Tiger Wrestlers Avoid Snow, Head to Chattanooga

WrestlingDecember 14, 2007

Tiger Wrestlers Avoid Snow, Head to Chattanooga

Dec. 15, 2007

Columbia, Mo.. -Leaving behind the snow-filled skies of Columbia, Mo., the eighth-ranked Missouri wrestling team (2-0) will travel to No. 10 Chattanooga (5-0) for a Sunday, Dec. 16 dual set to begin at Noon (CT) in the Maclellan Gymnasium. The trip East marks the first of two duals in which the Tigers will compete before taking a break for the holidays. Following Missouri's dual with UTC, the Tigers will make their way to No. 20 Pittsburgh (2-0) for a Wednesday, Dec. 19 battle beginning at 6 p.m. (CT).

Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith is taking 14 Tiger grapplers on the six-day trip. Freshman Tony Pescaglia (Columbia, Mo.), currently ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation at 125 pounds, or sophomore John Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) will likely see mat time with No. 10 Javier Maldonado. Pescaglia is currently 6-2 on the season and is coming off of a second place showing at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. A start by Olanowski would be his first since Missouri recorded a 17-16 win over Old Dominion, Feb. 14 at home.

Third-ranked senior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) is expected to make his return to the mat in Saturday's contest. Fighting a nagging injury, the 133 pound wrestler is 1-1 on the season and most recently suffered a loss to second-ranked Lou Ruggirello of Hofstra, Nov. 10, in Hempstead, N.Y,

In all, eight members of Missouri's 10-man lineup are currently ranked among the top-25 in the nation. McCormick continues to hold the highest ranking at third, while sophomore Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) and junior Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) have moved to fifth in the nation at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Also among the top 10 are Pescaglia, and sophomore 197 pounder Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) at seventh.

Missouri holds a 5-1 lead in the all-time series with the Mocs of Chattanooga. Last season's bout in Columbia was declared a non-dual after the Tigers were forced to forfeit at five weight classes due to a flu-plagued team. The dual was not counted toward Missouri's record due to NCAA rules requiring at least seven matches, however, individuals were credited with wins. Only two Tigers claimed wins in the regular season ending competition. Among the victors was Jordan, who will once again square off with Josh Edmondson. Last year, Jordan walked away with the 16-6 win by major decision.

UTC's only win over Missouri came during the 2004-05 campaign. Competing in the Virginia Duals, Missouri suffered a 19-16 loss to the Mocs. Chattanooga is currently 5-0 on the season and most recently upset then No. 8 Ohio State, 19-16.

No. 8 Missouri

125: #7 Tony Pescaglia or John Olanowski

133: #3 Tyler McCormick

141: #26 Marcus Hoehn or Willie Saxton

149: #16 Josh Wagner

157: #13 Michael Chandler or Emanuel Brooks

165: #5 Nicholas Marable

174: #29 James Williamson or Joey Garrity

184: #5 Raymond Jordan

197: #7 Maxwell Askren

HWT: #12 Mark Ellis

No. 10 Chattanooga