Friday, February 2
DeKalb, Ill.
7 p.m.
University of Missouri
at
Northern Illinois
No. 3 @MizzouWrestling Closes MAC Competition at Northern Illinois
2/1/2018 6:09:00 PM | Wrestling
Mizzou seeks third perfect mark in MAC Duals in four seasons
| NO. 3 MIZZOU AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUALS | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH |
| at Northern Illinois | DeKalb, Ill. | Feb. 2 | 7 p.m. CT | ESPN 3 |
| NOTES: Match Notes | ||||
MIZZOU CLOSES MAC COMPETITION WITH ROAD DUAL AT NIU
- Mizzou Wrestling (16-0, 6-0 MAC) continues will conclude its 2017-18 Mid-American Conference schedule with a road dual at North Illinois (2-7, 0-4 MAC) at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday, Feb. 2. Mizzou enters the dual with a 15-4 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs.
- The Tigers are coming off at 21-19 win at No. 5 Oklahoma State on Jan. 27, its first win in Stillwater since 2009. Since the start of the 2006-07 season, Mizzou has defeated the Cowboys three times in Stillwater, the most wins of any teams to enter the historic Gallagher Iba Arena during that time period.
- Mizzou clinched the MAC Regular Season Dual Championship with a 29-6 win over No. 17 Central Michigan on Jan. 19, its third MAC Dual title in three seasons. 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). Mizzou 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 the Tigers defeated Iowa. Mizzou has now been ranked in the top-10 in 71 consecutive polls dating back to Nov. 12, 2013, when it was ranked No. 11.
- The Tigers' 16-0 start to the season is the only the second time in program history Mizzou has started a season 16-0, with both occurrences coming under head coach Brian Smith. Mizzou's other 16-0 came 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.
- With a fall over two-time defending NCAA Champion Dean Heil, redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman earned MAC and NCAA Wrestler of the Week honors on Jan. 31. With the win, Eierman improved to 22-1 on the season (13-0 duals), with 17 wins coming by bonus points (11 falls, four major decisions, two technical falls).
- Redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth earned MAC Wrestler of the Week honors on Jan. 24 following a win over No. 3-ranked Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) on Jan. 19. Leeth is 17-2 on the season and 13-0 in dual competition, with six wins coming against ranked opponents.
EIERMAN NAMED MAC & NCAA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
- Following a win over the two-time defending NCAA Champion, redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman was named the MAC and NCAA Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 31. Eierman pinned No. 5-ranked Dean Heil on Jan. 27, helping vault Mizzou to a 21-19 win over No. 5 Oklahoma State.
Eierman, who earned NCAA All-America honors and was named the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2016-17, is currently 22-1 on the season, including a 13-0 mark in duals, and has recorded 11 falls, four major decisions and two technical falls. Among team leaders, Eierman ranks second in falls (11), third in major decisions (four), third in wins (22), and third in dual points (67).
MIZZOU UPENDS NO. 5 OKLAHOMA STATE
- Mizzou overcame a 9-0 deficit after two bouts to comeback and defeat No. 5 Oklahoma State, 21-19, on Jan. 27 at Gallagher Iba Arena.
- The win was the first win for the Tigers over the Cowboys since 2015, and the first on the road since 2009 when Mizzou upended the Pokes, 28-6. Since the start of the 2006-07 season, Oklahoma State has lost at home 10 times, with Mizzou leading the way with three wins inside the historic Gallagher Iba Arena.
- Following an injury default loss at 125 pounds and a decision defeat at 133 pounds, redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman provided the first momentum swing of the dual for the Tigers, defeating defending two-time national champion Dean Heil with a pin in the second period. The win was the first of three for the Tigers, who took a 12-9 lead after a 9-5 win from redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee over Jonce Blaylock.
- The Tigers found themselves down once again, 15-12, after a Cowboy pin at 165 pounds, but Mizzou responded with three decision wins from redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis, redshirt freshman 184-pounder Canten Marriott and redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus and to take the lead for good.
MIZZOU BESTS NO. 17 CENTRAL MICHIGAN TO CLAIM MAC DUAL TITLE
- Mizzou Wrestling continued its dominance in the Mid-American Conference, defeating No. 17 Central Michigan, 29-6, to claim the MAC regular season dual championship.
- Mizzou has now won the MAC dual title in three of the last four seasons, after winning it in 2015 and 2016.
- After a setback at 125 pounds, Mizzou rattled off eight straight victories to take control of the dual, building a 29-3 lead behind bonus point victories from redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee, redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis and redshirt freshman 184-pounder Canten Marriott. Lavallee recorded fifth fall on the season, while Lewis and Marriott each recorded major decisions.
TOP-10 STREAK
- Mizzou checked in at No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division-I Coaches Poll on Jan. 23, the 71st 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 88 of the last 90 top-25 Polls.
- During this top-10 streak, Mizzou has been ranked in the top-five of the Coaches Poll for 40 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.
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, 2015-16 and this season, 2017-18 (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, 217-31, in six duals this season. Mizzou has produced a record of 50-10 in those MAC duals, and have won 25 of those matches by bonus points (4.2 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, two technical falls and a major decision.
- Dating back to Jan. 25, 2014, Mizzou has won 34 of its last 35 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, 1,039-304 in 35 duals.
WINS OVER TOP-10 OPPONENTS
- Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mizzou has beaten 10 top-10 ranked opponents, including five 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 No. 5 Oklahoma State | 21-19 | Jan. 27, 2018 |
^ - at the 2015 NWCA National Duals Series
CAN YOU BE PERFECT?
- With the 21-19 win over No. 5 Oklahoma State (Jan. 27), Mizzou improved to 16-0 on the season, its second-ever 16-0 start in program history.
- Coincidently, the last time Mizzou began a season 16-0 was the last time Mizzou won a team trophy at the NCAA Championships. Head Coach Brian Smith's 2014-15 Tigers went 24-0 in duals before finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships.
- Below is a breakdown of all the 16-0 starts in program history:
| Season | Start | Season's Finish |
| 2014-15 | 24-0 | MAC D/T Champs, NCAA - 4th |
| 2017-18 | 16-0 | TBD |
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 technical fall over No. 19-ranked Kennedy Monday (North Carolina) at the South Beach Duals (Dec. 29). 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 23-1 (15-0 in duals), and recently entered the top-10 in program history in career major decisions with 24. The Tiger senior has won 16 matches by bonus points this season, six by major decision, five by technical fall and five 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.
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 81 total wins, Lewis has recorded bonus points in 72.8 percent of his victories (59-of-81).
- In total, Lewis has recorded 33 falls, 18 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 five more major decisions to join the top-10 lists in program history in those categories.
- Lewis is a perfect 24-0 on the season with a team-leading 14 falls. Lewis also leads the team in dual wins (16), dual points (81) and falls in dual competition (8).
- 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.
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 six ranked wrestlers so far this season, and currently possesses an overall record of 22-1, including a perfect 13-0 mark in duals. Among team ranks, the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year currently ranks second in falls (11), third in major decisions (4), third in wins (22) and third in dual points (67).
ERNESTE TOUGH AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
- 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 six ranked wrestlers so far this season, and currently possesses an overall record of 22-1, including a perfect 13-0 mark in duals. Among team ranks, the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year currently ranks second in falls (11), third in major decisions (4), third in wins (22) and third in dual points (67).
- Redshirt junior 133-pounder John Erneste has preservered through a challenging stretch to start the season, as the Tiger junior has faced nine ranked wrestlers in the first three 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) at the South Beach Duals (Dec. 30).
- This season, Erneste has posted a record of 17-2 (13-2 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 14 wins in 16 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.
- Marriott then solidified his spot in the individual rankings with a 9-1 major decision win over No. 14-ranked Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan) to help Mizzou clinch the MAC Dual Title.
- This season, Marriott has wrestled to a mark of 20-4 (12-3 in duals), and has recorded eight wins by bonus points with five major decisions, three technical falls and one fall.
- In the individual rankings, Marriott ranks as high as No. 13 at 184 pounds by Intermat and The Open Mat.
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