Friday, January 19
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
6 p.m.
University of Missouri
at
Central Michigan
MAC Dual Title at Stake in No. 3 @MizzouWrestling's Dual at No. 17 Central Michigan
1/18/2018 10:45:00 AM | Wrestling
Tigers and Chippewas will take the mat at 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday
| MIZZOU SEEKS MAC DUAL TITLE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUALS | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH |
| at Central Michigan | Mount Pleasant, Mich. | Jan. 19 | 6 p.m. CT | ESPN3 |
| NOTES: Match Notes | ||||
MAC DUAL TITLE ON THE LINE IN ROAD DUAL AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
- Mizzou Wrestling will finish its 2017-18 regular season with five consecutive road duals, beginning with Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan on Friday, Jan. 19. The dual is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (CT), and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
- A win would give Mizzou the regular MAC Championship, the third time Mizzou has won the regular season title since joining the conference in 2012-13. The Tigers have won the MAC Tournament Championship five consecutive seasons dating back to 2012-13 (Mizzou was only eligible for the tournament title its first season in the league). The Tigers previously claimed regular season titles in 2014-15 and 2015-16, recording perfect 8-0 MAC records in both seasons.
- Mizzou enters the dual ranked No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll, it highest ranking since Feb. 24, 2015 when Mizzou reached the top spot in the poll following a 2015 NWCA National Duals Championship where Mizzou defeated Iowa. Mizzou has now been ranked in the top-10 in 69 consecutive polls dating back to Nov. 12, 2013, when it was ranked No. 11.
- This season, Mizzou has faired very well against ranked teams, holding a perfect 4-0 mark on the season heading into Friday's matchup against the No. 17-ranked Chippewas.
- The Tigers' 14-0 start to the season is the only the third time in program history Mizzou has started a season 14-0, and the second time under head coach Brian Smith. Mizzou's other 14-0 start under Coach Smith occurred in 2014-15, when the Tigers recorded its first-ever undefeated season, going 24-0 en route to the previously mentioned NWCA National Duals title and its third straight conference title. Coincidently, the last time Mizzou came out of the NCAA Championships with a team trophy was 2014-15, when the Tigers finished fourth.
- Mizzou has dismantled MAC opponents this season, winning five duals by a combined score of 188-25. The Tigers have posted an outstanding 42-8 mark in MAC matches in dual competition this season, and has recorded an average of 4.4 wins by bonus points per match in MAC duals,. Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis has been especially tough against MAC opponents this season, winning all five of his MAC matches by bonus points (three falls, two technical falls.
- With a 19-0 technical fall win over No. 19-ranked Kennedy Monday (North Carolina), redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee become the 27th member of Mizzou's 100-win club. The Tiger senior has also entered the top-10 lists for career technical falls (9) and major decisions (23) this season. A returning NCAA finalist, Lavallee has posted a record of 21-1 this season, including a 13-0 mark in duals.
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
- Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 2012-13, Mizzou Wrestling has been the dominant force within the conference, winning each of the five tournament championships, as well as the dual title in 2014-15 and 2015-16 (Mizzou was only eligible to compete in the conference tournament in 2012-13). In 2017, Mizzou reset its 2015 record by scoring 154.5 points at the MAC Championships, surpassing its 139.5 mark from 2015.
- Mizzou has been especially dominant this season against MAC opponents, as the Tigers have outscored its conference opponents, 188-25, in five duals this season. Mizzou has produced a record of 42-8 in those MAC duals, and have won 22 of those matches by bonus points (4.4 per dual). Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis has been a force to be reckoned with in MAC competition, as the two-time All-American has won each of his MAC matches by bonus points, recording three falls and two technical falls.
- Dating back to Jan. 25, 2014, Mizzou has won 33 of its last 34 duals against MAC foes, with its lone setback occuring in last season's final dual, a 25-10 loss to Northern Iowa on Feb. 12, 2017. In Mizzou's stretch of MAC dual success, the Tigers have outscored the opposition, 1,010-298 in 34 duals.
EIERMAN KNOCKS OFF TOP-RANKED DIAKOMIHALIS
- Redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman recorded the biggest win of his career to-date with a 9-6 win over No. 1-ranked Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) at the South Beach Duals (Dec. 30). Eierman trailed in the bout, 5-3, with 30 seconds remaining when he took the top-ranked wrestler down and brought him to his back for a four-point near-fall to seal the match.
- Eierman has defeated four ranked wrestlers so far this season, and currently possesses an overall record of 18-1, including a perfect 9-0 mark in duals. Among team ranks, the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year currently ranks second in falls (8), second in major decisions (4), third in wins (18) and third in dual points (46).
LAVALLEE JOINS THE 100-WIN CLUB
- Redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee became the 27th member of Mizzou's 100-win club with a dominant 19-0 techincal fall over No. 19-ranked Kennedy Monday (North Carolina) on Dec. 29 at the South Beach Duals. Lavallee is the first Tiger to join the exclusive club since Zach Synon recorded his 100th win at the Edinboro Open last season.
- This season, Lavallee is 19-1 (11-0 in duals), and recently entered the top-10 in program history in career major decisions with 23. The Tiger senior has won 13 matches by bonus points this season, five by major decision, five by technical fall and three by fall.
- Last season, Lavallee roared back onto the scene after a redshirt season in 2015-16, winning the MAC Championship at 157 pounds and earning his first All-America honor by finishing runner-up at the NCAA Championships at 157 pounds. He finished the season with a remarkable record of 29-2 for a winning percentage of .935, the 10th-best single season winning percentage in program history.
TOP-10 STREAK
- Mizzou checked in at No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division-I Coaches Poll on Jan. 9, the 69th consecutive poll that the Tigers have been ranked in the Top-10. It its Mizzou's highest ranking since vaulting to No. 1 on Feb. 24, 2015, following a 2015 NWCA National Duals title.
- The last time Mizzou was not ranked in the top-10 was Nov. 12, 2013, when the Tigers ranked No. 11. Before being out of the top-10 for two polls (No. 13 on Nov. 2, 2013 and No. 11 on Nov. 12, 2013), Mizzou was ranked in the top-10 for the 17 consecutive polls. Since Feb. 14, 2012, Mizzou has been ranked in the top-10 for 86 of the last 88 Coaches Polls.
- During this top-10 streak, Mizzou has been ranked in the top-five of the Coaches Poll for 38 weeks, including its ascension to No. 1 in the Feb. 24, 2015 poll after Mizzou defeated No. 1-ranked Iowa to capture the 2015 NWCA National Duals title.
BONUS POINT MACHINE
- Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis has been a bonus point machine since being inserted into the starting lineup in 2015-16. In 79 total wins, Lewis has recorded bonus points in 73.4 percent of his victories (58-of-79).
- In total, Lewis has recorded 33 falls, 17 major decisions and eight technical falls in his career. A two-time MAC Champion and two-time NCAA All-American, Lewis ranks sixth in program history in career falls, and needs one more technical falls and six more major decisions to join the top-10 lists in program history in those categories.
- Lewis is a perfect 22-0 on the season with a team-leading 13 falls. Lewis also leads the team in dual wins (14), dual points (74) and falls in dual competition (8).
- Lewis' eight falls against Division-I opponents is good enough to rank eighth in the NCAA this season.
- In 2015-16, his first season as an attached wrestler, Lewis went 29-6 and was named the MAC Freshman of the Year after a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships at 165 pounds. He totaled 10 falls, nine major decisions and one technical fall on the season.
- The bonus point victories did not stop in 2016-17, as Lewis went 28-6 and finished sixth at the NCAA Championships at 165 pounds. Lewis totaled 22 wins by bonus points on the season, nine falls, nine major decisions and four technical falls.
ERNESTE TOUGH AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
- Redshirt junior 133-pounder John Erneste has preservered through a challenging stretch to start the season, as the Tiger junior has faced eight ranked wrestlers in the first two months of the season.
- Erneste has proven to be up to the challenge so far, as he as come out victorious in seven of his matches against ranked opponents so far, including a 6-2 win over No. 17-ranked Chaz Tucker (Cornell) in his most recent match (Dec. 30).
- This season, Erneste has posted a record of 16-1 (12-1 in duals), and has recorded bonus point victories in eight wins (six falls, two major decisions).
MARRIOTT ENTERS INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
- Following a close decision loss to Virginia Tech's No. 6-ranked Zack Zavatsky (Nov. 25), redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Canten Marriott has strung together a run of 12 wins in 14 matches, helping him ascend into the top-20 individual rankings for the first time in his career.
- The hot stretch included the first win over ranked opponent for the Park Hill High School product, who defeated North Carolina's No. 16-ranked Chip Ness (Dec. 29), 3-1, in sudden victory.
- This season, Marriott has wrestled to a mark of 18-4 (10-3 in duals), and has recorded eight wins by bonus points with four major decisions, three technical falls and one fall.
- In the individual rankings, Marriott ranks No. 16 at 184 pounds by FloWrestling, No. 18 by The Open Mat and No. 21 by TrackWrestling.
WINS OVER TOP-10 OPPONENTS
- Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mizzou has beaten nine top-10 ranked opponents, including four on the road, and one against the No. 1-ranked team, Iowa, to claim the 2015 NWCA National Dials title. A breakdown of those Top-10 wins are below:
| Opponent | Score | Date |
| at No. 7 Ohio | 25-18 | Dec. 13, 2014 |
| at No. 4 Cornell | 27-9 | Jan. 10, 2015 |
| vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State | 22-10 | Jan. 23, 2015 |
| vs. No. 1 Iowa^ | 18-12 | Feb. 22, 2015 |
| vs. No. 3 Ohio State | 26-17 | Dec. 12, 2015 |
| vs. No. 7 Oklahoma | 31-12 | Jan. 30, 2016 |
| vs. No. 6 Virginia Tech | 23-19 | Nov. 20, 2016 |
| at No. 7 Cornell | 25-11 | Jan. 14, 2017 |
| at No. 10 Virginia Tech | 22-12 | Nov. 25, 2017 |
^ - at the 2015 NWCA National Duals Series
CAN YOU BE PERFECT?
- With the 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan (Jan. 13), Mizzou improved to 14-0 on the season, its second 14-0 start under head coach Brian Smith and the third 14-0 start overall in program history.
- Coincidently, the last time Mizzou began a season 14-0 was the last time Mizzou won a team trophy at the NCAA Championships, as the 2014-15 Tigers went 24-0 in duals before finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships.
- Below is a breakdown of all the 14-0 starts in program history:
| Season | Start | Season's Finish |
| 1967-68 | 15-0 | Big 8 - 5th, NCAA - N/A |
| 2014-15 | 24-0 | MAC D/T Champs, NCAA - 4th |
| 2017-18 | 14-0 | TBD |
MIZZOU CLOSES ITS PERFECT HOME SLATE WITH A WIN OVER EMU
- Mizzou Wrestling closed the home portion of its 2017-18 schedule with a 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 13 .
- With the win, Mizzou finishes with a perfect 8-0 mark in home duals this season, the fourth time in the last five seasons Mizzou has won all of its home duals.
- Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis continued his remarkable season by recording his team-leading 14th fall of the season with a pin over Andrew McNally at 1:48. The Tiger junior is now 22-0 on the season (14-0 in duals), and has recorded bonus point wins in his past 12 matches, including eight falls during over that stretch. Lewis' 14th fall on the season now ranks tied for 10th most in a single season in program history.
- Redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee ended his home career on a high note, pinning J.J. Wolfe at 1:18 in the first period for his fourth fall this season. The Tiger senior improves to 21-1 on the season, with 15 of his victories coming with bonus points. With the win, Lavallee recorded his 104th career win, moving into a tie with 2010 National Champion Max Askren for the 19th-most victories in program history.
- Redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman recorded his second fall in as many matches with a fall over Sa'Derian Perry in the second period (4:27). It was Eierman's 10th fall of the season, as he improves to 20-1 on the season with 16 wins by bonus points.
- Redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus was the fourth Tiger to record bonus points in the dual, as he scored a 17-2 technical fall over Jared Langley. Miklus improves to 13-3 with the victory, and has recorded 11 of his wins with bonus points.
MIZZOU ROUTS BUFFALO
- An incoming cold front pushed the dual up six hours, but it could not cool down Mizzou, who routed Buffalo, 37-6, on Jan. 11 at the Hearnes Center.
- After dropping the first match of the dual, the Tigers ripped off eight straight wins to secure its 13th victory of the season. Mizzou received bonus points wins in five matches, including falls from redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis and redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman.
- Lewis recorded his team-leading 13th fall of the season with a pin over Ryan Kromer at 2:00, while Eierman pinned Nick Casella at 1:53 to record his ninth fall on the season, improving to 19-1 on the season.
- Three other Tigers scored bonus points, as redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Connor Flynn recorded a technical fall, while redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee and redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus won by major decision.
- Flynn improved to 16-6 on the season, while Lavallee moves to 20-1 and Miklus 12-3. Lavallee moves into sole possession of eighth place in program history with 24 career major decisions, while Miklus pulls within five major decisions to enter the top-10 with 18 career major decisions.
Players Mentioned
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