Dec. 31, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 7 Missouri Wrestling program will ring in the New Year at the nationally acclaimed Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., on January 1 and 2. The Tigers are competing in the Scuffle for the third consecutive season, claiming third place as a team the past two years. The program will send 15 grapplers to this year's showcase.
Mizzou has crowned two champions in the past, with 197-pounder Brent Haynes claiming the title in 2012, and two-time All-American Dom Bradley upsetting top-ranked Tony Nelson of Minnesota last year. Bradley was one of seven Tigers to place in 2013, leading Mizzou to 147.5 team points and a third place finish, besting the No. 3 Minnesota Gophers, who would finish in fourth.
The Tigers have eight men seeded in the top-12 of their respective brackets in this year's tournament. Junior Drake Houdashelt and senior Kyle Bradley highlight the list of Mizzou ranked wrestlers, seeded No. 2 and No. 3 in their respective brackets. For a list of all the seedings, visit the tournament's official website, www.TheSouthernScuffle.com.
Just two years after moving to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Southern Scuffle, presented by Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling, has grown into the top in-season collegiate tournament in the nation. Year three looks to be even better, as 34 teams will head to "the Scenic City", making the 2014 field the biggest yet. The event migrated to University of Tennessee-Chattanooga from its previous location at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Action will begin at McKenzie Arena on the UTC campus on January 1, and will continue the following day with the semifinals and finals. The lineup includes four of the top five, and six of the top 10, finishers at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Defending NCAA Champion Penn State highlights the list as the Nittany Lions look to make it three straight team wins at the Scuffle.
FOLLOW LIVE
Follow the Tigers live during this year's Southern Scuffle. Flowrestling will have live video streaming on both days. For more information and links to sign up, click on this link.
Track Wrestling will also have live scoring for each match. Visit trackwrestling.com and search `Southern Scuffle' in the search bar.
As always, follow everything Mizzou Wrestling on our social media sites, either on Facebook, Twitter (@MizzouWrestling) or on Instagram (@MizzouTigerStyle). Use the hashtag #letsscuffle this New Year's Day to chime in on the conversation!