two-day competition, Askren looks to continue a dominating season in which 15 of his victories have come by fall.

Two current Tigers posted second-place finishes in 2003. Junior Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) enters the weekend with a 12-1 record, his only loss coming in the finals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 3, to No. 3 Ryan Churella of Michigan. Grappling at 165 pounds, Pell faces a tough field including No. 2 Troy Letters of Lehigh, a national champion in 2004.

The other current student-athlete to finish second in 2003, senior Jeff Foust (Blue Springs, Mo.) returns to the lineup after battling an injury throughout the month of December. 7-2 on the season, Foust looks to regain top form in North Carolina.

Coverage of Missouri wrestlers will be released on mutigers.com following each session. In addition to results, a live webcast will be available for both days of competition. To purchase the webcast, click on the Spartan All-Access Logo at either UNCGSpartans.com or SouthernScuffle.com.