Nov. 10, 2009
The 64th year of Missouri wrestling is set to get underway Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. Eighth-ranked Missouri will square off against border opponent Illinois in the first of six home meets. Fans wearing black and/or gold can purchase a $3 ticket at the door, while members of the military can purchase a $2 with a valid military ID.
Thursday's dual marks the ninth time in program history that Missouri will open its season against the Fighting Illini. The two teams last met in 2001 and Missouri won the dual, 20-13. Illinois holds a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to the 1927-28 campaign. Competing at Illinois in 1927, the Fighting Illini took the 24-3 win over Missouri, the first of six season-opening victories over the Tigers. Prior to the 2001-02 campaign, Missouri won its last season opener against Illinois in 1987 under the direction of then-Head Coach Wes Roper, 19-15.
Both teams will take to the center circle with five wrestlers ranked among the top-25 in the nation in their respective weight class. The 2009-10 campaign marks the eighth straight year in which the Tigers open the season ranked among the top-15 in the nation. For Illinois, 2009 marks the first time in over 10 years that the Fighting Illini are not ranked.
Missouri returns three All-Americans to its 10-man lineup with 2009 defending heavyweight National Champion Mark Ellis ranked the highest of his teammates at No. 1 in the nation. Fellow seniors and two-time All-Americans Maxwell Askren and Nicholas Marable begin the season ranked among the top-10 at 184 and 165 pounds, respectively. Askren, down one weight class from his previous three years of collegiate competition, stands at No. 2 in the nation behind three-time All-American and 2008 National Champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State. Marable, a third place finisher at the 2008 National Championships and seventh-place finisher one year ago, enters the campaign ranked No. 7.
Three Missouri wrestlers, Askren, along with junior Todd Schavrien and sophomore Dorian Henderson, are competing in different weight classes from one year prior. Schavrien, a 2009 NCAA qualifier at 133 pounds, has bumped up to 141 this fall, while Henderson, a 2009 NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds, has dropped to 174 pounds. Both Schavrien and Henderson open the season ranked, Schavrien at No. 18, Henderson as high as No. 14.
Two redshirt freshman are slated to make their first dual appearance Thursday night in the Hearnes Center. Nathan McCormick will wrestle at 133 pounds while Brent Haynes will enter the lineup at 197 pounds. Haynes will take on 12th-ranked senior and three-time NCAA qualifier Patrick Bond of Illinois.
Scouting the Fighting Illini
First year Head Coach Jim Heffernan leads the Fighting Illini in 2009. Heffernan served for 19 years under former Illinois Head Coach Mark Johnson, 17 at Illinois ant two at Oregon State.
For the first time in over 10 years, Illinois opens its season unranked. Last year, Missouri's border opponent finished eighth at the NCAA Championships, aided by three All-Americans (James Kennedy, 133; Michael Poeta, 157; and John Wise, HWT). Two of Illinois' three 2009 All-Americans graduated and fifth place finisher Kennedy (133) will likely redshirt this season. NCAA qualifiers Ryan Prater (141), B.J. Futrell (125) and Jordan Blanton (174) provide seniority to the Fighting Illini's 10-man lineup and are ranked among the top-20 of their respective weight class.
Illinois will challenge seven squads currently ranked among the top-20 in the nation, two hailing from the Big 12 Conference, No. 2 Iowa State and No. 8 Missouri. The Fighting Illini will return to Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 22, for the 10th annual Missouri Open.
Season Openers
In 63 years of Missouri wrestling, the Tigers have amassed a 34-29 record in season openers and sit at 7-4 under current Head Coach Brian Smith. Entering Thursday's bout with Illinois, the Tigers own a six dual home opening streak beginning with their 21-17 win over then-No. 1 Oklahoma State in 2003. The six dual home opening is the longest in program history.
Missouri has opened its season against Illinois on eight prior occasions, and the Fighting Illini hold the 6-2 advantage in season openers and 19-9 lead in the all-time series. Former Missouri Head Coach Hap Whitney was the first Tiger wrestling coach to guide his team to a win over Illinois, doing so during the 1967-68 campaign, 24-9. Missouri's fifth head coach, Bob Kopnisky, owns the most wins over Illinois, four (between 1977-1980). Smith claimed Missouri's first win in four meetings with Illinois by way of a 20-13 victory in 2001.
Missouri's season opener with Illinois marks the 16th time in program history that the Tigers will open the year against a Big Ten school. The Tigers have won their last three season openers against Big Ten programs.
Tigers Return three All-Americans
Competing at the 2009 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, the Missouri wrestling team made history by crowning five All-Americans. Prior to 2009, the most All-Americans Missouri had in a single year was three.
Missouri opens the 2009-10 campaign with three All-Americans in the Tiger's 10-man lineup. This marks the third time in four years, that Missouri's lineup contains three All-Americans. It is also the second straight year, a Missouri first, in which three All-Americans are back in search of top-eight finishes at the National Championship.
Of Missouri's returning All-Americans, two, seniors Maxwell Askren and Nicholas Marable, are two-time honorees. If either earn a top eight finish at the National Tournament, March 18-20, in Omaha, Neb., they would become the first Tiger since Ben Askren to earn three or more All-America accolades. Only Ben Askren, Missouri's first National Champion, has more honors with four (2004-2007).
Back-to-Back All-American Honors
In Missouri's 63 years of wrestling, eight Tigers have earned back-to-back All-America honors. Thirty Tigers have collected 44 honors with 12 earning two or more accolades, but only Dave Young (1981-82), Shaon Fry (1993-94), Scott Barker (2002-03), Ben Askren (2004-07), Tyler McCormick (2006-07), Nicholas Marable (2008-09), Maxwell Askren (2008-09) and Raymond Jordan (2008-09) managed top eight finishes in consecutive years.
Wrestling Homecoming
Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith is welcoming home all former Tiger wrestlers and coaches. The first-ever Missouri wrestling homecoming will be held Nov. 20-22, with activities surrounding the Tiger's Nov. 20 duals with Cal Poly and Purdue. For more information, or to attend, please visit the Missouri wrestling website at www.mutigers.com. Tickets are free to former Missouri wrestlers and coaches and $10 for guests.
The Central Missouri Open
For the first time ever, Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith is taking his entire wrestling squad to the University of Central Missouri Open, Saturday, Nov. 14, in Warrensburg, Mo. The all-day event features several Division I Wrestling programs from across the Midwest. Wrestling will begin at 10 a.m. (CT).
A McCormick Returns to the Lineup
Nathan McCormick, Missouri's starter at 133 pounds, is the third of three brothers that have competed under Head Coach Brian Smith. Thursday's dual against Illinois marks the first time in two years that a McCormick returns to the lineup. Tyler McCormick, the Tiger's current Director of Wrestling Operations, competed for Missouri from 2004-2007 earning All-America accolades in 2006 and 2007 at 133 pounds. The oldest of the three brothers, Chris McCormick, competed at 133 and 141 pounds between2002-2006.