Oct. 12, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri wrestling team received its fourth top-five preseason ranking and third at the No. 3 spot as announced today by The Wrestling Mall. With Minnesota ranked No. 1 and defending National Champion Oklahoma State in the No. 2 position, the Tigers stand ahead of Big 12 opponents Iowa State (No. 4), Oklahoma (No. 9) and Nebraska (not ranked) according to The Wrestling Mall.

Four of the 10 individual Wrestling Mall weight class preseason rankings were announced and three Tigers, juniors Tim Kephart (O'Fallon, Mo.), Tyler McCormick and Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.), stand at No. 19, No. 4 and No. 16 in the nation, respectively. Over the course of the next three work days (Friday, Monday and Tuesday) two weight class rankings per day will be released on The Wrestling Mall website.

To date, eight members of Missouri's 10-man lineup are ranked in at least one of the five preseason polls that have been released. Senior Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) holds the highest ranking, at No. 1 in the nation, with McCormick and sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) both earning fourth-place recognition.