Missouri Challenges Lehigh in Historic New York Athletic Club
…Two of the Nation’s Top Wrestling Programs Go Head-to-Head…
Jan. 10, 2005
New York City, NY – Ranked 12th in the nation, the Missouri wrestling team will take on sixth-ranked Lehigh, Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in the historic New York City Athletic Club. The dual will be televised on CSTV the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 9 p.m. CT. This is the first time that an athletic competition has been televised from inside the New York Athletic Club.
The Tigers enter the dual with an untarnished 8-0 record, most recently capturing a 45-6 win over in-state rival Central Missouri State on Jan. 6. Missouri’s pairing with Lehigh will provide the Tigers’ with their first opportunity of the season to wrestle against a top-10 program. Currently eight of Missouri’s starters are ranked among the nation’s top-20 in their respective weight class.
Looking to extend his win streak to 19, sophomore Ben Askren is the Tigers’ highest ranked wrestler (#1/#2) and only unbeaten starter. Askren has recorded 13 falls since opening action Nov. 14, and is six pins away from setting an all-new Missouri season falls record.
Lehigh, a member of the Patriot League Conference, is 8-1 on the season and lost its only match of the 2004-05 campaign to then-No. 10 Hofstra. The Hawks have six ranked wrestlers in their starting lineup. 2004 NCAA Champion Troy Letters is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 165 pounds and will meet at center circle with MU senior co-captain and 2003 All-American Tyron Woodley. Woodley is ranked as high as eighth in the nation and holds a 21-2 season record and 8-0 dual record.
OF NOTE: This is the first time in the history of the MU wrestling program (61 years) that the Tigers will take on the Lehigh Hawks.
Seven Missouri wrestlers enter their respective matches with perfect dual records. Austin DeVoe (6-0), Chris McCormick (7-0), Cody Greene (4-0), Brad Cieleski (7-0), Woodley (8-0), Askren (7-0) and Matt Pell (7-0).
Eight Tiger wrestlers hold at least a five-match win streak; DeVoe (five), Tyler McCormick (five), C. McCormick (seven), Cieleski (six), Woodley (seven), Askren (18), Pell (seven) and Wetenkamp (six).
Missouri’s starting lineup has racked up 49 falls on the season.
The last time the Missouri wrestling team pulled off an upset over a higher ranked program was the first dual of the 2003-04 season. Competing on Nov. 19, 2003, in Hazelwood Central High School in St. Louis, the Tigers dropped No. 1 Oklahoma State 21-17. The season opener kicked off a 10-dual win streak for Missouri and helped propel the Tigers into the top-five teams in the nation according to several nationally recognized wrestling polls.
The New York Athletic Club (NYAC) was founded in 1868 and has hosted numerous amateur wrestling sporting events. Missouri and Lehigh will compete on the sixth level of the NYAC with approximately 600 fans expected to sell out the event.
Calling the action for CSTV will be Jason Knapp and Quint Kessenich. CSTV is available through DirecTV on channel 610.
Missouri Projected Lineup and Updated Records: Season (Career)
125-Austin DeVoe: 14-5 (43-31)
133-#18 Tyler McCormick : 15-6 (15-6)
141-#12 Chris McCormick : 21-3 (47-35)
149-#18 Cody Greene: 16-4 (55-21)
157-#14 Brad Cieleski : 18-4 (18-4)
165-#8 Tyron Woodley : 21-2 (94-34)
174-#2 Ben Askren : 18-0 (50-5)
184-#9 Matt Pell : 23-3 (54-15)
197-#14 Jeff Foust : 16-3 (61-24)
HWT-Chase Wetenkamp: 19-9 (19-9)
Lehigh Projected Lineup and Updated Records
125-Andrew Rizzi: 8-4
133-#10 Matt Ciasolli: 13-1
141-#3 Cory Cooperman: 9-1
149- Dave Nakasone: 11-4
157-#10 Derek Zinck: 8-2
165-#1 Troy Letters: 7-0
174-#15 Travis Frick: 6-2
184-Matt Cassidy: 4-3
197-#3 Jon Trenge: 12-2
HWT-Paul Weibel: 16-5
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