March 19, 2009

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - At the close of the first session of NCAA Division I Wrestling, five Missouri grapplers have advanced through the championship bracket while three have fallen to the consolation round of their respective weight class. As a squad, the fifth-ranked Tigers stand tied for 10th with 11 points, while Iowa State leads the team standings with 25.

Marcus Hoehn (141 pounds), Michael Chandler (157 pounds), Raymond Jordan (174 pounds), Maxwell Askren (197 pounds) and Mark Ellis (Heavyweight) will begin round two on the championship side of the tournament, while Todd Schavrien (133 pounds) and Dorian Henderson (184 pounds) will battle their way through wrestle-backs in a bid for All-America honors.

Competing at 141 pounds, Hoehn (Farmington, Mo.), collected Missouri's first win of the morning with his 3-2 tiebreaker decision over Richard Rappo of Penn. Scoreless through the first period, Hoehn escaped in the second, and Rappo the third, sending the bout into overtime. Neither grappler was able to finish a shot in the first one minute overtime period. Forced into a 30 second tie breaker, Rappo chose the top position and was reversed by Hoehn with one second left on the clock. Hoehn chose top for the second 30 second period and although he allowed Rappo the escape with 19 seconds left, he was able to hang on for the win, his first ever at an NCAA tournament.

Four-time 157-pound NCAA qualifier Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) started off his final run through the tournament with a one point, 4-3, win over Kurt Kinsey of Indiana. Chandler recorded a takedown 47 seconds into the match and tacked on a second period escape extending his lead to 3-1. Kinser chose down to start the third and reversed the Tiger grappler tying the match at three. Chandler escaped with 55 seconds left, taking the lead and eventual win.

2008 All-American Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) won his first NCAA bout at 174 pounds, by way of an 11-3 major decision over Shane Riccio (Bucknell). Jordan's win was Missouri's only bonus point victory of the first round. Quick to take down his Bison opponent, Jordan turned Riccio to his back and held him for the five count. With a 5-1 lead, Jordan chose down to start the second. Before the close of the bout, the Tiger managed an additional two takedowns and racked up 3:07 of riding time for the win.

Askren (Hartland, Wis.) took on Raymond Bennet of Millersville at 197 pounds and came from behind for the 7-2 win. Down 2-1 entering the second period, the competitors started in the neutral position to begin the action. Askren shot and scored a takedown at 56 seconds for his first lead of the day. Opting for the down position in the third, Askren escaped and returned Bennett to the mat, riding him out for a total of 1:50.

Second-seeded Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) competed in the final match of the session and won, 2-1, over Zach Sheaffer of Pitt. The second meeting of the year between the two opponents, the result of the match was the same as their Dec. 30 meeting in the title round of the Midlands. Ellis was awarded the first point after Sheaffer was hit twice with stalling in the first period. Ellis escaped from the down position in the second to add to his lead and held on for the win.

Schavrien and Henderson lost their first round matches.   Competing against the No. 1 seed, Franklin Gomez of Michigan State, Schavrien suffered a 13-2 loss. Henderson battled at center circle with Vince DiDona of Central Michigan, but lost, 8-1, to fall to the consolation round.

Round two, which includes wrestle backs as well as championship round competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in the Scottrade Center.

TEAM STANDINGS
1.	Iowa State	25
2.	Iowa	22
3.	Ohio State	17.5
4.	Nebraska	15
	Boise State	15
10.	Missouri	11

133 Pounds: Todd Schavrien
No. 1 Franklin Gomez (Michigan State) major decision Todd Schavrien (MU): 13-2
Thursday Evening: Todd Schavrien (MU) vs. Michael Rappo (UNC)

141 Pounds: Marcus Hoehn
No. 8 Marcus Hoehn (MU) decision Richard Rappo (Penn): 3-2 (TB)
Thursday Evening: Marcus Hoehn (MU) vs. No. 11 Drew Lashaway (Kent State)

157 Pounds: Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler (MU) decision Kurt Kinsey (Indiana): 4-3
Thursday Evening: Michael Chandler (MU) vs. Chase Pami (Cal Poly)

165: Pounds: Nicholas Marable
Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) decision Nicholas Marable (MU): 5-2
Thursday Evening: Nicholas Marable (MU) vs. Rex Kendle (Michigan State)

174 Pounds: Raymond Jordan
Raymond Jordan (MU) major decision Shane Riccio (Bucknell): 11-2
Thursday Evening: Raymond Jordan (MU) vs. Ryan Burk (Iowa State)

184 Pounds: Dorian Henderson
Vince DiDona (Central Michigan) decision Dorian Henderson (MU): 8-1
Thursday Evening: Dorian Henderson (MU) vs. Jerome Ward (Iowa State)

197 Pounds: Maxwell Askren
Maxwell Askren (MU) decision Raymond Bennet (Millersville): 7-2
Thursday Evening: Maxwell Askren (MU) vs. Cam Simaz (Cornell)

HWT: Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (MU) decision Zach Sheaffer (Pitt): 2-1
Thursday Evening: Mark Ellis (MU) vs. Richard Goff (Cleveland State)

Wt	Wrestler	Season
133	Todd Schavrien	14-12
141	Marcus Hoehn	30-8
157	Michael Chandler	28-7
165	Nicholas Marable	23-7
174	Raymond Jordan	31-4
184	Dorian Henderson	20-14
197	Maxwell Askren	27-5
HWT	Mark Ellis	27-3