MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Mizzou Wrestling (9-0, 6-0) won its 37th consecutive dual Sunday afternoon as the No. 4-ranked Tigers took down No. 19 Central Michigan (5-2, 2-1), 26-9, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. #TigerStyle claimed seven individual wins on the day, led by redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa), who earned a first-period fall. Junior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) each picked up major decision wins for the Tigers.
With the win, Mizzou extends its dual win streak to 37 consecutive victories. The No. 19-ranked Chippewas was Mizzou's 14th win over a ranked opponent during the streak.
Starting off the dual for the Tigers was redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.), who earned a 9-4 decision win over Brent Fleetwood, who enter the match ranked No. 16. The next two Mizzou grapplers needed extra time to secure wins. Redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) and redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.) each scored escapes in overtime to earn one-points wins. Synon defeated Corey Keener, 5-4, while Manley took down No. 15-ranked Zach Horan.
Next, redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.) earned the Tigers fourth consecutive win to start the dual, 5-4, over No. 10 Colin Heffernan. The win extended Mizzou's lead to 12-0. After redshirt senior 157-pounder Le'Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.) came up short of an upset over No. 8-ranked Lucas Smith, Lewis took to the mat for the Tigers against Jordan Atineza. Lewis dominated Atienza for the duration of the match, earning a four-point near-fall on his way to an 11-0 major decision.
In the 184-pound match, Miklus faced off against Jordan Ellingwood. Miklus, who entered the match undefeated in dual competition, wasted no time scoring bonus points for the seventh time in his ninth dual match of the season, scoring a fall near the end of the first period. Miklus has now accounted for 44 dual points this season to lead the Tigers. At 197-pounds, Cox fell just short of a technical fall, earning a 16-3 major decision over Jackson Lewis. Cox is second on the team in dual points, with 35 points now to his name.
Mizzou will face another ranked team in its next contest, Friday Jan. 22 at No. 5-ranked Oklahoma State. The dual from Stillwater, Okla. Is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Match-By-Match Results
125: Barlow McGhee (Mizzou) def. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan) by 9-4 decision
133: Zach Synon (Mizzou) def. Corey Keener (Central Michigan) by 5-4 TB-1
141: Matt Manley (Mizzou) def. Zach Horan (Central Michigan) by 2-1 TB-1
149: Lavion Mayes (Mizzou) def. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan) by 5-4 decision
157: Lucas Smith (Central Michigan) def. Le'Roy Barnes (Mizzou) by 3-2 decision
165: Daniel Lewis (Mizzou) def. Jordan Atienza (Central Michigan) by 11-0 major decision
174: Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan) def. Blaise Butler (Mizzou) by 3-2 decision
184: Willie Miklus (Mizzou) Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan) by fall (2:24)
197: J'den Cox (Mizzou) def. Jackson Lewis (Central Michigan) by 16-3 major decision
HWT: Newton Smerchek (Central Michigan) def. James Romero (Mizzou) by 4-0 decision
