Jan. 26, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -In search of their first win since Jan. 12, the 11th-ranked Tiger wrestling team will host No. 16 Cornell in a Sunday, Jan. 27 dual beginning at 1 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. This marks the second meeting in program history between the two teams and Missouri enters with the 1-0 advantage over the Big Red. Tickets for the Sunday afternoon contest are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Fans are encouraged to come early and pick up the third of five unique wrestling programs.
Missouri, now 6-2-1 on the season, returns to the mat after managing just their 14th tie in program history. Knotted up with then-No. 2 Oklahoma State at the conclusion of the Jan. 19 dual, both teams walked away with 16 points, with five Tigers earning important Big 12 victories.
Ivy League program Cornell makes its first appearance in the Hearnes Center and owns a 1-4 record in their 100th year of Big Red wrestling. Led by Head Coach Rob Kolll, Cornell is coming off of a 31-9 loss to Penn State at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Cliff Keen National Duals, Jan. 12. All five of Cornell's ranked grapplers currently stand among the top-10 in the nation in their respective weight class, with third-ranked Mike Grey holding the highest ranking of his teammates at 133 pounds.
This week, six Tigers stand among the top 20 in the nation of their respective weight class. Second-ranked sophomore Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) holds the highest Tiger ranking and will wrestle No. 4 Mack Lewnes at 165 pounds. This marks the third straight week that Marable will challenge with a top-five ranked opponent. Marable owns 17 wins on the season, seven coming over top-20 opponents.
Ranked wrestlers will go head-to-head in three weight classes. In addition to Marable and Lewnes' meeting at 165 pounds, No. 14 Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) will look for his 19th win of the season when he clashes with No. 6 Jordan Leen. Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.), Missouri's sophomore heavyweight, will put his No. 13 ranking against Zach Hammond's No. 10 ranking. Ellis has pinned nine of his heavyweight opponents this season.
Missouri last met with Cornell during the 2001-02 campaign, holding off the Big Red 27-12 in the championship finals of the Cornell Duals.
A familiar meeting for Tiger Head Coach Brian Smith, the Missouri coach was an assistant under Koll from 1993-97. During his time at Cornell, Smith helped the Big Red to two Ivy League Championships and a 10th-place showing at the 1993 NCAA Championships. In addition, Smith helped David Hirsch earn Cornell's first National title since 1960.
Probable Lineup
125 John Olanowski (MU) vs. Mike Rodriguez or Frank Perrelli (CU)
133 Nick Velliquette (MU) vs. No. 3 Mike Grey (CU)
141 Marcus Hoehn (MU) vs. Eric McGill (CU)
149 No. 15 Josh Wagner (MU) vs. DJ Meagher or Adam Frey (CU)
157 No. 14 Michael Chandler (MU) No. 6 Jordan Leen (CU)
165 No. 2 Nicholas Marable (MU) vs. No. 4 Mack Lewnes (CU)
174 Brock Wittmeyer (MU) No. 10 Steve Anceravage (CU)
184 No. 4 Raymond Jordan (MU) vs. Mike Moore (CU)
197 No. 4 Maxwell Askren (MU) vs. Taylor Moore (CU)
285 No. 13 Mark Ellis (MU) vs. No. 10 Zach Hammond (CU)