March 7, 2008
PREPARING FOR THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS, PHOTO GALLERY
The Missouri wrestling team has spent three weeks preparing for the 12th annual Big 12 Championships set for Saturday, March 8, in Gallagher Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. An all-day event in which 38 individuals will qualify for the NCAA Championships, the Tigers look to improve on their highest tournament finish in program history, second, set first in 2003 and repeated in 2007. Iowa State, last year's team champion, is looking to repeat its feat, while Oklahoma State looks to return to its winning ways having claimed eight of the 12 league wrestling titles.
First round matches will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) on two mats, with semifinals expected to begin at Noon. Consolation matches are slated for a 4 p.m. start time with the championship finals set for 7 p.m.
Fans unable to attend the event will have the option to watch a tape-delayed broadcast available on FSN. Wrestling fans that receive Fox Sports Midwest, will have the chance to catch Big 12 wrestling Sunday, March 16 at 12:30 p.m. (CT).
Eight Missouri grapplers enter the tournament ranked among the top-30 of their respective weight class, with three Tigers, junior Michael Chandler as well as sophomores Nicholas Marable and Maxwell Askren expected to earn No. 1 seeds at 157, 165 and 197-pounds, respectively. All three Missouri wrestlers finished the season with perfect 4-0 records, outscoring their Big 12 opponents a combined, 88-35, with Askren recording a fall in 2:28 over Iowa State's David Bertolino in the Tiger's final dual of the season.
Junior Raymond Jordan and Askren are Missouri's sole returning Big 12 Champions having earned their accolades in 2007 at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively. Jordan held off Iowa State Cyclone Jake Varner, 4-3, to earn a spot atop the podium. Jordan enters this year's Big 12 tournament with one league loss, to Varner, 3-1, Feb. 17.
Askren, currently 20-2 on the season, was credited with his first Big 12 title and automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after besting Nebraska's Craig Brester, 3-2, in the 2007 championship round. Earlier this season, Askren and Brester both scored in the double-digits of their meeting, but the Tiger came out on top, 13-11 .
Seven Tigers are making a return trip to the Big 12 Championships, with senior Tyler McCormick making the fourth and final appearance of his career. McCormick, Missouri's 133-pounder, recorded his highest league finish, second, in last season's outing held in the Hearnes Center. McCormick will enter the March 8 competition with a 1-2 mark in league duals, his only win coming by way of shutout, 6-0, over then-No. 13 Brian Shelton of Oklahoma.
Wrestling at 141, 165 and 174 pounds respectively, junior Marcus Hoehn, Marable and either graduate student Brock Wittmeyer or junior Emanuel Brooks will take their first turn on the mat at the prestigious Big 12 tournament. Marable currently holds Missouri's highest individual ranking at second at 165 pounds and has been ranked second for six straight weeks (dating back to the Jan. 22, USA Today/NWCA/InterMat weekly poll).
Only two Missouri seniors will stand among Missouri's 10-man lineup, McCormick and 149 pounder Josh Wagner. Wagner finished a disappointing fourth at last year's tournament and earned a wild card bid to his first NCAA Championships. Wagner is 3-1 in Big 12 meetings this season.