Dec. 21, 2006
Photo Gallery 
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 1 ranked Missouri wrestling team opened the home portion of its schedule with a 35-9 win over No. 24 Pittsburgh in the Hearnes Center. A record-setting 2,494 fans were on hand to watch as the Tigers improved to 4-0 on the season for just the 10th time in the 62-year history of the program. The previous record for attendance was set at 2,128, Jan. 22, 2006 against Oklahoma State.
Opening action at 125 pounds, redshirt freshman John Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored first with seven seconds remaining in the first period. Olanowski took his shot, then took down Panther opponent Brad Gentzle, scoring an additional three points for a nearfall called at the buzzer. In the final five minutes of competition, Olanowski managed two escapes and a single takedown for the eventual 9-3 victory.
Junior Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) got the crowd excited after scoring back-to-back three-point nearfalls to end the first period and start the second. Wagner was one of nine Missouri wrestlers to finish the first period with the lead and one of eight to hold on for the win. Helping the Tigers back from a six point deficit, Wagner won his bout against Joey Ecklof with a 16-8 major decision, putting Missouri within two points of the Panthers (9-7).
2006 NCAA qualifier sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) took Missouri ahead of Pittsburgh after recording a 15-4 major decision against Mark Generalovich. On the way to his 30th career win, Chandler notched six takedowns, the second most of the night.
All-American and co-captain Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) collected Missouri's first fall of the dual sticking Sean Richmond in 1:40. Pell was up 2-0 in the first period before pushing Richmond back from the edge of the mat and planting both shoulders down for the fall.
The No. 1 and No. 2 wrestlers at 174 pounds met at center circle for the second time this season. Defending National Champion Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) battled with No. 2 Keith Gavin and for the 11th straight match, pinned his opponent. The fall in 2:34 was Askren's second over Gavin as he dropped the Panther in 2:16 at the 25th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 3 in the semi-finals. With the win, Askren improves to 129-8 on his career and is three victories shy of setting a new Missouri career falls record. To date, Askren has notched 63 consecutive wins dating back to the start of his junior campaign.
Sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) came up with the most takedowns of the night, seven. Jordan recorded Missouri's fifth of seven extra point wins after outscoring Kyle Deliere, 17-4, at 184 pounds.
Tallying 4:14 of riding time, redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) improved to 13-0 on the season after winning a 14-2 major decision against Eric Cassidy at 197 pounds. Askren, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, collected five of his 14 points through two nearfalls. The Askren brothers are the only two members of Missouri's starting lineup to retain perfect records.
Competing in the final bout of the evening, redshirt freshman Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) gave the Tigers a 26 point lead with his 13-2 major decision over ach Sheaffer.
In Missouri's only other dual of the evening between ranked opponents, junior All-American Tyler McCormick, currently No. 10 at 133 pounds, suffered a fall in 3:52 by eighth-ranked Drew Headlee. The loss was only McCormick's fourth of the season.
The No. 1 Missouri wrestling team will travel to Greensboro, N.C. for the Southern Scuffle, Dec. 29-30. Missouri's next home dual will be Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. (CT) against Nebraska.
