March 3, 2007

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The third-ranked Missouri wrestling team finished the Big 12 Championships in second place with 61.5 points, trailing only Iowa State, who claimed its first league wrestling title with 66.5 points in the Hearnes Center. The second place showing ties Missouri's highest league finish set in 2003, the last time the Tigers hosted the annual event. Oklahoma State took third, its lowest showing since the creation of the league in 1997, a mere half point behind Missouri (61).

Wrestling in front of 3,165 fans, three Tigers, senior Ben Askren (174 pounds, Hartland, Wis.), sophomore Raymond Jordan (184 pounds, New Bern, N.C.) and redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (197 pounds, Hartland, Wis.) all claimed individual Big 12 titles, marking the first time since the 2004 season that Missouri had three Tigers atop the podium. In all, Missouri will send six wrestlers as automatic qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. Among them, second place finisher junior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) at 133 pounds, third place finisher Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) at 157 pounds, Askren, Jordan, Askren and third place finisher Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) at heavyweight.

Winning a 13-4 major decision over Brandon Mason, Ben Askren extended his current win streak to 81 and became Missouri's first-ever three-time wrestling conference champion. Askren dominated Mason, allowing the Cowboy his four points through gifted escapes. The Tiger grappler managed six takedowns in the match and threatened to score back points in the first period, but was unable to tilt his opponent far enough for the count. Askren is now 36-0 on the season and 147-8 in his four year career at Missouri.

Taking center circle immediately following Askren, Jordan won his first Big 12 title with a one point decision over Jake Varner of Iowa State, 4-3. With riding time serving as the deciding factor, Jordan collected 1:05 adding to his second period escape and third period takedown. The win was Jordan's 60th of his career and 19th straight this season (dating back to his Dec. 9 victory over Christian Sinnott of Central Michigan).

Making his first appearance in the Big 12 Championship finals, Askren became the first Tiger freshman since his older brother Ben, to claim a Big 12 title in his first collegiate year of competition. Winning his bout 3-2 over Craig Brester, the two were scoreless through the first period. Brester, who chose down to start the second period, escaped with 1:36 on the clock scoring his only other point, an escape, with three seconds left in the match. Askren, managed all three points in the third period, choosing down to start, scoring a reversal and then tacking on 1:24 of riding time.

The Tigers had four grapplers competing in the final round of competition which will air on Fox Sports Midwest, Sunday, March 11, at 12:30 p.m. (CT). McCormick earned his second runner-up Big 12 honor after suffering a 6-5 loss to Coleman Scott. Down 6-1 entering the third period, McCormick collected three points on an escape and takedown to come within one of Scott. Despite a strong showing and attempt to put Scott on his back, McCormick was unable to come up with the win.

Missouri Results

125 Pounds
Wrestle-In: Tyler Shinn (Oklahoma State) decision John Olanowski (MU):5-1
Consolation: Nick Fanthrope (ISU) decision John Olanowski (MU): 7-3

133 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Tyler McCormick (MU) decision Nate Gallick (ISU): 7-0
Finals: Coleman Scott (OSU) decision Tyler McCormick (MU): 6-5

141 Pounds
Wrestle-In: Kyle Terry (OU) decision Ashtin Primus (MU): 7-0
Consolation: Mitch Muller (ISU) decision Ashtin Primus (MU):11-6

149 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Cyler Sanderson (ISU) decision Josh Wagner (MU): 10-9
Consolation: Josh Wagner (MU) decision B.J. Jackson (OSU): 3-1 (OT)
Third Place: Jordan Burroughs (NU) major decision Josh Wagner (MU): 16-6

157 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Chris Oliver (NU) decision Michael Chandler (MU): 3-2
Consolation: Michael Chandler (MU) decision Newly McSpadden (OSU): 7-2
Third Place: Michael Chandler (MU) decision Will Rowe (OU): 6-5

165 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Travis Paulson (ISU): decision Matt Pell (MU): 10-3
Consolation: Matt Pell (MU) major decision Shane Seibert (OU): 16-6
Third Place Stephen Dwyer (NU) decision Matt Pell (MU): 10-8 (OT)

174 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Ben Askren (MU) fall Grant Turner (ISU): 1:47
Finals: Ben Askren (MU) major decision Brandon Mason (OSU): 13-4

184 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Raymond Jordan (MU) technical fall Josh Hinton (OU): 19-4
Finals: Raymond Jordan (MU) decision Jake Varner (ISU): 4-3

197 Pounds
Semi-Finals: Maxwell Askren (MU) decision Kurt Backes (ISU): 8-7
Finals: Maxwell Askren (MU) decision Craig Brester (NU): 3-2

HWT
Semi-Finals: Jared Rosholt (OSU) decision Mark Ellis (MU): 4-0
Consolations: Mark Ellis (MU) major decision Cameron Browne (NU): 12-3
Third Place: Mark Ellis (MU) decision Brad Farmer (OU): 8-5

Championship Matches

125: Sam Hazewinkel (OU) major decision Paul Donahoe (NU), 12-3
133: Coleman Scott (OSU) decision Tyler McCormick (MU), 6-5
141: Nathan Morgan (OSU) decision Dominick Moyer (NU), 6-3
149: Matt Storniolo (OU) decision Cyler Sanderson (ISU), 5-0
157: Trent Paulson (ISU) major decision Chris Oliver (NU): 11-1
165: Johny Hendricks (OSU) decision Travis Paulson (ISU): 4-3
174: Ben Askren (MU) major decision Brandon Mason (OSU): 13-4
184: Raymond Jordan (MU) decision Jake Varner (ISU): 4-3
197: Maxwell Askren (MU) decision Craig Brester (NU): 3-2
HWT: David Zabriskie (ISU) decision Jared Rosholt (OSU): 3-2

Missouri Finishes

125: John Olanowski-5th
133: Tyler McCormick-2nd
141: Ashtin Primus-5th
149: Josh Wagner-4th
157: Michael Chandler-3rd
165: Matt Pell-4th
174: Ben Askren-1st
184: Raymond Jordan-1st
197: Maxwell Askren-1st
HWT: Mark Ellis-3rd

Team Scores

1. Iowa State, 66.5
2. Missouri, 61.5
3. Oklahoma State, 61
4. Nebraska, 46
5. Oklahoma, 44