RALEIGH, N.C. –No. 5 Mizzou Wrestling (13-2, 8-0 MAC) dropped its second dual of the season, falling 18-17, to N.C. State (22-1, 4-1 ACC) Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C. The Tigers won five bouts in the dual, earning bonus points in two bouts from redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.) and redshirt senior 174-pounder Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.).
Redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.) started the dual off for the Tigers, earning a 5-2 decision over No. 20-ranked Sean Fausz. McGhee and Fausz were tied, 2-2, heading into the third and final period before McGhee scored an escape and a takedown in the final minute for the victory.
The Tigers trailed 6-3 when Mayes stepped onto the mat against Beau Donahue. Mayes scored a two-point near-fall in the first period and led 6-1 heading into the second period. Mayes added multiple takedowns in the second and third periods to increase his lead, earning a major decision with a 14-4 final.
Next, redshirt senior 157-pounder Le'Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.) held his own against No. 4-ranked and undefeated Tommy Gantt. The Wolfpack grappler scored five points in the second period, while Barnes fought back to earn two points in the third. His comeback would fall just short, as Gantt grabbed the 5-2 decision win to give N.C. State a 9-7 lead heading into the intermission.
The Tigers grabbed the first two wins following the break to regain the lead at 14-10. First, redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) upended No. 6-ranked Max Rohskopf, 6-1. The win was Lewis' sixth win over a ranked opponent this season as the Blue Springs High School product improved to 21-4 on the season and 11-2 in dual competition. Next, Butler picked up his sixth straight win in a dominating 12-4 win over Nicky Hall. Butler score quickly, posting two takedowns in the first minute of the first period for a quick 4-0 lead. After adding two more first period points, Butler added three points in the second and two more in the third. Riding time gave Butler his 12th point for the 12-4 major decision.
At 197 pounds, junior J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) defeated Malik McDonald, 5-1, to give the Tigers a 17-13 lead. With one bout remaining, N.C. State needed a technical fall or pin at heavyweight to overcome the Tigers. The Wolfpack got it from two-time National Champion Nick Gwiazdowski, who defeated James Romero via technical fall, 17-1, at 1:42.
After winning the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Championship, the Tigers have already clinched their spot in the NWCA National Duals. Mizzou will find out its opponent when the organization announces the pairings tonight, Sunday, Feb. 14 or tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 15. The Tigers will visit one Big Ten school for a singular dual matchup, held either Sunday, Feb. 21 or Monday, Feb. 22.
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Match-By-Match Results
125: Barlow McGhee (Mizzou) def. Sean Fausz (N.C. State) by 5-2 decision
133: Jamal Morris (N.C. State) def. Zach Synon (Mizzou) by 3-0 decision
141: Kevin Jack (N.C. State) def. Matt Manley (Mizzou) by 4-2 decision
149: Lavion Mayes (Mizzou) def. Beau Donahue (N.C. State) by 14-4 major decision
157: Tommy Gantt (N.C. State) def. Le'Roy Barnes (Mizzou) by 5-2 decision
165: Daniel Lewis (Mizzou) def. Max Rohskopf (N.C. State) by 6-1 decision
174: Blaise Butler (Mizzou) def. Nicky Hall (N.C. State) by 12-4 major decision
184: Pete Renda (N.C. State) def. Willie Miklus (Mizzou) by 11-0 major decision
197: J'den Cox (Mizzou) def. Malik McDonald (N.C. State) by 5-1 decision
HWT: Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State) def. James Romero (Mizzou) by 17-1 technical fall (1:42)
