Nov. 30, 2007
Las Vegas, Nev.. -The seventh-ranked Missouri wrestling team finished day one of the 26th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in second place with 77.5 points. Ohio State leads the team-scored event with 82 points, while Michigan stands in third with 71.5 points. Four Tigers have advanced through the Championship bracket, while four more will resume competition in the consolation brackets beginning tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. (CT). Finals are slated to begin at 7 p.m. (CT).
Redshirt freshman Tony Pescaglia (Columbia, Mo,) is one of four Tigers that will continue a run through the championship side of the bracket. Wrestling at 125 pounds. Pescaglia has managed two major upsets, first toppling sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded Collin Cudd of Wisconsin before knocking off No. 11 Gabe Flores of Illinois, 8-4. Pescaglia will open his second day of competition against current No. 1 ranked Paul Donahoe of Nebraska. Pescaglia has held off all four of his Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational opponents by a minimum of four points.
"Tony looked a little sluggish in his opening match," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "But he looked great later in the day. It's like something clicked all of the sudden for Tony. He looked like the wrestler I saw at the end of last season. He's looking really good."
Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) wrestling at 165 pound will also make a run at his first Cliff Keen Title. In his first appearance at the prestigious tournament, Marable, seeded third in his weight class, went 4-0 on the day after winning two of his matches by bonus point victories.
Fifth-ranked Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) looks to improve on his sixth place finish of last year at 184 pounds. Currently 3-0 in the tournament, Jordan has won two of his matches by major decision.
Helping Missouri to its second place showing, sophomore Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) improved to 8-1 on the season after pinning all three of his Las Vegas Invitational opponents. Askren's fastest fall came in 2:24 over Pittsburgh's Dave Crowell. Askren returns to this year's competition with hopes to defend his 2006 title.
Junior Marcus Hoehn (141 pounds), senior Josh Wagner (149 pounds), junior Michael Chandler (157 pounds) and sophomore Mark Ellis (HWT) will all fight to stay alive in the consolation brackets. Ellis suffered an opening round loss to former heavyweight TJ Wright of Rider but has won three straight matches to remain in contention for a top-eight finish.
125 Pounds: Tony Pescaglia (4-0) Tony Pescaglia (MU) decision Dan Kelly (Harvard): 7-3 Tony Pescaglia (MU) decision #6 Collin Cudd (Wisconsin): 12-6 Tony Pescaglia (MU) major decision Taylor Cummings (NC State): 11-2 Tony Pescaglia (MU) decision #11 Gabe Flores (Illinois): 8-4
133 Pounds: Nick Velliquette (1-2) Nick Velliquette (MU) decision Franky Villaescusa (Embry-Riddle): 5-4 Chris Diehl (Michigan) decision Nick Velliquette (MU): 6-0 Todd Schaviren (Arizona State) decision Nick Velliquette (MU): 4-3
141 Pounds: Marcus Hoehn (4-1) Marcus Hoehn (MU) major decision Chris Harris (North Idaho): 13-5 Marcus Hoehn (MU) decision Randy Aguirre (San Francisco State): 6-3 #5 Jeff Jaggers (Ohio State) decision Marcus Hoehn (MU): 4-2 Marcus Hoehn (MU) decision Jeff Rutledge (Nebraska-Kearney): 6-5 Marcus Hoehn (MU) Nick Stable (North Carolina): 3-2
149 Pounds: Josh Wagner (3-1) Bryce Saddoris (Navy) decision #10 Josh Wagner (MU): 4-3 Josh Wagner (MU) fall Ali Lockett (San Franciso State): 26 Josh Wagner (MU) fall Mark Bloom (Brown): 4:44 Josh Wagner (MU) decision #19 Cesar Grajales (Penn): 2-0
157 Pounds: Michael Chandler (3-1) #12 Michael Chandler (MU) technical fall Devin Velasquez (Cal State-Fullerton): 16-1 Tyler Sherfey (Boise State) decision Michael Chandler (MU):4-3 Michael Chandler (MU) decision Nick Bertucci (Purdue): 7-4 Michael Chandler (MU) decision Daniel Brascetta (Oregon State): 5-4
165 Pounds: Nicholas Marable (4-0) #8 Nicholas Marable (MU) major decision Michael Darling (Rider): 8-0 #8 Nicholas Marable (MU) win by default Nathan McClain (Colorado SOM): NS Nicholas Marable (MU) technical fall Devin Velasquez (Cal State-Fullerton): 16-1 Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Kurt Swatz (Boise State): 5-3
174 Pounds: James Williamson (3-2) James Williamson (MU) Randy Goodman (N.C. State): 3-2 James Williamson (MU) decision Tyler Roushan (Boise State) 8-7 Chance Litton (West Virginia) decision James Williamson (MU) 3-1 James Williamson (MU) decision Mike Rasura (Buffalo): 4-2 Nick Corpe (Purdue) decision James Williamson (MU): 6-4
184 Pounds: Raymond Jordan (3-0) #5 Raymond Jordan (MU) major decision Kenji Porter (Columbia University): 17-4 Raymond Jordan (MU) decision Matt Carperson (Boise State): 3-2 Raymond Jordan (MU) major decision Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin): 13-2
197 Pounds: Maxwell Askren: (3-0) #7 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall Branden Stearns (Brown): 5:37 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall Dave Crowell (Pittsburgh): 2:24 Maxwell Askren (MU) fall Pat Bradshaw (Edinboro): 3:31
HWT: Mark Ellis (3-1) #20 T.J. Morrison (Rider) decision #11 Mark Ellis (MU): 3-1 Mark Ellis (MU) decision Travis Gardner (Oregon State): 6-0 Mark Ellis (MU) fall Jesse Boggs (New Mexico Highlands Univ.) 2:37 Mark Ellis (MU) fall Nick Smith (Boise State): 1:01