Nov. 5, 2006
Photo Gallery 
Columbia, Mo. - Ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Missouri wrestling team held its annual Black and Gold wrestle-offs in the Hearnes Center, with Gold winning, 26-23. Of the day's 13 matches, four were decided by extra point wins.
Seniors Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) and Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) recorded back-to-back technical fall victories at 165- and 174-pounds, respectively. Pell, wrestling for the Black team, scored first, taking down freshman Josh Skurnik (Kirkland, Wash.) 10 seconds into the match. Skurnik managed all four of his points through escapes, while Pell tallied 1:40 of riding time for the 21-4 win.
Askren, a three-time All-American and 2006 National Champion, shut down sophomore Joey Garrity (Orion, Ill.) 4:09 into the bout with a 21-5 technical fall victory. Askren collected six takedowns and 2:19 of riding time helping the Gold team to a 23-14 lead after 10 matches on the single mat layout.
Junior All-American Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.), also wrestling for the Gold team, came up with the first pin of the day after dropping newcomer Willie Saxton (Rayland, Ohio) in 2:49.
"The Black and Gold wrestle-offs are great for the team," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "They provide the team with experience early in the season of wrestling in front of fans, with actual referees. I was pleased with how each of the guys performed."
Three weight classes, 125-, 141-, and 149-pounds held multiple matches. Freshman Tony Pescaglia (Columbia, Mo.) held off Nick Velliquette (Nixa, Mo.), 4-2, to advance to a "championship" match with redshirt freshman John Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.). Olanowski won his match against Hickman graduate Pescaglia, 3-0.
Senior Amond Prater (Marietta, Ga.) won both of his contests at 141-pounds. First up, Prater held off freshman Ashtin Primus (South Connelsville, Penn.) with a one point win, 4-3, later winning 4-2 against sophomore Marcus Hoehn (Farmington, Mo.). Hoehn wrestled in the final match of the afternoon, but was pinned in 4:21 by Primus.
Wrestling at 149-pounds, redshirt freshman Dane Espinosa (Neosho, Mo.) won an 8-7 decision over sophomore Andrew Sherry (Sewickley, Penn.) advancing into a match against junior Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.). Wagner won, 7-1, through two takedowns, a reversal and 5:50 of riding time.
The third-ranked Missouri wrestling team will open its season Thursday, Nov. 16 against No. 10 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in St. John Arena before returning home for the sixth annual Missouri Open, Sunday, Nov. 19, beginning at 9 a.m. (CT) in the Fieldhouse.
WT Wrestler vs. Wrestler: Result Black Gold
125 Tony Pescaglia (BLACK) decision Nick Velliquette (GOLD): 4-2 3 0
141 Amond Prater (GOLD) decision Ashtin Primus (BLACK): 4-3 3 3
149 Dane Espinosa (GOLD) decision Andrew Sherry (BLACK): 8-7 3 6
125 John Olanowski (GOLD) decision Tony Pescaglia (BLACK) 3-0 3 9
133 Tyler McCormick (GOLD) fall Willie Saxton (BLACK): 2:49 3 15
141 Amond Prater (BLACK) decision Marcus Hoehn (GOLD): 4-2 6 15
149 Josh Wagner (GOLD) decision Dane Espinosa (BLACK): 7-1 6 18
157 Michael Chandler (BACK) decision Nick Marable (GOLD): 4-2 9 18
165 Matt Pell (BLACK) technical fall Josh Skurnik (GOLD): 21-4 (2:49) 14 18
174 Ben Askren (GOLD) technical fall Joey Garrity (BLACK): 21-5 (4:09) 14 23
184/97 Raymond Jordan (GOLD) decision Maxwell Askren (BLACK): 4-3 14 26
HWT Mark Ellis (BLACK) decision Sean Connole (GOLD): 6-0 17 26
141 Ashtin Primus (BLACK) fall Marcus Hoehn (GOLD) 4:21 23 26
