Dec. 30, 2006
Greensboro, N.C. - The top-ranked Missouri wrestling team earned its second Southern Scuffle title in four years today after collecting 179.5 points to pull ahead of second-ranked Minnesota with 176. Senior defending National Champion Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) claimed his third Southern Scuffle Most Outstanding Wrestler award after pinning all five of his opponents within the first period of action. Askren and brother Maxwell Askren, a redshirt freshman, claimed individual titles at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively. Eight Tiger wrestlers finished among the top four of their weight class, with sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) taking second at 184 pounds after being sidelined out by injury.
Missouri's freshmen made a significant contribution to the Tiger's overall point total. Redshirt freshman John Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) came up with a fourth place finish at 125 pounds after advancing through the consolation bracket while true freshman Ashtin Primus (South Connelsville, Penn.) took third at 141 pounds and finished the tournament with a 6-1 record that included four wins by fall. Teammate Nicholas Marable (Collerisville, Tenn.) also took third in his weight class, 165 pounds. Marable wrestled in 10 bouts throughout the two-day tournament and wrapped up the evening with three straight wins over top-20 ranked opponents. After losing to Keegan Mueller of UNC in a 5-4 sudden victory second round match, Marable advanced through the consolation bracket and took third place after holding off Mueller in a rematch, 3-2. No. 1 ranked Maxwell Askren capped off his time in the tournament by sticking sixth-ranked J.D. Bergman of Ohio State in 5:48 in the title bout at 197 pounds. The meeting between the two grapplers was the second of the season and marked Askren's second win over the All-American.
Junior Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) and sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) both finished fourth at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively. In his final match of the day, Wagner paired with third-ranked Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro and the two scored a combined 28 points through seven minutes of action. After exchanging shots and points, Gillespie came back for the 17-11 win, handing Wagner the fourth place finish.
Ben Askren rewrote the Missouri record books earning his 134th career victory and surpassing the former career wins mark of 131 held by former Tiger standout Wes Roper (1978-82). Taking on No. 9 Matt Stolpinski of Navy in the title bout, Askren recorded his fifth win of the tournament by fall in a time of 1:14, his second fastest fall of the tournament. Askren, ranked No. 1 in the nation at 174 pounds, has won 68 consecutive matches dating back to the start of his junior campaign (23 this season) and has tallied 83 wins by fall during his four-year career.
"Today's win was really a team effort," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "To be in fourth place entering the second day of the tournament and to be able to pull ahead of a strong Minnesota team in the final few matches of the day says a lot about the character and strength of our team. We had a lot of younger guys stepping up and making statements with their wins. It was fun to watch and I'm pleased with the effort of our team."
John Olanowski-125 (5-2) FOURTH PLACE
#18 John Olanowski (MU) fall Brody Essick (Appalachian St): 1:18
#18 John Olanowski (MU) decision Jeff Hedges (UNCG): 9-7 TB
Quarterfinals: #2 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) decision #18 John Olanowski (MU): 9-2
Consolation: #18 John Olanowski (MU) major decision Kyle Hutter (ODU): 8-0
Consolation: #18 John Olanowski (MU) decision Shawn Cordell (UTC): 7-3, SV
Consolation: #18 John Olanowski (MU) decision Javier Maldonado (UTC): 4-2
Fourth Place: #9 Jayson Ness (Minnesota) fall #18 John Olanowski (MU): 2:43
Tim Kephart-125 (2-2)
Nicholas Hyatt (Lock Haven) fall Tim Kephart (MU): 4:34
Consolation: Tim Kephart (MU) major decision Joe Coughlin (George Mason): 12-1
Consolation: Tim Kephart (MU) fall Will Livingston (Ohio State): 1:52
Consolation Alex Ustics (Navy) fall Tim Kephart (MU): 1:49
Willie Saxton-133 (2-2)-OUT OF TOURNAMENT
Willie Saxton (MU-unat) decision Matt Smith (Ohio): 4-3
#8 Drew Headlee (Pittsburgh) decision Willie Saxton (MU-unat.)7-2
Consolation: Willie Saxton (MU-unat.) fall Cameron Teitelman (Stanford): 3:53
Consolation: Thomas Kimprell (Cal State Bakersfield) major decision Willie Saxton (MU-unat.): 17-9
Amond Prater-141 (0-2) OUT OF TOURNAMENT
Cam Watkins (ODU) major decision Amond Prater (MU): 11-1
Consolation: Darrion Caldwell (AVOLA) major decision Amond Prater (MU): 15-3
Ashtin Primus-141 (6-1) THIRD PLACE
Ashtin Primus (MU) decision Matt Easter (Cornell): 6-1
Ashtin Primus (MU) fall #20 Chris Bencivenga (UNCG): 1:51
Quarterfinals: Alex Krom (Maryland) fall Ashtin Primus (MU): 1:09
Consolation: Ashtin Primus (MU) fall Drew Lashaway (Kent State): 2:00
Consolation: Ashtin Primus (MU) major decision Webster (George Mason): 14-6
Consolation: Ashtin Primus (MU) fall #17 Mike Keefe (UTC): 1:32
Third Place: Ashtin Primus (MU) fall Matthew Schumm (Cal State Bakersfield): 2:09
Marcus Hoehn-141 (1-2) OUT OF TOURNAMENT
Marcus Hoehn decision Wes Kuser (Duke): 6-4
Cody Cleveland (UTC) decision Marcus Hoehn (MU): 11-7
Consolation: Jeff Newby (Boise State) decision Marcus Hoehn (MU):4-3
Dane Espinosa-149 (1-1) OUT OF TOURNAMENT
#19 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) decision Dane Espinosa (MU): 5-2
Consolation: Joe Caramanica (Cal State Bakersfield) decision Dane Espinosa (MU): 4-1
Josh Wagner-149 (5-2)-FOURTH PLACE
#16 Josh Wagner (MU) fall Clay Tucker (Ohio): 3:51
#16 Josh Wagner (MU) major decision Alex Bimes (E. Stroudsburg): 8-0
#16 Josh Wagner (MU) decision #16 John Cox (Navy): 13-12
Quarterfinals: #16 Josh Wagner (MU) decision #13 Aaron Martin (UTC): 6-3
Semifinals: #1 Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota) decision #16 Josh Wagner (MU): 3-2
Consolation: #16 Josh Wagner (MU) fall Kyle Fried (Cal State Bakersfield): 3:32
Fourth Place: #3 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) decision #16 Josh Wagner (MU): 17-11
Andrew Sherry-149 (1-2) OUT OF TOURNAMENT
Andrew Sherry (MU) fall Derek Royster (Citadel-unat): 1:10
Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) tech fall Andrew Sherry (MU): 15-0, 4:51
Consolation: Drew Dipasquale (UVA) decision Andrew Sherry (MU): 8-2
Michael Chandler-157 (5-1)-FOURTH PLACE
#10 Michael Chandler (MU) win by medical forfeit Robert Henry (George Mason)
#10 Michael Chandler (MU) decision David Nakasone (Lehigh): 7-5
Quarterfinals: Kody Hamrah (NC State) decision #10 Michael Chandler (MU): 3-2
Consolation: #10 Michael Chandler (MU) fall Daniel Alejandro (Cal State Bakersfield): 54
Consolation: #10 Michael Chandler (MU) major decision Tyler Safratowich (Minnesota): 13-3
Consolation: #10 Michael Chandler (MU) decision #17 Josh Supancic (Stanford) 6-1
Fourth Place: #20 Tyler Sherfrey (Boise State) win by default
James Williamson-165 (3-2)
James Williamson (MU) decision Matthew Koelling (Duke): 8-3
James Williamson (MU) decision Manuel Schubert (Lehigh): 6-4
#18 Chris Vondruska (Ohio State) decision James Williamson (MU): 2-1
Consolation: James Williamson (MU) decision Tyler Tisdell (George Mason): 7-4
Consolation: Jason Kiesling (Maryland) decision James Williamson (MU): 8-2
Nicholas Marable-165 (9-1)-THIRD PLACE
Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Landis Wright (Lock Haven): 11-5
#13 Keegan Mueller (UNC) decision Nicholas Marable (MU) 5-4, TB
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) major decision Matthias Piasecki (Gardner-Webb): 15-4
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Mark Ring (UNCG):12-6
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) injury default Robert Johnston (Navy)
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision. Jacob Ison (Ohio): 8-5
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Daniel Atondo (Cal State Bakersfield): 5-1
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision #17 Jason Kiessling (Maryland): 3-2
Consolation: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision #18 Chris Vondruska (Ohio State): 5-2
Third Place: Nicholas Marable (MU) decision #13 Keegan Mueller (UNC): 3-2
Ben Askren-174 (5-0)-FIRST PLACE
#1 Ben Askren (MU) fall Steve Ratley (Virginia Tech):1:26
#1 Ben Askren (MU) fall Marcus Boyd (Davidson): 1:00
Quarterfinals: #1 Ben Askren (MU) fall Neal Martin (Appalachian State): 1:48
Semifinals: #1 Ben Askren (MU) fall #16 Mike Letts (Maryland): 2:51
First Place: #1 Ben Askren (MU) fall #9 Matt Stolpinski (Navy): 1:14
Joey Garrity-174 (2-2)
Aaron Miller (Kent State) decision Joey Garrity (MU): 9-3
Consolation: Joey Garrity (MU) major decision Antione Love (Ohio): 11-2
Consolation: Joey Garrity (MU) technical fall Marcus Boyd (Davidson): 16-0
Consolation: Lloyd Rogers (UTC) decision Joey Garrity (MU): 8-3
Raymond Jordan-184 (5-0) SECOND PLACE
#6 Raymond Jordan (MU) fall Mike Marable (UTC): 5:21
#6 Raymond Jordan (MU) decision Jesse Strawn (ODU): 10-4
#6 Raymond Jordan (MU) fall Jeremy Colbert (N.C. State): 2:51
Quarterfinals: #6 Raymond Jordan (MU) major decision #20 Steve Borja (Virginia Tech): 10-2
Semifinals: #6 Raymond Jordan (MU) decision #11 Alex Clemsen (Edinboro): 5-3
Second Place: #2 Roger Kish (Minnesota) win by medical default
Maxwell Askren-197 (5-0) FIRST PLACE
#1 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall Ed Backus (Binghampton) 1:26
#1 Maxwell Askren (MU) decision Dennis Drury (UNC):12-6
Quarterfinals: #1 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall Brent Jones (UVA): 3:19
Semifinals: #1 Maxwell Askren (MU) decision #19 Hudson Taylor (Maryland): 6-3
First Place: #1 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall #6 J.D. Bergman (Ohio State): 5:48
Sean Connole-HWT (1-2) OUT OF TOURNAMENT
#11 Joe Fendone (Edinboro) fall Sean Connole (MU-unat).: 2:04
Consolation: Sean Connole (MU-unat.) major decision Phil Doerner (Stanford): 12-3
Consolation: Ryan Kittrick (George Mason) Sean Connole (MU-unat.): 5:59
Mark Ellis-HWT (2-0)
#17 Mark Ellis (MU) fall Leon Barrow (VMI): 2:32
#17 Mark Ellis (MU) decision Janoir Palma (NC State): 7-6
Quarterfinals: #8 Ed Prendergast (Navy) win by injury default #17 Mark Ellis (MU)
Consolation: Scott Steele (Navy) win by medical default
