March 7, 2009
Lincoln, Neb. - A program high five members of Missouri's fifth-ranked wrestling team have advanced to the finals of their respective weight class in the 13th annual Big 12 Championships and will fight for league supremacy beginning at 7 p.m. (CT) in the NU Coliseum. In addition, five Tiger grapplers will begin their run through the consolation brackets beginning at 4 p.m. (CT). As a team, Missouri finished the first two rounds of action in third place with 40 points behind Iowa State (56 points) and Nebraska (43). Oklahoma stands at fourth with 20 points while Oklahoma State rounds out the top five with eight team points.
Senior Marcus Hoehn (Farmington, Mo.) collected Missouri's first win of the day, defeating Seth Vernon of Oklahoma, 6-1, at 141 pounds. Hoehn entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and held fourth-seeded Vernon to a single escape in the third period. Next up for Hoehn is No. 2 seed Nick Gallick of Iowa State in the finals of the 141 pound bracket. Hoehn is 1-2 all-time against the Cyclone wrestler, most recently winning a 4-3 decision in sudden victory Feb. 15, in the Hearnes Center.
Competing in his fourth and final Big 12 Championships, senior Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) bested Iowa State foe Cyler Sanderson, 7-5, at 157 pounds. Advancing to the finals of the annual tournament for the second straight season, Chandler will meet at center circle with No. 1 seeded Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska. Chandler led Sanderson 5-2 at the close of the second period, but allowed the Cyclone an escape and takedown to tie the match at five. Chandler escaped to regain his lead and was awarded one point for his 2:22 of riding time.
Returning All-American Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) is set to make his second consecutive trip to the 165 pound Championship finals. Marable held off Oklahoma State's Brandon Mason, 5-3, and will take on second seeded Stephen Dwyer of Nebraska. Marable was first to score, recording a takedown with 1:31 remaining in the first period. Mason escaped before the close of the first three minutes of action and managed an escape from the down position in the second period to tie the bout at two. Starting in the neutral position, at Marable's choice, the Tiger grappler took down Mason with 10 seconds left in the match and added one point for 1:09 of riding time.
2007 Big 12 Champion Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) looks to become Missouri's first two-time league title holder in two different weight classes. Meeting with Oklahoma's Jeff James for the second time of the campaign, Jordan improved to 2-0 against the Sooner wrestler with his 9-5 win by decision. Holding onto a one point lead at the end of the second period, Jordan chose down to start the third and escaped to increase his lead. A takedown in 28 seconds extended the Tigers' advantage, however, James came through with a reversal. Jordan was able to escape and tack on 1:11 of riding time for the win. Jordan and Nebraska's Brandon Browne will battle in the finals.
Junior Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) won his second match of the year over Oklahoma State's Jared Rosholt, 2-1, and will advance to the finals at heavyweight where he will take on Iowa State' No. 1 seed, David Zabriskie. Ellis entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed. Scoreless through the first three minutes, Ellis chose down to start the second and escaped in 14 seconds to take the lead. Ellis allowed Rosholt an escape in the third period but maintained over one minute of riding time for the one point win by decision.
Eight of the 10 brackets will feature finals matches pitting the No. 1 and No. 2 seed against one another.
Five Tigers took losses in their opening round matches. Troy Dolan (Blairsville, Pa.), seeded fourth at 125 pounds, was upset by No. 5 seed Andy Pokorny of Nebraska when he was pinned in 3:38. Competing at simultaneously, sophomore Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) lost his match at 133 pounds, 7-2, to Cornhusker grappler Matt Vacanti. 149 pounder Andrew Sherry (Sewickley, Pa.) dropped a two point loss, 7-5, to Luke Silver while Missouri's redshirt freshman, Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.) suffered a 9-4 loss to Chris McNeil of Oklahoma State. Third seeded Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) also dropped a tough loss, 15-4 to Nebraska's Craig Brester. All five grapplers will attempt to advance through the consolation bracket beginning at 4 p.m. (CT).
REMINDER: Fans unable to attend the Big 12 Championships can catch the action live on www.big12sports.com, or can tune into FSN and watch the championship finals live, beginning at 7 p.m. (CT).
125: Troy Dolan
Andy Pokorny (NU) fall Troy Dolan (MU): 3:38
133: Todd Schavrien
Matt Vacanti (NU) decision Todd Schavrien (MU): 7-2
141: Marcus Hoehn
Marcus Hoehn (MU) decision Seth Vernon (OU): 6-1
149: Andrew Sherry
Luke Silver (OSU) decision Andrew Sherry (MU): 7-5
157: Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler (MU) decision Cyler Sanderson (ISU): 7-5
165: Nicholas Marable
Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Brandon Mason (OSU): 5-3
174: Raymond Jordan
Raymond Jordan (MU) decision Jeff James (OU): 9-6
184: Dorian Henderson
Chris McNeil (OSU) decision Dorian Henderson (MU): 9-4
197: Maxwell Askren
Craig Brester (NU) major decision Maxwell Askren (MU): 15-4
HWT: Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (MU) decision Jared Rosholt (OSU): 2-1
|
Weight |
Wrestler |
Season Record |
|
125 |
15-22 |
|
|
133 |
12-11 |
|
|
141 |
No. 9 Marcus Hoehn |
28-8 |
|
149 |
13-14 |
|
|
157 |
No. 6 Michael Chandler |
27-5 |
|
165 |
No. 6 Nicholas Marable |
22-6 |
|
174 |
No. 5 Raymond Jordan |
30-3 |
|
184 |
No. 20 Dorian Henderson |
20-12 |
|
197 |
No. 4 Maxwell Askren |
23-5 |
|
HWT |
No. 2 Mark Ellis |
26-2 |