By Shawn Garrison, Staff Writer.
Last week, 174-pound junior wrestler Ben Askren was confident going into the NCAA Championships.
“As far as the NCAA tournament this week, I don’t foresee losing,” Askren said in The Maneater on Friday. “I’d rather dominate.”
After advancing to his third NCAA final in three years, Askren did just that by claiming top honors in the 174-pound class, the first individual national title in the program’s history.
The top-seeded Askren defeated No. 2 seed Jake Herbert of Northwestern by major decision, 14-2.
“It was a battle,” Askren said on Saturday. “He never quit and made it tough on me to get the win, but I was never worried. I had the best position throughout the match. I’m glad I came away with the victory.”
Askren finished the season with a 45-0 record, the only undefeated record in MU history, and led the Tigers to a 15th-place team finish and a school record 45 points in the national championship.
Coach Brian Smith said the Tigers were due for a national championship.
“It is a great feeling for the program,” Smith said. “This is my eighth season at Missouri and my fourth trip to the finals in a row. We were due. What it does now is open the door for the team that is here now and kids in Missouri. Future wrestlers have something to strive for and see that we have a national champion.”
Seven MU wrestlers took part in the meet.
Askren, who has never shied away from speaking with confidence this season, continued to do so after the match.
“I not only want to be the best in my class but also in the nation,” Askren said. “I work hard, and I’m always in the gym. I love competing and giving the fans what they want.”
Herbert also was undefeated going into the match, but Askren said he knew what to expect.
“I have wrestled him a few times before and knew what he was going to bring,” Askren said. “He is a great wrestler and a great competitor. I was just confident in myself going into the match and knew I could get the win. I would love to wrestle him again sometime in the future.”
Sophomore Tyler McCormick led the rest of MU’s wrestlers. He earned all-American honors while finishing seventh in the 133-pound class. The other wrestlers were freshman Michael Chandler, senior Austin DeVoe, junior Matt Pell, redshirt freshman Raymond Jordan and senior Jeff Foust.
At a news conference last week, Foust said Askren’s hard work helps them all become better wrestlers.
“He has a real good work ethic, and he does a good job of making sure that his teammates get better,” Foust said.
Askren is only the 12th athlete in school history to win an individual national title in any sport, and the first since 1999 when Derrick Peterson placed first in the 800-meter run in both indoor and outdoor track.
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