March 12, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - Three of Missouri's eight individuals to qualify for the 77th annual Division I Wrestling Championships in Detroit, Mich., received top-five seeds in their respective weight class, with senior defending National Champion Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) and younger brother redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) seeded No. 1 at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively.

This marks the first time in Missouri wrestling history that two Tigers enter the three-day tournament with No. 1 seeds. Together the brothers own a 64-1 record.

Sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) makes his second NCAA Championship appearance and is seeded fifth at 184 pounds. Jordan was one of three Tigers to earn a Big 12 Title, March 3, in Columbia, Mo., and one of five Missouri returning NCAA qualifiers for the 2006-07 campaign.

Two other Tiger grapplers enter The Palace of Auburn Hills with top seeds. Junior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) at 133 pounds will begin the tournament as the No. 8 seed while senior co-captain and All-American Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) enters at No. 9 at 165 pounds.

The NCAA Championships will begin Thursday, March 15 at 10 a.m. (CT) at the Palace. Four Tigers have earned byes in the first round of competition, McCormick, Pell, Maxwell Askren and redshirt freshman heavyweight Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.). Missouri's remaining four competitors will all take on unfamiliar competition in the opening round.

Wt.	Wrestler		Seed
133 	Tyler McCormick	 No. 8
149	Josh Wagner		NS
157	Michael Chandler	NS
165	Matt Pell		No. 9
174	Ben Askren		No. 1
184	Raymond Jordan	 No. 5
197	Maxwell Askren		No. 1
HWT	Mark Ellis		NS

149 Pounds
Josh Wagner vs. No. 17 Jake Patuscil (Big 10)

157
Michael Chandler vs. Kurt Gross (Kent State)

174
Ben Askren vs Daniel Burke (Northern Illinois)

184
Raymond Jordan vs. No. 17 Trevor Brandvole (Wisconsin)