Feb. 15, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - Junior Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for the week of Feb. 13. Ranked No. 5 in the nation at 165 pounds, Pell defeated No. 9 Travis Paulson of Iowa State with a 6-2 decision in the No. 10 Tiger's upset of No. 7 Iowa State Feb. 12.

A 2005 All-American at 184 pounds, Pell has returned to his natural weight class this season and been one of Missouri's steadiest performers. The junior has compiled a 27-3 record this year, earning an 11-3 mark against ranked opponents. A dominant force in tournament competition, Pell won the 165-pound title Nov. 20 at the Missouri Open and took first place at the Southern Scuffle Dec. 29-30, one of the most prestigious individual tournaments in the country. Pell also finished second at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 2-3.

The Missouri wrestling team concludes its regular-season schedule this weekend with a pair of duals in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Tigers open competition against Chattanooga at 12:30 p.m. CST, then square off against UNC-Greensboro at 2:30 p.m. CST