Defending National Champion Mark Ellis will take on No. 1 Jared Rosholt of Oklahoma State on Sunday.Defending National Champion Mark Ellis will take on No. 1 Jared Rosholt of Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Wrestling

Tigers Host Sooners, Cowboys

Feb. 5, 2010

Columbia, MO - The Missouri wrestling team (7-4, 1-0 Big 12) will host its final two home duals of the regular season this weekend, beginning with a Saturday, Feb. 7 contest against No. 9 Oklahoma (13-2-1, 1-1-1 Big 12), at 7:00 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center. Working in conjunction with the Missouri gymnastics squad, the Tigers will host the fourth annual Beauty and the Beast event in which wrestling and gymnastics will compete simultaneously on the Hearnes Center floor.

The annual event, which last year drew over 4,000 fans, offers spectators the opportunity to see two events at one time. This year, the No. 11 Missouri gymnastics squad will host New Hampshire beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CT), while wrestling will begin a half hour later, at 7:00 p.m. (CT). Entrance to the event is $5 for adults, $2 for youth, or free with two canned food items to be donated to the Central Missouri Food Bank.

Missouri enters the weekend ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation. The Tigers opened up the Big 12 Conference schedule with a 22-16 win over Nebraska on Jan. 29 in Lincoln.

Missouri's 10-man lineup is headlined by No. 3 ranked Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wisc.) at 184 pounds. Along with Askren, five other Tiger grapplers are among the top 20 of their respective weight classes.

Led by Head Coach Jack Spates, No. 9 Oklahoma enters the evening dual with eight Sooners ranked among the top-20 of their respective weight class. Dropping their Big 12 opener to No. 2 Iowa State on Jan. 22 by a score of 21-12. The Sooners defeated Nebraska on Thursday by a score of 22-15 to even their conference record at 1-1. Though the Sooners dominating lead in the all-time series with Missouri, 39-8, the Tigers have won the past four meetings.

Missouri's final home dual of the year is set for Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. (CT) against Oklahoma State. OSU (11-2-1) leads the series, 32-4-1. The Tigers will recognize its three seniors prior to the start of the afternoon dual, so fans are encouraged to come early.

Oklahoma State comes into the weekend ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation. The Cowboys are 0-1 in the conference after coming up just short of Iowa State, taking a 20-18 defeat on Jan. 24 in Stillwater. OSU took a 30-6 win over Northern Iowa on Thursday.