CLEVELAND, Ohio. – For the third consecutive month, No. 5 Mizzou Wrestling was ranked first in the Mid-American Conference February Wrestling Rankings, announced Thursday by the conference office. Six #TigerStyle grapplers were ranked first in their respective weight classes and two were ranked second.
Junior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.), redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa), redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.), redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.) all ranked atop of their respective weight classes. Redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.) and redshirt sophomore Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.) both ranked second in their respective weight classes.
As a team, Mizzou earned 30.0 points in the latest poll, determined by voting in the individual rankings. A team receives four points for a wrestler ranked first, three points for a second-place ranking, two points for a third-place ranking, and one point for a fourth-place ranking. The Tigers sit 13 points ahead of second place Central Michigan.
Last weekend, #TigerStyle picked up two wins to improve to 11-1 overall and 7-0 in conference competition. On Saturday, the Tigers defeated their sixth ranked opponent of the season with a 31-12 win over No. 7 Oklahoma. Then, on Sunday, Mizzou downed Old Dominion, 29-6, on senior night to stay perfect in MAC competition. With a win on Sunday, the Tigers will win the MAC Regular Season Championship for the second consecutive season.
The Tigers return to the mat on Sunday, Feb. 8, with a visit to Dekalb, Ill., to face Northern Illinois in the final MAC dual of the season. The dual is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN3.com.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
2016 MAC February Rankings (Feb. 4, 2016)
1. Missouri (30.0)
2. Central Michigan (17.0)
3. Northern Iowa (14.0)
4. Ohio (11.5)
5. Kent State (10.5)
6. Old Dominion (7.5)
7. Eastern Michigan (4.5)
t-8. Northern Illinois (2.5)
t-8. Buffalo (2.5)
2016 MAC February Weight Class Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Junior); 2. Barlow McGhee (Missouri, Redshirt Sophomore); 3. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion, Junior).
133 – 1. Zach Synon (Missouri, Redshirt Junior); t-2. Mack McGuire (Kent State, Senior); t-2. Cameron Kelly (Ohio, Freshman); 4. Corey Keener (Central Michigan, Junior).
141 – 1. Matt Manley (Missouri, Redshirt Junior); 2. Zach Horan (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Trevor Jauch (Northern Iowa, Senior); t-4. Chris Mecate (Old Dominion, Senior); t-4. Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois, Redshirt Freshman).
149 – 1. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Redshirt Junior); 2. Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion, Senior); 3. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Mike DePalma (Kent State, Senior).
157 – 1. Ian Miller (Kent State, Senior); 2. Lucas Smith (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Spartak Chino (Ohio, Senior); 4. Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa, Freshman).
165 – 1. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman); 2. Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa, Junior); 3. Dakota Juarez (Eastern Michigan, Redshirt Freshman); 4. Austin Reese (Ohio, Redshirt Freshman).
174 – 1. Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan, Senior); 2. Blaise Butler (Missouri, Redshirt Senior); 3. Cody Walters (Ohio, Senior); 4. Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois, Junior).
184 – 1. Willie Miklus (Missouri, Redshirt Sophomore); 2. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Junior); 3. Andrew Romanchik (Ohio, Senior); 4. Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan, Sophomore).
197 – 1. J'den Cox (Missouri, Junior); 2. Kyle Conel (Kent State, Redshirt Freshman); 3. Phil Wellington (Ohio, Senior); 4. Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois, Junior).
HWT – 1. Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa, Senior); t-2. Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan, Sophomore); t-2. Jake Gunning (Buffalo, Redshirt Freshman); 4. Newton Smerchek (Central Michigan, Sophomore).
