Jan. 17, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No.7-ranked Missouri Tigers play host to No. 12 Central Michigan and North Dakota St., January 19 and 20, at the Hearnes Center on Mizzou Wrestling Alumni Weekend. The Tigers hold a flawless dual record of 7-0, including wins over nationally ranked Bloomsburg and Cornell earlier this year. Sunday's dual with Central Michigan marks the school's first conference match as a member of the Mid-American Conference in wrestling.

Senior Dom Bradley moved into the No. 1 ranking at 285 pounds after defeating Minnesota's Tony Nelson in the New Year's Day Southern Scuffle tournament held in Chattanooga, Tenn. Bradley earned a 2-1 decision in overtime over the No. 2-ranked grappler. With 14 takedowns in dual matches and a team-high 22 victories, Bradley is enjoying his strongest season in a Tiger singlet. He is set to face another top-10 wrestler in Central Michigan's Jarod Trice on Sunday afternoon.

Five Tiger wrestlers will take on nationally ranked wrestlers this weekend. No.7-ranked senior captain Nathan McCormick (20-2) is coming off of a third place finish in the Southern Scuffle at 133 pounds. He'll look to continue his strong campaign against Central Michigan's eighth-ranked Scotti Sentes on Sunday. Senior Mike Larson (19-5) continues his quiet surge up the national rankings at 184 pounds. The sixth-ranked Larson will grapple with No. 2 Ben Bennett of Central Michigan. Bennett is undefeated on the year.

Missouri and Central Michigan enter Sunday's dual as the top two ranked teams in the MAC, according to the MAC wrestling coaches January Rankings. The Chippewas have won 11 consecutive MAC championships dating back to 2001. Central Michigan is coming off of a 3-1 turn as a team at the Virginia Duals last weekend in Hampton, VA. The North Dakota State Bison hail from the Western Wrestling Conference and enter the weekend as the league's top ranked squad.

Missouri's match against North Dakota St. will begin on Saturday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. They will finish the weekend against No. 12 Central Michigan on Sunday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m. Saturday is Boy Scout Appreciation Night. Any patron wearing a Boy Scouts uniform will be admitted free. Sunday is Military Appreciation Day. The first 300 people in the Hearnes Center will receive a camouflage Mizzou Wrestling t-shirt.

Here are Missouri's projected starting lineups for this weekend's matches.

No. 7 Missouri vs. North Dakota St.
125 - No. 2 Alan Waters, Jr., (16-0)/Boomer Boyd, RFr., (13-7) vs. No. 6 Trent Sprenkle, Sr., (20-2)
133 - No. 7 Nathan McCormick, Sr., (20-2) vs. Josh Rodriguez, Fr., (18-10)
141 - No. 29 Nicholas Hucke, Sr., (7-7)/ Trevor Jauch, RFr., (21-6)/Eric Wilson, Sr., (14-5) vs. Mark Erickson, Sr., (13-11)
149 - No. 15 Drake Houdashelt, Soph., (16-7) vs. Joe Garner, Sr., (13-11)
157 - No. 20 Kyle Bradley, Jr., (16-8) vs. Hayden Zillmer, R-Fr., (9-8)/Anthony Caputo, R-Fr., (2-2)
165 - No. 10 Zach Toal, Jr., (16-8) vs. No. 6 Steven Monk, Jr., (24-3)
174 - No. 15 Todd Porter, Sr., (19-6) vs. Kurtis Julson, So., (11-11)
184 - No. 6 Mike Larson, Sr., (19-5)/Johnny Eblen, Soph., (19-3) vs. No. 19 Mac Stoll, Sr., (12-7)/Kody Sorenson, R-Fr., (9-3)
197 - No. 11 Brent Haynes, Sr., (20-4) vs. Kallen Kleinschmidt, Sr., (8-10)
HWT - No. 1 Dom Bradley, Sr., (22-0)/Devin Mellon, Soph., (21-3) vs. Evan Knutson, So., (11-11)/John Gusewelle, So., (9-11)

No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 12 Central Michigan
125 - No. 2 Alan Waters, Jr., (16-0)/Boomer Boyd, RFr., (13-7) vs. No. 9 Christian Cullinan (14-5)/Joe Roth (13-3)
133 - No. 7 Nathan McCormick, Sr., (20-2) vs. No. 8 Scotti Sentes (10-4)/Tyler Keslering (18-4)
141 - No. 29 Nicholas Hucke, Sr., (7-7)/ Trevor Jauch, RFr., (21-6)/Eric Wilson, Sr., (14-5) vs. Scott Mattingly (13-11)
149 - No. 15 Drake Houdashelt, Soph., (16-7) vs. Donnie Corby (12-8)
157 - No. 20 Kyle Bradley, Jr., (16-8) vs. Lucas Smith (12-6)
165 - No. 10 Zach Toal, Jr., (16-8) vs. Mike Ottinger (11-13)/Dakota Cooley (14-10)
174 - No. 15 Todd Porter, Sr., (19-6) vs. No. 20 Craig Kelliher (17-8)/Anthony Bill (7-10)
184 - No. 6 Mike Larson, Sr., (19-5)/Johnny Eblen, Soph., (19-3) vs. No. 2 Ben Bennett (14-0)
197 - No. 11 Brent Haynes, Sr., (20-4) vs. Jackson Lewis (9-13)
HWT - No. 1 Dom Bradley, Sr., (22-0)/Devin Mellon, Soph., (21-3) vs. No. 6 Jarod Trice (13-1)

GAME NOTES
The Tigers have yet to surrender more than 3 points in a home dual meet this season. Missouri wrestling will host a bevy of former Tiger wrestlers for Mizzou Wrestling Alumni Weekend. Among those expected to attend are Chris and Tyler McCormick and current mixed-martial arts fighter Michael Chandler. Chandler is scheduled to defend his lightweight title in the Bellator Fighting Championship on January 17. These alumni will be honored before Sunday's dual against Central Michigan.

WHAT'S NEXT
Following this weekend's duals, Missouri will continue their march through the MAC slate. The Tigers will travel to Dekalb, Ill., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, next weekend for a trio of conference dual meets against Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Northern Iowa. For all the latest on Missouri wrestling, follow us on Twitter account (@MizzouWrestling) and right here on MUTigers.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Mark your calendars for the annual Beauty and the Beast event at the Hearnes Center on February 1! The event will showcase a much-anticipated dual against former Big 12 rival and the No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Missouri's Gymnastics program will face off against SEC foe Auburn during the event. Tickets still remain but are going quick, so get yours today by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS.