Nov. 12, 2008
Reloaded. It's the word used by Missouri Wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith when describing his lineup for the 2008-09 campaign.
"We've got five newcomers in our lineup this year," Smith said. "The youth, combined with the leadership and experience of our returning starters really makes for a dynamic team. We lost several key wrestlers last year and we expect these newcomers to step in and make an immediate impact at their weight class. We're reloaded and ready for another season of TigerStyle wrestling."
Ranked fifth in the nation, Smith and his 39-man squad have a daunting schedule ahead of them. Throughout a five-month period, the Tigers will compete in at least 22 duals and four tournaments, including the prestigious Big 12 Championships, March 7, in Lincoln, Neb., and the 79th annual NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
"We're competing in a lot of duals this year," Smith said. "This is a great way for our newcomers to get some matches under their belt and settle into the lineup."
Entering the season, eight of Missouri's dual opponents are ranked among the top-25 programs in the nation, with five ranked among the top 15. The Big 12 continues its domination of wrestling with four of its five programs ranked among the top-10 in the nation and all five ranked among the top-20. Only Iowa State stands higher than Missouri in the annual preseason polls, ranked third in the nation after coming off of a fifth place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma State ranks sixth, while Nebraska stands at eighth and Oklahoma No. 20.
"This conference is a grind," Smith said. "The Big 12, as always, is stacked with truly talented wrestlers. We've come to expect close matches whenever we're competing against league opponents. Our team expects a battle and they expect to perform well at every turn of the schedule."
Before Missouri enters into conference action, the Tigers will take on 14 teams representing nine different conferences from across the nation.
"Our staff likes to give our team an opportunity to compete against wrestlers from all parts of the country," Smith said. "This year there is new criteria in place to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. By taking on wrestling teams from several different conferences, our staff feels that we're improving our RPI and giving our squad a better chance to qualify individuals for the national championships."
Missouri will face its first test of the season Nov. 15 when it opens the 63rd year of Tiger wrestling at Lock Haven. One day later, Nov. 16, the Tigers will travel to Bucknell and square off against the Bison.
Smith and his squad return home in time to host the first-ever Wrestling Supports Wrestling dual, Saturday, Nov. 22, against Hofstra.
"I'm really proud of this event," Smith said. "This is an important dual because I convinced my athletic director (Mike Alden) and his staff that the wrestling fans would come out in large numbers to show their support of wrestling. I want to demonstrate to the rest of the sporting community and athletic administrations across the country that wrestling fans can, and will, support wrestling."
Every dollar from the Nov. 22 ticket sales will be added to the wrestling student-athlete scholarship endowment created to provide additional support to Mizzou wrestling for years to come.
Fans in town for the Hofstra dual don't have to wait long to see their Tigers in action again. Missouri hosts the ninth-annual Missouri Open, Sunday, Nov. 23, with top-ranked wrestlers from across the Midwest expected to attend.
"We're continuing to build the Missouri Open," Smith said. "It's a great first tournament for our team and will be a real indicator of where we are in our training. We're expecting anywhere from 400 to 500 wrestlers to compete at the Open this year and our fans do a great job of coming out to show their support."
The conclusion of the Missouri Open makes way for back-to-back dual tournaments on opposite coasts. Missouri will first travel to Troy, N.Y., and compete in the Northeast Duals. A full day of wrestling, the Tigers will compete in four duals, the first challenge coming from 22nd-ranked Old Dominion of the Colonial Athletic Association. The remainder of the day will see Missouri square off with Maryland, Harvard and Brown.
Two weeks later, the Tiger team will make its way West for the Pac-10/Big 12 Duals held on the campus of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif. One of three Big 12 schools represented, the others Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, the Tigers will meet with Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Bakersfield and finally Cal Poly before making their way North to Corvallis, Ore., for a Dec. 14 contest against Oregon State.
The Tiger squad will return to the road in late December for the two-day Midlands Tournament held in Evanston, Ill. Recognized as one of the most competitive tournaments in the nation, this years' event will feature 55 teams, 13 of which are ranked among the preseason's top-25 and five of the top-10.
"We sent a small group of wrestlers to The Midlands last year," Smith said. "It's a tough competition. It may even be tougher than Nationals, it's that loaded with good teams. Our team is really looking forward to competing in the tournament."
For the sixth time in seven years, the University of Missouri wrestling program will take part in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals held at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan. 10-11.
"This is our fourth straight year competing at the National Duals," Smith said. "We were obviously disappointed in last years finish. This year we're focusing on staying more consistent throughout our lineup. We need to be consistent at all 10 weights. We've had two runner-up showings at the National Duals and we expect our program to improve on our previous finishes."
On Jan. 18 Tiger fans can return to the Hearnes Center to watch their wrestling team take on instate opponent Missouri Valley and Tennessee Chattanooga in an afternoon doubleheader.
The Big Red of Cornell made an appearance in the Hearnes Center last season and Missouri will return the favor with a trip to Ithaca, N.Y., on Jan. 25. Cornell enters the season ranked as high as third in the nation and returns six All-Americans, including 157 pound champion Jordan Leen, to their 2008 ninth-place finishing NCAA squad.
Missouri's conference schedule will begin at home on Jan. 31, when the Tigers host the Cornhuskers of Nebraska. Nebraska managed a fourth-place showing at the National Tournament and tied its program-best finish at the Big 12 Championships by taking runner-up honors.
Big 12 competition continues Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 when Missouri takes on Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, respectively in their home facilities. The Tigers and Cowboys ended last season's dual in the Hearnes Center with a 16-16 tie, while Missouri handed the Sooners their third straight loss to the Tigers.
The nationally-ranked Missouri wrestling and gymnastics squads will team up for the third-annual Beauty and the Beast event held Feb. 13. While the wrestling team meets at center circle with No. 14 Central Michigan, the gymnastics squad will take on Centenary College. Both events run simultaneously on the Hearnes Center floor with record-setting attendance recorded in each of the past two years. 6,308 fans attended last year's event at which time the wrestling team topped Oklahoma, 23-10.
Missouri's final dual of the season, senior day, will be against third-ranked Iowa State on Feb. 15. This marks the first time in two years that the Tigers will close out their dual schedule at home.
The Big 12 Championships return to The Coliseum in Lincoln, Neb., for the third time in league history. Running all day March 7, only 36 of the Conference's best wrestlers will advance to the NCAA Championships held once again at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
For the fourth time in six years wrestlers and wrestling fans will descend upon St. Louis for the annual Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships. Hosted by the University of Missouri and St. Louis Sports Commission, the duo have run the 2004, 2005 and 2008 NCAA Championships and will host the 2009 and 2012 tournament as well.
"I know I'm a little biased, but I personally think that St. Louis is the best location out there for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships," Smith said. "I've heard the same comment echoed from a lot of other coaches across the nation. It would be great if the Wrestling Championships could permanently settle in St. Louis, in similar fashion to the Baseball College World Series being held in Omaha, Neb., each year. It would be a great move for our sport."
Three Missouri All-Americans are looking to return to the National stage in 2009. Nicholas Marable, wrestling at 165 pounds, finished third at last year's tournament and enters his junior season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Teammate Raymond Jordan, one of two team captains, finished fifth at 184 pounds in 2008 and has dropped one weight class to try his luck at 174 pounds. Jordan has the potential to become just the fourth Tiger in program history to earn All-America accolades in more than one weight class, the last MU grappler to do so, Matt Pell, accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007.
Missouri's 197-pounder, Maxwell Askren, ranks fifth in the nation and finished the 2008 Tournament in seventh place. Nine Missouri grapplers in program history have received All-America honors on more than one occasion with Marable, Jordan and Askren all looking to become part of Tiger history by earning their second career top-eight finish.
NCAA qualifiers Michael Chandler and Mark Ellis return to the lineup at 157 pounds and heavyweight, respectively. Chandler is a three-time NCAA qualifier and team captain alongside Jordan, and ranks as high as seventh in the nation. Ellis begins his junior campaign ranked fifth at heavyweight.
Fans will have new names to learn and wrestlers to cheer for in Missouri's lighter weight classes. Redshirt freshman Troy Dolan is expected to make his start in the 125-pound weight class. Dolan recorded seven top-six tournament finishes last season and earned back-to-back titles at the Roger Denker and Missouri Valley Open to end his initial year on the Tiger team.
Transfer Todd Schavrien of Poway, Calif., and redshirt freshman K.C. Pescaglia of Columbia, Mo., will wrestle for an opportunity to start at 133 pounds. Schavrien transferred to Missouri after managing a successful season at Arizona State, while Pescaglia earned tournament titles at the Dana and Roger Denker Open while wrestling unattached.
The familiar face of Ashtin Primus will resume the starting position in the 141 pound weight class. Primus started at 141 pounds as a true freshman during the 2006-07 campaign and amassed 30 wins, 20 by way of fall. During his redshirt season, Primus won 14 of his 25 bouts by way of pin.
A product of Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., redshirt freshman Max Shanaman is likely to lead the lineup at 149 pounds. Shanaman has quickly developed his wrestling skills and adapted to the TigerStyle way of wrestling created by Smith and his staff.
Rounding out the lineup at 184 pounds is redshirt freshman Dorian Henderson. Henderson wrestled at 174 pounds last season and closed out his redshirt year by earning three-straight tournament titles at the Dana Open, Roger Denker Open and Missouri Valley College Open. In his five tournament appearances, Henderson finished third or better on each occasion. Last year was only Henderson's fifth year wrestling.
Now in his 11th year as Head Coach, Smith returns to guide his 10-man lineup through the winter season. With a .663 winning percentage that ranks best in program history, Smith has proven that he has the know-how to make his team national contenders. For the past five years, the Tigers have finished among the top-15 programs in the nation, finishing as high as third in 2007. This year, Smith looks to take his reloaded lineup, made up up of experienced leaders and determined newcomers, all the way to the top tier of the podium.