Oct. 13, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith announced today that the annual pre-season Black and Gold wrestle-off's will be held Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. Ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation by several wrestling polls, the wrestle-off's will provide fans with their first glimpse of the Tiger team. Admission to the event is free.

As many as eight members of Missouri's 10-man lineup are ranked among the top-20 in the nation of their respective weight class. Senior 2006 National Champion and three-time All-American Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) leads the team with the highest ranking, No. 1, at 174-pounds. Fellow All-Americans, junior Tyler McCormick (133-pounds, Leawood, Kan.) and senior Matt Pell (165-pounds, Luxemburg, Wis.) are ranked as high as fourth and fifth, respectively. Sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) and redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) also hold top-10 rankings with Jordan standing as high as No. 4 at 184-pounds and Askren slotted at No. 9 at 197-pounds.

The annual Black and Gold wrestle-off's also provide Tiger fans with the opportunity to see the 12 newest members of the Missouri team. Sophomore Emanuel Brooks (Cahokia, Ill.), a transfer from Lincoln College, is expected to make a bid for the starting spot at 157-pounds and will likely challenge returning NCAA qualifier and 11th-ranked sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.).

ALSO OF NOTE: The third-ranked Tiger wrestling team will host a youth clinic Saturday, Oct. 14, beginning at 10 a.m., (CT) in the Missouri Wrestling Room (located on the fourth floor of the Hearnes Center). A registration fee of $40, which includes the clinic, lunch and a t-shirt, will be collected Saturday morning in the wrestling room. For more information or to complete the registration form please CLICK HERE .

-MU-