CLEVELAND, Ohio – In the fourth session of the NCAA Wrestling Championships, redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) and redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa) each won matches to earn All-America distinction, bringing Mizzou's 2018 total to four All-Americans. Mizzou Wrestling remains in sixth place after the session with 51.5 points. With the win, Miklus became the seventh three-time All-American in program history, while Leeth earned his first career All-America honor.
Mizzou's four All-Americans marks the sixth time in program history the Tigers have recorded four or more All-Americans. Mizzou recorded five All-Americans in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017, and four in 2016.
In semifinals matches, redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) each dropped matches and will wrestle in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning. Redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nev.) and redshirt junior 133-pounder John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo.) each dropped matches in the round of 12, falling one win short of All-America status.
TEAM SCORES
In the team race, Mizzou remained in sixth-place with 51.5 points. Penn State grabbed the lead in the session with 120.5 points, while Ohio State moves to second with 109.5 points, followed by Iowa (86.5 points), Michigan (73.5 points), and NC State (69.5 points).
NOTABLE TIGERS
Leeth matched up against No. 9 Max Thomsen (UNI) for his round of 12 match, as the two were tied, 2-2, late in the third period. Thomsen was in on a shot attempt in the period, but Leeth was able to defend the attempt off as time ran out. The Tiger junior had riding time advantage in his favor as time ended, giving him the match, 3-2, and securing a podium finish. Later in the session, Leeth defeated No. 10 Jason Tsirtsis, 3-1, in the consolation quarterfinals to advance to the consolation semifinals tomorrow morning against No. 4 Troy Heilmann (UNC).
Miklus trailed No. 8 Nate Rotert (SDSU), 4-3, going in to the third period of his round of 12 match before scoring a takedown and back points to secure the win for his third All-America honor. Later in the session, Miklus fell to Jacob Holschlag, 9-7, in the consolation quarterfinals, and will now wrestle No. 5 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) for seventh place tomorrow. Miklus joins Ben Askren (2004-07), Max Askren (2008-10), Drake Houdashelt (2013-15), J'den Cox (2014-17), Lavion Mayes (2015-17) and Lewis (2016-18) as the only Tiger wrestlers to earn three or more All-America honors. Lewis became the sixth three-time All-American in program history earlier today.
Lavallee finished his career with a record of 114-29, as he earned All-America honors in 2017 as the runner-up, was a two-time MAC Champion (2017-18) and four-time NCAA Championships qualifier (2014-15, 17-18). Among program records, Lavallee ranks 13th in wins (114), sixth in major decisions (26) and seventh in technical falls (10). Erneste finished his junior campaign with a 25-4 record, winning 13 matches by bonus points (nine falls and four major decisions).
UP NEXT
Eierman, Leeth, Lewis and Miklus will all wrestle Saturday morning in the place matches. The fifth session will begin at 11 a.m. (ET) / 10 a.m. (CT) tomorrow morning, and will be broadcast on ESPNU, as well as streamed on ESPN3.com and through the WatchESPN app.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
SESSION 4 RESULTS
133: No. 5 John Erneste
Round of 12: No. 8 Montorie Bridges (WYO) dec. No. 5 John Erneste (MIZ): 9-8
141: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman
Semifinals: No. 3 Yianni Diakomihalis (COR) SV-1 No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ): 6-4
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth
Round of 12: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. No. 9 Max Thomsen (UNI): 3-2
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. No. 10 Jasob Tsirtsis (ASU): 3-1
157: No. 2 Joey Lavallee
Round of 12: No. 6 Michael Kemerer (IOWA) dec. No. 2 Joey Lavallee (MIZ): 5-2
174: No. 3 Daniel Lewis
Semifinals: No. 2 Mark Hall (PSU) fall No. 3 Daniel Lewis (MIZ): 6:22
197: No. 6 Willie Miklus
Round of 12: No. 6 Willie Miklus (MIZ) dec. No. 8 Nate Rotert (SDSU): 9-5
Consolation Quarterfinals: Jacob Holschlag (UNI) dec. No. 6 Willie Miklus (MIZ): 9-7
SESSION 5 MATCHUPS
141: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman
Consolation Semifinals: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ) vs. No. 8 Nick Lee (PSU)
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Grant Leeth vs. No. 4 Troy Heilmann (UNC)
174: No. 3 Daniel Lewis
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Daniel Lewis vs. No. 4 Jordan Kutler (LEH)
197: No. 6 Willie Miklus
Seventh Place Match: No. 6 Willie Miklus (MIZ) vs. No. 5 Shakur Rasheed (PSU)
TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 2
1. Penn State, 120.5
2. Ohio State, 109.5
3. Iowa, 86.5
4. Michigan, 73.5
5. NC State, 69.5
6. Mizzou, 51.5
7. Virginia Tech, 44.5
8. Cornell, 43.0
9. Rutgers, 42.5
10. Arizona State, 37.0
