Saturday, March 3
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
11 a.m.
University of Missouri
vs
MAC Championships Day 1
No. 3 @MizzouWrestling Seeks Seventh Straight Conference Title at MAC Championships
3/1/2018 8:52:00 AM | Wrestling
Mizzou enters tournament with eight No. 1 seeds
| 2018 MAC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOURNAMENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH |
| MAC Championships | Mt. Pleasant, Mich. | March 3-4 | Sat. - 11 a.m. CT Sun. - 10:30 a.m. CT |
ESPN 3 |
| NOTES: Match Notes | ||||
MIZZOU SEEKS SEVENTH STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLE
- Mizzou Wrestling (19-0, 7-0 MAC) heads to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., in search of its seventh consecutive conference championship at the 2018 MAC Wrestling Championships. Wrestling will start at 11 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, and will continue Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (CT) with the finals. A live stream of the tournament will be available on ESPN3.com through the WatchESPN app.
- The Tigers enter the tournament as heavy favorites to repeat as MAC Tournament Championships for the sixth straight season as Mizzou has No. 1 seeds in eight of 10 weight classes. Last season, Mizzou won its fifth straight MAC championship (sixth overall, won Big 12 in 2012) with a program record six individual titles and a conference record 154.5 points.
- Mizzou concluded the dual season with a perfect 19-0 mark, its second-ever perfect season, as the Tigers matched the 2014-15 team that went 24-0 and won an NWCA National Duals title. Coincidently, the last time Mizzou came out of the NCAA Championships with a team trophy was 2014-15, when the Tigers finished fourth.
- The Tigers finished off the MAC portion of its dual schedule with a 24-12 win over Northern Illinois on Feb. 2, capping a perfect 7-0 mark, the third time in the last four seasons Mizzou has done so. In seven MAC duals this season, the Tigers have outscored its conference opponents, 241-43. Dating back to Jan. 25, 2014, Mizzou has won 35 of its last 36 duals against MAC foes, with its lone setback occurring 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, 1,063-316 in 36 duals.
- 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 four seasons. The Tigers have won the MAC Tournament Championship for 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 finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll for the sixth consecutive week, 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 74 consecutive polls dating back to Nov. 12, 2013, when the Tigers were ranked No. 11.
- 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. This season, Eierman has posted a record of 24-1 on the season (15-0 duals), with 18 wins coming by bonus points (12 falls, four major decisions, two technical falls).
THIRD NCAA COACHES PANEL RANKINGS ANNOUNCED
| Wrestler | NCAA Ranking | RPI |
| Barlow McGhee (125 lbs). | No. 33 | NR |
| John Erneste (133 lbs.) | No. 7 | NR |
| Jaydin Eierman (141 lbs.) | No. 1 | No. 1 |
| Grant Leeth (149 lbs.) | No. 3 | No. 2 |
| Joey Lavallee (157 lbs.) | No. 3 | No. 13 |
| Connor Flynn (165 lbs.) | No. 23 | No. 20 |
| Daniel Lewis (174 lbs.) | No. 3 | No. 6 |
| Canten Marriott (184 lbs.) | No. 15 | No. 13 |
| Willie Miklus (197 lbs.) | No. 9 | No. 19 |
PERFECTION
- With a 23-9 win over No. 13 Northern Iowa (Feb. 17), Mizzou concluded the season with a perfect 19-0 season, its second-ever perfect season in program history.
- Both perfect seasons at Mizzou have come under head coach Brian Smith, as the 2014-15 Tigers went 24-0, won an NWCA National Duals title and its third straight MAC title.
- Coincidently, the last time Mizzou won a team trophy at the NCAA Championships was 2015, as Mizzou finished fourth at the national tournament with five All-Americans and one national champion, Drake Houdashelt.
TOP-10 STREAK
- Mizzou finished the regular season No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division-I Coaches Poll on Feb. 13, the 74th consecutive poll that the Tigers have been ranked in the Top-10. It is 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 91 of the last 93 polls.
- During this top-10 streak, Mizzou has been ranked in the top-five of the Coaches Poll for 43 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 league, 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, 241-43, in seven duals this season. Mizzou has produced a record of 56-14 in those MAC duals, and have won 28 of those matches by bonus points (4.0 per dual). Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis has been a force to be reckoned within MAC competition, as the two-time All-American has won each of his six MAC matches by bonus points, recording three falls, two technical falls and a major decision.
- Dating back to Jan. 25, 2014, Mizzou has won 35 of its last 36 duals against MAC foes, with its lone setback occurring 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, 1,063-316 in 36 duals.
WINS OVER TOP-10 OPPONENTS
- Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mizzou has defeated 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 Duals 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 |
^ - NWCA National Duals in Iowa City, Iowa
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 25-1 (17-0 in duals), and recently entered the top-10 in program history in career major decisions with 25 and technical falls with 10. The Tiger senior has won 18 matches by bonus points this season, seven by major decision, six 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 83 total wins, Lewis has recorded bonus points in 72.3 percent of his victories (60-of-83).
- In total, Lewis has recorded 33 falls, 18 major decisions and nine technical falls in his career. Among program records, Lewis ranks sixth in career falls and tied-for-tenth in technical falls with nine.
- Lewis is a perfect 26-0 on the season with a team-leading 14 falls. Lewis also leads the team in dual wins (18), dual points (89) and falls in dual competition (8).
- In 2015-16, 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 points 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 24-1, including a perfect 15-0 mark in duals. Among team ranks, the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year currently ranks second in falls (12), second in dual points (76), second in wins (24) and fourth in major decisions (4).
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 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 18-2 (14-2 in duals), and has recorded bonus point victories in eight wins (six falls, two major decisions).
MARRIOTT & FLYNN ENTER INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
- Following a close decision loss to Virginia Tech's No. 6-ranked Zack Zavatsky (Nov. 25), redshirt freshman 184-pounder Canten Marriott has strung together a run of 15 wins in 17 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 22-4 (14-3 in duals), and has recorded nine wins by bonus points with five major decisions, four technical falls and one fall.
- In the individual rankings, Marriott ranks as high as No. 14 at 184 pounds by Intermat.
- In his first season as an attached wrestler for the Black & Gold, redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Connor Flynn has wrestled to a record of 21-7. Flynn has won 11 matches by bonus points this season, recording four major decisions, four technical falls and three falls.
- In the individual rankings, Flynn ranks as high as No. 17 by Intermat and The Open Mat.
EIERMAN NAMED NCAA & MAC 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 25-1 on the season, including a 16-0 mark in duals, and has recorded 12 falls, four major decisions and two technical falls. Among team leaders, Eierman ranks second in falls (12), second in dual points (79), second in wins (24) and fourth in major decisions (4).
LEETH MAKES THE MOST OF HIS RETURN TO THE MAT
- After missing more than two full seasons due to injuries, redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth has made the most of his return to the mat, as he has posted a 19-2 record, including a 16-0 mark in duals. Leeth was named the MAC Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 24 after continuing his winning ways in Mizzou's 29-6 win over No. 17 Central Michigan (Jan. 19), defeating No. 3-ranked Justin Oliver, 3-1.
- Leeth has recorded three bonus point victories this season, with two wins coming by technical fall and one by fall. Leeth has recorded seven wins over ranked opponents this season, including two over wrestlers ranked No. 3 at the time of the match. The Tiger junior also defeated No. 3-ranked Troy Heilmann (North Carolina) on Dec. 29.
Players Mentioned
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