Lineup vs. Virginia TechLineup vs. Virginia Tech
Wrestling

No. 7 Mizzou Wrestling Opens 2019-20 Campaign at No. 18 Virginia Tech

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Seventh-ranked Mizzou Wrestling travels to No. 18 Virginia Tech this Saturday (Nov. 2) at Cassell Coliseum arena at 11 a.m. (CT). Mizzou finished last year with a 16-1 dual record, finishing a perfect 7-0 over MAC teams, and won the program's seventh consecutive MAC Championship with 180.0 points. It was Mizzou's eighth straight conference tournament title (one in the Big 12, seven in the MAC). Saturday's dual will air live on ACC Network.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Seventh-ranked Mizzou Wrestling travels to No. 18 Virginia Tech this Saturday (Nov. 2) at Cassell Coliseum arena at 11 a.m. (CT). Mizzou finished last year with a 16-1 dual record, finishing a perfect 7-0 over MAC teams, and won the program's seventh consecutive MAC Championship with 180.0 points. It was Mizzou's eighth straight conference tournament title (one in the Big 12, seven in the MAC). Saturday's dual will air live on ACC Network.

This year, Mizzou plans to yet again win the MAC this time with new teams as the MAC combined with the EWL to add seven new affiliate members: Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, Lock Haven, Rider, George Mason and Cleveland State. Cleveland State is the only new team set to wrestle the Tigers, with that being on Jan 25 at home.

Virginia Tech is coming off one of its most successful seasons which includes the program's first individual National Championship by 165 pounder Mekhi Lewis. Entering his third year, Coach Tony Robie was named ACC Coach of the Year last year after leading the Virginia Tech Hokies to a second-place finish at the ACC Championships and eleventh at the NCAA Championships.

  • 125 Pounds – Dack Punke (0-0) vs. Joey Prata (0-0)
  • 133 Pounds – TBD vs. No. 14 Collin Gerardi (0-0)
  • 141 Pounds – Alex Butler (0-0) vs. No. 17 Mitch Moore (0-0)
  • 149 Pounds – No. 2 Brock Mauller (0-0) vs. No. 23 Brent Moore (0-0)
  • 157 Pounds – No. 10 Jarrett Jacques (0-0) vs. No. 17 B.C. LaPrade (0-0)
  • 165 Pounds – Peyton Mocco (0-0) or Luke Fortuna (0-0) vs. No. 4 David McFadden (0-0)
  • 174 Pounds – No. 8 Connor Flynn (0-0) vs. Cody Hughes (0-0)
  • 184 Pounds – No. 14 Dylan Wisman (0-0) vs. No. 9 Hunter Bolen (0-0)
  • 197 Pounds – No. 20 Wyatt Koelling (0-0) vs. Stan Smeltzer (0-0)
  • Heavyweight – Rodrigo Diaz (0-0) vs. John Borst (0-0)

In addition to wrestling the dual Saturday, Mizzou will also have 15 wrestlers compete in the Southeast Open in Roanoke, Va., beginning at 8 a.m. (CT) Sunday. FloWrestling.com will have comprehensive coverage of the tournament.

Below is a breakdown of Saturday's dual by weight class.

Dack Punke (125 pounds) finished the 2018-19 season with an 11-12 with a 6-3 record in tournaments and was an NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds. He will wrestle Virginia Tech's Joey Prata who last year finished his first full season with a 15-13 record and placed third at the ACC Championship.

Mizzou has not named a wrestler for the 133-pound weight class for Saturday's dual. Virginia Tech will wrestle No. 14 Collin Gerardi.

Alex Butler (141 pounds) posted a 14-6 record during his redshirt junior season he has a career record of 53-28 over the last three seasons. He will wrestle Mitch Moore who finished 18-9 and placed second at the ACC Championship.

Brock Mauller (149 Pounds) opened his Tiger career with a 32-5 record and was 8-0 in conference. He became a MAC Champion and NCAA All-American (sixth place) after one of the finest true freshman seasons in program history. He will wrestle Brent Moore who in the 2017-2018 season was a ACC Champion at 141 pounds and went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships.

Jarrett Jacques (157 pounds) finished his freshmen year with a 27-8 record and a perfect 9-0 record in conference duals. He will wrestle B.C. LaPrade who went 18-11 and 10-4 in duals and 1-2 in the NCAA Championships.

Peyton Mocco (165 pounds) is a redshirt freshman who last year as a Tiger went 9-3. The other option for the Tigers at 165 pounds is Luke Fortuna who finished his redshirt junior season at 174 pounds with an 8-7 record and 2-0 in MAC competition. One of those two Tiger grapplers will wrestle David McFadden who went 24-4 overall and 5-0 in the ACC he finished fifth in the NCAA's.

Connor Flynn (174 pounds) ended the season 21-9 with a perfect 7-0 record in MAC duals. He will wrestle Cody Hughes, who went 7-7 last year.

Dylan Wisman (184 pounds) concluded his 2018-19 season with a 17-9 record and a perfect 4-0 in the MAC giving him his first MAC Title. He also was an NCAA qualifier. He will wrestle Hunter Bolen who redshirted last year and went 13-1 at open tournaments.

Wyatt Koelling (197 pounds) ended the season with a 20-10 record and a perfect 7-0 record in the MAC. He was an alternate selection for the NCAA Championships and will look to improve that standing this year. He will wrestle Stanley Smeltzer who went 4-3 last year.

Rodrigo Diaz 10-6 as a redshirt freshman last season, with all 16 of his bouts coming in tournament action. This will be his first dual. He will wrestle John Borst who went 12-10 last year and 0-2 in duals.

For all the latest on Mizzou's dual Thursday and all things Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on social media (@MizzouWrestling on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for updates as well.