No. 7 @MizzouWrestling Continues Homestand with Northern Illinois

Saturday, February 4

Columbia, Mo.

2 p.m.

University of Missouri

Northern Illinois

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No. 7 @MizzouWrestling Continues Homestand with Northern Illinois

2/3/2017 11:51:00 AM | Wrestling

The Tigers and Huskies are slated for 2 p.m. start on Saturday at the Hearnes Center

MATCH DAY - Saturday, Feb. 4
Northern Illinois (Match Notes)	Columbia, Mo.	Saturday, Feb. 4	2 p.m. (CT)	WATCH Live Results

MATCH DAY - Saturday, Feb. 4

OPPONENT

LOCATION

DAY

TIME

MEDIA

Northern Illinois

(Match Notes)

Columbia, Mo.

Saturday, Feb. 4

2 p.m. (CT)

WATCH
Live Results

Mizzou Continues Home Stretch with MAC Opponent Northern Illinois

Mizzou Wrestling continues its homestand with its third-straight dual at the Hearnes Center when the No. 7 Tigers host Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday, Feb. 4. Mizzou Network will provide a free online stream of the broadcast through MUTigers.com.
Mizzou holds the upper-hand in the all-time series, leading the Huskies, 14-4, including an all-time 8-0 mark in Columbia and a 4-0 mark since joining the MAC. Last season, Mizzou went to DeKalb and defeated Northern Illinois, 26-14, to clinch its second straight MAC regular season conference title.
The Tigers enter the dual with a 27-dual win streak in MAC duals dating back to the 2013-14 season. During that stretch, Mizzou has outscored its opponents, 774-255. Mizzou seeks its third straight MAC regular season conference title and will do so with wins over Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa (Feb. 12).
Mizzou is coming off its third loss of the season as the Tigers pushed No. 1 Oklahoma State to the brink in a 20-16 loss on Jan. 27. Underdogs in nine of 10 bouts, the Tigers snagged wins in five matches, including at 174 pounds where redshirt freshman Dylan Wisman upset No. 6 Kyle Crutchmer, 4-1. The win helped vault Wisman into the national picture as he ranked in at No. 18 in The Open Mat and No. 22 in TrackWrestling's individual rankings.
All season, #TigerStyle has been led by its top-four wrestlers, senior 197-pounder J'den Cox (No. 1), redshirt senior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (No. 2), redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (No. 4) and redshirt junior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (No. 5), who all rank in the top-five of the individual rankings. The four wrestlers are a combined 70-4 this season and have yet to be defeated in dual competition (40-0).

#MACtion Domination

As Mizzou seeks its third straight MAC regular season title and fifth straight MAC conference tournament championship, the Tigers have now won 27 straight MAC duals dating back to the 2013-14 season. Mizzou's last MAC dual loss came to the hands of Northern Iowa, 24-10, on Jan. 24, 2014, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
In Mizzou's 27-dual conference win streak, Mizzou has outscored MAC opponents, 774-255, including shutouts over Northern Illinois (31-0 on Jan. 25, 2014) and Buffalo (41-0 on Feb. 7, 2014) to begin the streak.
Since entering the MAC prior to the 2012-13 season, Mizzou has gone 32-2 in conference duals, falling only to Northern Iowa in 2014 and Central Michigan in its first year in the league, 17-16, on Jan. 20, 2013.
Mizzou's murderer's row of senior 197-pounder J'den Cox, redshirt senior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes, redshirt junior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee, and redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis has been nearly untouchable in MAC competition throughout their careers, going a combined 76-7 in MAC duals. Cox (24-2) and Mayes (24-3) lead the way with 24 wins, each, while Lavallee is 16-2 and Lewis, in his second year as an attached wrestler, is 12-0 in MAC dual competition.

Cox's Pursuit of a Perfect Season

Only one wrestler in program history, Ben Askren, has finished a season with an umblemished record. Askren did so twice, in 2005-06 and 2006-07, capturing the National Title at 174 pounds and the Dan Hodge Trophy following both seasons. Senior 197-pounder J'den Cox, Mizzou's only remaining undefeated wrestler in 2016-17, seeks to become the second-ever wrestler to record an undefeated season and the first wrestler in program history to win three NCAA Titles.
Cox is 17-0 on the season and 9-0 in dual competition, registering bonus point victories in 12 of 17 victories. Among team leaders, Cox ranks first in technical falls with five, fourth in dual wins with nine and second in dual points with 35.
Cox has certainly been challenged this season, facing eight ranked opponents, including five ranked in the top-10. Cox has overcome each challenge so far this season, outscoring ranked opponents, 57-17.
Dating back to last season, Cox has now won 37 straight matches, recording bonus points in 26 of those victories.

Wisman's Upset Puts Him into the Individual Rankings

Redshirt freshman 174-pounder Dylan Wisman's upset over No. 6 Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) on Jan. 27 vaulted him into the individual rankings for the second time this season, checking in at No. 18 in The Open Mat and No. 22 in TrackWrestling's individual rankings.
Wisman entered the individual rankings for the first time in his career on Jan. 16, ranking in at No. 19 in The Open Mat individual rankings after a four-match win streak.
In his four match win streak, Wisman defeated Matt Reed (Oklahoma) by fall (2:59) on Jan. 8 and David Kasper (Eastern Michigan) by 9-1 major decision on Jan. 15. Wisman also defeated Brandon Womack (Cornell), 9-4, on Jan. 14. Womack entered the match ranked No. 14 at 165 pounds.
Wisman is now 9-5 on the season, 7-3 in duals, recording bonus point victories in four wins (two falls, two major decisions).

Lewis On Fire

Following his second loss of the season in the Southern Scuffle finals, redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis flipped a switch and has been on a tear ever-since, earning five straight victories, including a four-match streak where he defeated the opposition by a combined score of 58-0.
Lewis earned the first MAC Wrestler of the Week honor of his career on Jan. 18 following a 3-0 week where he outscored his opponents, 41-0, earning two major decisions and a technical fall.
Lewis began his streak with a 12-0 major decision over Austin Weigel (Buffalo) on Jan. 12. Lewis scored two takedowns and two near-falls in the opening period to take an 8-0 lead before stretching his lead to 12-0 for the final major decision. Next, Lewis earned a 17-0 technical fall in the first period over Joey Galasso (Cornell) on Jan. 14. Galasso was ranked No. 16 at 149 pounds, but proved to be no challenge to the All-American Lewis. Then, Lewis earned a 12-0 major decision over Devan Marry (Eastern Michigan) on Jan. 15. Lewis scored quickly again against Marry, scoring 10 points in the opening period before yielding the 12-0 major decision.
Lewis posted his second first-period technical fall in as many weeks with a 17-0 win over Logan Parks (Central Michigan) on Jan. 22. Lewis scored a takedown 15 seconds into the match and added four separate near-falls plus a riding point to earn the 17-0 result.
The Tiger sophomore avenged his Scuffle finals loss to Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State) on Jan. 27, scoring a last second takedown to defeat the fourth-ranked Rogers. The two grapplers were tied, 9-9, with time running out, but Rogers essentially led, 10-9, because he had riding time locked up. With the clock approaching zeros, Lewis got to Rogers' leg and executed the takedown for two points and the victory.

Lewis, The Pin Artist

Redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis is now 19-2 on the season and 11-0 in duals.
The Tiger sophomore leads the team in dual points with 46, and falls with six. In a season and a half as an attached wrestler, Lewis is 23-2 in dual competition, including a perfect 12-0 in MAC duals.
Known as a "pin artist", Lewis leads the teams in wins by fall this season, registering six falls, including two at the Southern Scuffle. He has pinned 16 opponents during his two seasons as an attached wrestler after scoring 10 wins by fall in 2015-16. In addition, during his redshirt season (2014-15), Lewis posted falls in 15 of his 21 wins.

First NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings Released

Seven wrestlers were ranked in the first NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings. Among the seven wrestlers, four Tigers are ranked in the top-10, including senior 197-pounder J'den Cox, who is first at 197 pounds.
Redshirt senior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes checks in at No. 4, while redshirt junior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee and redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Daniel Lewis each ranked at No. 6 in their respective weight classes.
Redshirt freshman 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman ranks in at No. 10, while redshirt sophomore 133-pounder John Erneste checks in at No. 13 and redshirt junior 125-pounder Barlow McGhee at No. 18.

Erneste Makes the Most of His Opportunity

Following redshirt freshman 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman's move up a weight class from 133 to 141 pounds, redshirt sophomore 133-pounder John Erneste helped fill a void in the Tigers' starting lineup at 133 pounds.
Erneste first competed as Mizzou's starter while at the Southern Scuffle, where he impressed by going 5-2 and finishing fifth at one of the nation's toughest in-season tournaments. At the Scuffle, Erneste posted two wins by bonus points, including a 9-0 major decision over No. 14 Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) to capture fifth place. The win was Erneste's first career win over a ranked opponent.
Following the Scuffle, Erneste has gone 5-0 in dual competition, posting two wins over ranked opponents and two wins by bonus points.
For the year, Erneste is 19-5 and 6-1 in dual competition. Erneste's five falls both rank second on the team, while his 19 wins and four major decisions rank fourth on the team.

Eierman Transitions to 141 Pounds

After struggling with weight at 133 pounds, redshirt freshman 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman made the switch to 141 pounds prior to the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2.
Eierman proved to be more comfortable at 141 pounds, going 7-2 at the Scuffle while placing fifth, recording three technical falls in the process.
Since making the jump, Eierman is 4-1 in dual competition, posting bonus points in three victories.
On the season, Eierman is 18-5 and 7-3 in dual competition. He ranks sixth on the team in total victories with 18, third in technical falls with four, fourth in dual points with 32 and first in dual falls with three.

Cox's Ascension Up the Record Book

Senior 197-pounder J'den Cox's outstanding Tiger career will come to an end following the 2016-17 season, but not before he leaves his mark on the Mizzou Wrestling record book.
The two-time National Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist ranks sixth in program history in career wins with 125 and first in winning percentage among wrestlers with over 100 wins at .962 (125-5).
Cox also ranks second in career technical falls with 19 and third in career major decisions with 28. The Tiger senior is also nearing the top-10 in career falls with 24. Alan Waters, Mark Cody and Nathan McCormick are all tied for eighth all-time in program history with 27 falls.

Cox Named to WIN Magazine's Dan Hodge Trophy Preseason Candidate List

Senior 197-pounder J'den Cox was named to the Dan Hodge Trophy Preseason Candidate List, announced by WIN Magazine on Dec. 9. Cox was one of eight wrestlers named to the list for the Hodge, which is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in college football, and is the most prestigious award in college wrestling.
Only one other Tiger wrestler, Ben Askren, has ever captured college wrestling's most prestigous prize. Askren won the 2006 and 2007 Dan Hodge Trophies after finishing both seasons as the NCAA Champion at 174 pounds.
Cox is one of two Tiger wrestlers (Ben Askren) to win two NCAA Titles and one of four (Ben Askren, Max Askren and Drake Houdashelt) to earn All-America honors three times.

Lavallee's Hot Start

After taking a redshirt last season, redshirt junior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee has roared back onto the scene in 2016-17, recording bonus points in eight of 20 wins (four major decisions, one technical fall, one fall) and capturing the UNI championship at 157 pounds on Dec. 3.
Lavallee is 20-1 on the season, 10-0 in duals, and is tied for second on the team in dual points with 35. The Tiger junior owns six ranked wins so far this season, defeating No. 17 Sal Mastriani (Virginia Tech) via major decision, 15-5 on Nov. 20 and No. 19 Jake Ryan by way of a 12-5 decision on Dec. 8 in duals. At the Scuffle, Lavallee defeated No. 7 Jake Short (Minnesota), 2-1, and No. 11 Andrew Atkinson (Virginia), 9-5, to claim third at the Scuffle on Jan. 2. Lavallee most recently defeated No. 7 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan), 3-1, in a thrilling sudden victory match on Jan. 22 and No. 5 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State), 6-1, on Jan. 27.

100 Wins for Mayes

Redshirt senior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes recorded his 100th career victory in Mizzou's season-opening dual against Old Dominion. Mayes defeated Michael Hayes by way of a 9-4 decision to reach the century milestone.
Mayes becomes the 25th member of Mizzou's exclusive 100-win club and first to reach the mark since senior 197-pounder J'den Cox reached the mark last season in a 16-7 major decision win over Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska) on Feb. 21, 2016.
Mayes currently owns a record of 113-22 and is ranked fifth in program history in career major decisions with 27 and seventh in winning percentage for wrestlers with over 100 wins with a winning percentage of .837 (113-22).
In a breakout sophomore campaign (2014-15), Mayes went 38-4 at 141 pounds, finishing as an All-American with a seventh-place performance at the NCAA Championships. Mayes went 20-1 in dual competion throughout the year (6-1 in MAC duals) and recorded nine major decisions.
Last year, Mayes went 32-3 en route to his second straight year on the podium, this time at 149 pounds. Mayes finished third at the weight class in New York City, defeating Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State) in the third place bout after falling to the Cowboy in the quarterfinals.