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2016-17 Wrestling Roster

Blake Pepper

  • Class Redshirt Senior
  • Hometown Imperial, Mo.
  • Highschool Seckman
  • Weight 157

Biography

REDSHIRT SENIOR (2016-17)

  • Went 0-2 at Maryville Brand Kaufman Open (Nov. 12), his only competition of the season.

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2014-15)

  • In his second season as attached wrestler, compiled a 3-4 overall record.
  • Earned a dual start on Nov. 15 against Truman State’s Roark Whittington and tallied a pin in 1:59. It marked the second dual start of his Tiger career.
  • His pin against Truman State’s Roark Whittington was the fourth fall of his career.
  • Competed in two tournaments before suffering a season ending injury, included 2014 Harold Nichols Cyclone Open and 2014 Kaufman-Brand Open.
  • Was 1-of-3 Mizzou grapplers to earn a start this season at 157 pounds, joining teammates Joey Lavallee and Trevor Wiest.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2013-14)

  • Competed in five tournaments for the Tigers, and got his first career dual start against SIUE.
  • Finished in fifth place at the Warren Williams/Daktronics Open, going 6-2 in matches on the day.
  • Competed in the freshman/sophomore division at the Joe Parisi Open and won all five of his matches to take the title.
  • Lost by a two-point margin in the finals at the Kaufman-Brand Open to finish second overall.
  • Won five of his eight matches to earn a sixth-place finish at the UNI Open.
  • On Jan. 11, earned his first career dual start against SIUE's Karsten Van Velsor, whom he defeated by pin at 4:02 to help the Tigers to a 40-0 shutout against the Cougars.
  • Pepper went 23-8 on the season as a whole with nine of his wins coming by fall, major decision, or technical fall.
  • 2012-13 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll
FRESHMAN (2012-13)
  • Taking his redshirt year, Pepper competed in five tournaments as an unattached wrestler.
  • His first collegiate win came by fall (2:32) against Austin Miner of Missouri Valley at the UCM Open.
  • Took sixth place at the Grand View Open after picking up four wins, including two against Gabe Morse of Northern Illinois.
  • Had 10 wins overall on the season. Four of his wins came by pin, the fastest of which occurred at 2:01.

SECKMAN HIGH SCHOOL (IMPERIAL, MO)
  • Going 26-4 on the season, he placed fifth at state as a junior, helping his team to a fourth place finish.
  • Went 35-5 his sophomore season.
  • Battled injuries through his freshman and senior seasons, finishing with an overall career record of 61-10.
  • In 2008, took first at state in Freestyle, going on to place seventh at Fargo Nationals.
  • In 2009, took the state title in Freestyle again.
  • Was a two-time All-Conference football player.
  • Earned a total of seven letters in high school between wrestling and football.
  • Graduated with Cum Laude honors.

PERSONAL
  • Blake Pepper is the son of Jim Pepper and Melissa Waterkotte.
  • Was born on August 14, 1993, in St. Louis, Mo.
  • Has two older brothers, Jimmy and Johnny, and a younger sister, Laura.
  • His brother, Jimmy, wrestled at American University.
  • Brother, Johnny, is a recent Mizzou graduate and spent his time here as the videographer for the Tiger program.
  • Blake chose Mizzou over Washington University and Arizona State.
     
STATS 
Season Overall Duals (MAC) Tournament (MAC/NCAA) Major Dec. Tech. Fall Fall
2012-13 Redshirted 
2013-14 23-8 1-0 (0-0 22-8 (0-0/0-0) 3 3 3
2014-15 3-4 1-0 (0-0) 2-4 (0-0/0-0) 0 0 1
2015-16 0-1 0-1 (0-1) 0-0 (0-0/0-0) 0 0 0
2016-17 0-2 0-0 (0-0) 0-2 (0-0/0-0) 0 0 0
CAREER 26-15 2-1 (0-1) 24-14 (0-0/0-0) 3 3 4

Historical Player Information

  • 2012-13Redshirt Sophomore

    157 lbs
  • 2013-14Redshirt Freshman

    149 lbs
  • 2014-15Redshirt Sophomore

    157 lbs
  • 2015-16Redshirt Junior

    157 lbs
  • 2016-17Redshirt Senior

    157 lbs