Wrestling Set for Pair of Top-10 Tests Out West
The Tigers will renew old rivalries versus No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 9 Oklahoma State
Jan. 30, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - After a road-trip split last weekend against MAC-rivals Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois, the Tigers (5-1, 3-1) are back on the road for two more road duals, this time against their former Big 12 rivals. Mizzou, ranked No. 10 in the nation by the NWCA Coaches Poll, faces No. 6 Oklahoma (8-1) Thursday night, and will then try to avenge last year's losses when they head to Stillwater, Okla., on Friday for a matchup with No. 9 Oklahoma State (5-4).
Starting Thursday evening at 7pm in Norman, Oklahoma, the No. 10-Tigers look to reprise their meeting last year against the No. 6 Sooners. Winning eight out of ten matches last year for a final score of 26-8, including a 3-0 decision win for 149-pounder Drake Houdashelt and two back-to-back major decision wins at the 174 and 184 pound weight-classes, the Tigers recorded their sixth win in the past eight duals versus the Sooners, and their 10th in team history.
The Tigers quest for their 11th win over the Sooners will feature a couple of huge Division I matchups. Junior Drake Houdashelt will put his No. 1 ranking on the line when he takes the mat against No. 2 Kendric Maple at 149 pounds. Maple was the 141-pound NCAA Champion in 2013. J'den Cox, who is currently ranked 5th in the nation, will go up against No. 3 Travis Rutt as he looks for his fourth win over a ranked opponent in his first collegiate season.
A total of twelve ranked grapplers will take the mat for Thursday's top-10 meeting. Action kicks off at 7 p.m. at McCasland Field House in Norman, Okla.
Mizzou will make the short drive to Stillwater, Okla., for another top-10 matchup on Friday evening at historic Gallagher-IBA Arena. The Tigers fell twice to the Cowboys last season, who are coming off of a 29-3 victory over Iowa State last weekend. Friday's dual will again feature a plethora of ranked wrestlers, including another tough test at 149-pounds for Houdashelt, who will compete against No. 7 Josh Kindig. Wrestling will again get going at 7 p.m Friday evening.
BOUTCARD at No. 6 Oklahoma (8-1) (Thursday, 7 p.m.)
125: Barlow McGhee, Fr. (17-5) OR Zach Synon, RSFr. (27-9) vs. No. 7 Jarrod Patterson, RSr., 14-2 (6-1) OR Sean Williams, Fr., (6-4)
133: Matt Manley, RSFr. (20-7) vs. No. 8 Cody Brewer, RSo., (15-3)
141: Lavion Mayes, RSFr. (21-8) OR Trevor Jauch, So. (16-4) vs. No. 15 Nick Lester, RSr., (14-5)
149: No. 1 Drake Houdashelt, Jr. (25-1) vs. No. 2 Kendric Maple, RSr., (15-2)
157: Joey Lavallee, Fr. (21-5) vs. No. 18 Justin Deangelis, RJr., (13-4)
165: No. 13 Zach Toal, Sr. (20-4) vs. Clark Glass, RFr., (10-8)
174: Mikey England, Jr. (14-8) vs. No. 1 Andrew Howe, RSr., (16-0)
184: No. 15 Johnny Eblen, Jr. (18-7) OR Cody Johnston, So. (17-5) vs. Danny Chaid, Fr., (10-7)
197: No. 5 J'den Cox, Fr. (24-2) vs. No. 3 Travis Rutt, RSr., (16-1)
HWT: Devin Mellon, Jr. (17-8) vs. No. 16 Ross Larson, RFr., (19-5)
BOUTCARD at No. 9 Oklahoma State (5-4) (Friday, 7 p.m.)
125: Barlow McGhee, Fr. (17-5) OR Zach Synon, RSFr. (27-9) vs. Eddie Klimara, So. (11-6)
133: Matt Manley, RSFr. (20-7) vs. No. 5 Jon Morrison, Sr. (17-1)
141: Lavion Mayes, RSFr. (21-8) OR Trevor Jauch, So. (16-4) vs. No. 18 Anthony Collica, Fr. (20-6)
149: No. 1 Drake Houdashelt, Jr. (25-1) vs. No. 7 Josh Kindig, RJr. (14-5)
157: Joey Lavallee, Fr. (21-5) vs. No. 3 Alex Dieringer, So. (19-1)
165: No. 13 Zach Toal, Sr. (20-4) vs. No. 5 Tyler Caldwell, Sr. (16-2)
174: Mikey England, Jr. (14-8) vs. No. 2 Chris Perry, Sr. (17-1)
184: No. 15 Johnny Eblen, Jr. (18-7) OR Cody Johnston, So. (17-5) vs. No. 20 Nolan Boyd, RFr. (26-7)
197: No. 5 J'den Cox, Fr. (24-2) vs. TBA
HWT: Devin Mellon, Jr. (17-8) vs. No. 16 Austin Marsden, RSo. (14-6)
FOLLOW LIVE
Live Stream vs. Oklahoma: Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports Southwest
Live Stream vs. Oklahoma State: okstate.tv (Need CBS Sports subscription)
Live Stats: www.trackwrestling.com
Live In-Match Updates: @MizzouWrestling on Twitter
WHAT'S NEXT
The squad will be back home for the first time in 2014 to compete against Buffalo on Feb. 7. The dual will be part of the annual Beauty and the Beast event, where the Missouri Wrestling and Gymnastics teams will compete simultaneously. Tickets for the event are on sale now at MUTigers.com/tickets.
Mizzou Wrestling will be right back in action at home on Feb. 8 against Eastern Michigan, looking to close out the weekend with two more conference wins under their belt.
Stay tuned with everything Tiger Style wrestling by following the program on , Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also join the conversation by using hashtag #TigerStyle.
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