COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri Wrestling started the season Saturday with the annual Black & Gold Dual at the Hearnes Center. The two teams ended in a 26-26 tie, coming down to sudden victory in the final match.
Dominant performances from redshirt juniors Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo) and Connor Flynn (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) helped to keep the competition close. The Black team held the lead for the majority of the meet, but the Gold team made a comeback, winning the final four matches.
Redshirt sophomore Colby Smith (Wentzville, Mo.) for the Black team defeated redshirt freshman Cameron Valdiviez (Kansas City, Mo.) 13-1 in the first match of the day. Smith dominated the matchup, recording six near-fall points and a handful of takedowns to lead him to the win.
Redshirt senior John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo.) earned the Gold team their first points with a 2-0 victory over redshirt freshman Allan Hart (Akron, Ohio).
Redshirt junior Jaydin Eierman logged an impressive 25 points in his technical fall victory over redshirt senior Nick Nasenbeny (Plainfield, Ill.). Eierman had a dominant second period, defeating Nasenbeny 25-10.
Redshirt sophomore Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) faced off against redshirt junior Alex Butler (Rockford, Ill.). Leeth defeated Butler with a score of 5-2.
In a series of four consecutive victories, the black team increased their lead over the gold squad. Freshman Brock Mauller (Columbia, Mo.) helped contributed with a 21-5 victory over redshirt junior Sam Ritchie (St Peters, Mo.). Mauller tallied five takedowns in his victory.
Redshirt freshman Lane Stigall (Aurora, Ore.) defeated freshman Jarrett Jacques (Columbia, Mo.) with a score of 6-4. Redshirt junior Luke Fortuna (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) narrowly defeated Derick McDaniel, 5-4, and redshirt junior Phyllip Deloach (Alton, Ill.) logged an impressive victory over freshman Derick McDaniel, with a score of 13-3.
Connor Flynn moved the momentum in the Gold team's favor with a 18-1 victory over freshman Martell Boone.
Dylan Wisman (Winchester, Va.) faced off against freshman Jeremiah Kent (Columbia, Mo.), and won with a score of 7-0.
Redshirt sophomore Wyatt Koelling (Kaysville, Ut.) began the Gold team comeback, with a 3-1 victory over redshirt junior Taylor Watkins (Columbus, Kan.). An injury to Black team's Jack Flynn (Dardenne Prairie, Mo) earned freshman Cordel Duhart (Olathe, Kan.) a win by default. Freshman Zach Elam (Kansas City, Mo.) had a dominant third period against redshirt junior Austin Myers (Plainfield, Ill.), and earned a 7-1 victory.
Redshirt sophomores Rodrigo Diaz (Lafayette, La.) and Jacob Bohlken (Smithville, Mo) went into sudden death tied at five. A last second takedown by Bohlken earned him the 7-5 victory and completed the Gold team's comeback.
The Tigers start regular season competition Saturday, Nov 3 at Illinois.
