Missouri Wrestling Closes Regular Season With 28-9 Win
…Tigers Dominate Eastern Illinois on the Mat…
Charleston, Ill. – The 13th-ranked Missouri wrestling team finished its regular season schedule with a 28-9 victory over Eastern Illinois at the Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill. Now, 15-6 on the season, the action began at 141 pounds after Missouri forfeited at 125-pounds and both teams forfeited at 133-pounds.
Junior Chris McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) got things started for Missouri with a 6-2 decision at 141-ponds over Bob Fangerow. Collecting his 25th win of the season, McCormick is now 11-5 in dual action.
Redshirt freshman Justin Cole (Gladstone, Mo.) entered the starting lineup for the second time of the season at 149-pounds. Battling with Shane Dintelman at center circle, the seven-minute match came down to the buzzer as Cole walked away with a 3-2 win, helping the Tigers to a 12-0 lead over Eastern Illinois.
Sophomore Jed Lewis (Norfolk, Neb.) followed on the heels of Cole’s victory with one of his own at 157-pounds. Dropping Andy Mangiaguerra with a decisive 12-4 major decision, the dual marked Lewis’ first career start in a Missouri singlet.
The Panthers chose to forfeit at 165-pounds and instead wrestled an exhibition match against MU sophomore James Williamson (Blue Springs, Mo.). Williamson scored 11 points to EIU’s Kevin Knabjian’s two for a major decision.
Up 22-0 over the Panthers, junior Tristan Hansen (Carrollton, Texas) suffered Missouri’s only loss on the day to No. 20 Kenny Robertson at 174-pounds. Robertson led the entire match, but Hansen scored a takedown in the final seconds of the third period to close the gap, losing only by one point, 3-2.
Mark Wall, a redshirt freshman from Oak Grove, Mo., and senior J.C. Russell (Hazelwood, Mo.) both earned wins in their respective matches at 184- and 197-pounds, respectively. Wall secured an 8-4 decision over Greg Perz, while Russell took on Jasn Sherko and won a close 4-2 match.
Wrestling at heavyweight, freshman Chase Wetenkamp, (Manitowoc, Wis.) was forced to end his match early by injury default after being taken down hard by senior Panther Peter Ziminski.
The Tigers will have two weeks off before traveling to Omaha, Neb., for the ninth annual Big 12 Wrestling Championships held in the Qwest Center on Saturday, March 5. Tickets to the event can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-646-8849, or ordering on line at www.ticketmaster.com. Missouri fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in or around section 120 to support the Tigers on their journey for their first Big 12 tournament title.
Wt Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU EIU
125 Tim Kephart (MU) won by forfeit 6 0
133 Double Forfeit 6 0
141 Chris McCormick (MU) dec. Bob Fangerow (EIU): 6-2 9 0
149 Justin Cole (MU) dec. Shane Dintelman (EIU) :3-2 12 0
157 Jed Lewis (MU) maj. dec. Andy Mangiaguerra (EIU) :12-4 16 0
165 James Williamson (MU) won by forfeit 22 0
174 #20 Kenny Robertson (EIU) dec. T.J. Hansen (MU): 3-2 22 3
184 Mark Wall (MU) dec. Greg Perz (EIU): 8-4 25 3
197 J.C. Russell (MU) dec. Jason Sherko (EIU): 4-2 28 3
285 Peter Ziminski (EIU) dec. Chase Wetenkamp (MU): Default, 2:31 28 9
*165 Williamson (UM) maj. dec. Kevin Knabjian (EIU):11-2 (exhibition
Wrestling Gear
