Cox Selected as MAC Wrestler of the Week
2/24/2016 2:20:00 PM | Wrestling
Cox posted his 100th career victory in 16-7 MD over No. 10-ranked Aaron Studebaker
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Wrestling junior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) has been selected as the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week, as announced Wednesday by the conference office. The award is Cox's third all-time MAC weekly honor, after being selected for the award twice last season (Dec. 4, 2014; Jan. 7, 2015).
The award is Mizzou's third of the season after redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) was selected on Dec. 16 and redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.) was named on Feb. 3.
Cox registered his 100th career victory on Feb. 21, in a 16-7 major decision win over Nebraska's No. 10-ranked (NCAA Coaches Panel) Aaron Studebaker in Mizzou's NWCA National Duals Series matchup. The win helped the Tigers defeat the Huskers, 19-14, in the two school's first meeting since 2011 when both schools were still a part of the Big 12 Conference. Cox became the 24th member of Mizzou's 100-win club, doing so faster than any other wrestler in program history (105 matches). Cox also now stands as the wrestler with the best winning percentage among wrestlers with over 100 wins. The hometown hero has a career win percentage of .952 (100-5), slightly ahead of Ben Askren's mark of .950 (153-8).
This season, Cox is 25-1, 15-1 in duals, and has won 12-straight matches. The Tiger junior has defeated seven ranked opponents this season, including a 4-1 win over No. 5-ranked Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) on Dec. 5 in the championship round of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Cox has produced bonus points in 16 of 26 matches this season, including seven technical falls, tied for fifth most in program history for a single season. For his career, Cox has 14 technical falls to his name, fourth-most in program history.
Cox is ranked No. 2 in the nation by the NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings, announced on Feb. 11. The rankings will be one determining factor in the seeding for the 2016 NCAA Championships, March 17-19, in New York City at the historic Madison Square Garden. After winning the National Championship at 197 pounds as a freshman in 2014, Cox finished as an All-American for the second consecutive season at 197 pounds last year, earning fifth place.
Cox and the Tigers look for their fourth straight MAC Tournament title and fifth conference title overall at the 2016 MAC Championships, held March 5-6 in Ypsilanti, MI.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
