Dec. 9, 2006
Mount Pleasant, Mich. - The second-ranked Missouri wrestling team improved to 2-0 on the season after topping No. 11 Central Michigan, 31-9, in Rose Arena. With the victory, Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith collected his 100th career win since taking the helm of the program in 1998 and now owns a 100-53-1 mark and .653 winning percentage.
Opening the night at 125 pounds, redshirt freshman John Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) suffered a 6-1 loss to No. 13 Luke Smith. Ranked No. 24 in the nation at 125 pounds, Olanowski is now 8-3 on the season.
Missouri's first of three wins by fall came from All-American junior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) at 133 pounds. Ranked 10th in the nation, McCormick paired with Conor Beebe and dropped the Chippewa's shoulders in 4:52 to help Missouri take the team lead, 6-3.
True freshman Ashtin Primus (South Connelsville, Penn.) made his collegiate debut when he battled with Eric Kruger at 141 pounds. Wrestling a solid seven minutes, Primus fell, 9-2, allowing Central Michigan to regain the lead for the second and last time of the dual.
The Tigers rolled off six straight wins including three extra point victories between 149 and 197 pounds. Junior Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) pinned Andy Keller in 5:45 while No. 1 ranked Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) pinned his ninth straight opponent of the season when he dropped No. 6 Brandon Sinnott in 2:56. The win is Askren's 16th of the season, 61st consecutive victory and 127th career win.
"The team wrestled very aggressively tonight." Smith said. "We beat a quality team and put people on their back in almost every match. That's something we work on every day in practice so it's good to see the hard work crossing over into competition."
After jumping to No. 2 in the national polls at 197 pounds, redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) wrestled with his fourth top-10 ranked opponent and held off No. 8 Wynn Michalak, 10-2.
The Tigers will take on No. 14 Michigan State tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. (CT).
Wt Wrestler vs. Wrestler: Result, Team Scoring
125: No. 13 Luke Smith (CMU) dec. No. 24 John Olanowski, 6-1; CMU 3-0
133: No. 4 Tyler McCormick (Missouri) pin Conor Beebe, 4:52; Missouri 6-3
141: Eric Kruger (CMU) dec. Ashtin Primus, 9-2; Tied 6-6
149: No. 16 Josh Wagner (Missouri) pin Andy Keller, 5:45; Missouri 12-6
157: No. 7 Michael Chandler (Missouri) dec. Eric Neil, 5-3; Missouri 15-6
165: No. 7 Matt Pell (Missouri) dec. No. 16 Trevor Stewart, 8-1; Missouri 18-6
174: No. 1 Ben Askren (Missouri) pin No. 6 Brandon Sinnott, 2:56; Missouri 24-6
184: No. 4 Raymond Jordan (Missouri) dec. No. 6 Christian Sinnott, 11-8; Missouri 27-6
197: No. 2 Max Askren (Missouri) maj. dec. No. 8 Wynn Michalak, 10-2; Missouri 31-6
285: No. 7 Bubba Gritter (CMU) dec. Mark Ellis, 8-3; Missouri 31-9
UPDATED SEASON AND CAREER RECORDS
Wt. Name Season Career
125 John Olanowski 10-4 10-4
133 Tyler McCormick 7-2 58-25
141 Amond Prater 6-5 69-30
149 Josh Wagner 10-4 47-28
157 Michael Chandler 9-4 28-20
165 Matt Pell 9-1 108-29
174 Ben Askren 16-0 127-8
184 Raymond Jordan 9-4 42-16
197 Max Askren 11-0 11-0
HWT Mark Ellis 5-6 5-6
