Jan. 7, 2009

Columbia, Mo. - The fifth-ranked Missouri wrestling team is set to make its fourth straight appearance at the National Duals beginning Saturday, Jan. 10, against No. 14 Penn State at 9 a.m. (CT) in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Missouri's sixth trip in 10 years to the annual National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals, the Tigers look to improve on their previous team-best showing of second, set in 2004 and again in 2007.

The Tigers are one of three Big 12 programs slated to compete in the two-day tournament and one of 16 Division I squads represented at the event. Missouri, seeded fifth, sits on the same side of the bracket as No. 1 seed Iowa as well as No. 8 seed Minnesota and No. 4 seed Nebraska. Also on Missouri's side of the bracket are Wyoming, Buffalo and No. 20 Northwestern. A total of 14 programs competing in the Division I bracket are currently ranked among the top-25 teams in the nation, with seven ranked among the top 10 in the country. Iowa State enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed while Cornell is seeded third.

Should Missouri win its opening round match, the Tigers would take on the winner of the Northwestern, Nebraska dual also set to begin at 9 a.m. (CT). The dual with either Northwestern or Nebraska would begin at 1 p.m. (CT). The championship finals of the National Duals are schedule to begin at 3 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Further information regarding lineups will be released later in the week.