OSU Cowboys Prove Too Strong for Missouri Wrestlers
…Tigers Find Wins From Cieleski, Woodley and Pell…
Stillwater, Okla. – Wrestling against the No. 1 team in the nation, the 12-ranked Tigers suffered a 31-9 loss to Oklahoma State in Gallagher-Iba Arena and dropped to 13-4 on the season and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State (15-0) improves to 3-0 in league action. Three MU wrestlers walked away victorious, Brad Cieleski (157) Tyron Woodley (165) and Matt Pell (184) scored the Tigers’ nine team points of the evening.
Cieleski (Brookville, Pa.) managed to put Missouri’s first points on the scoreboard after holding off No. 15 Kevin Ward for a hard fought 5-2 decision at 157 pounds. Scoreless through the first period of action, Ward grabbed the bouts’ first point with an escape early in the second period. Cieleski came back in the third with an escape of his own and followed with a takedown. Dodging Cieleski’s grip one final time, Ward attempted a shot on Cieleski but was countered, taken town and ridden for the remainder of the match.
“Tonight’s win was big for Brad, “Head Coach Brian Smith said. “He wrestled with a lot of confidence and it was exciting to watch him compete with such intensity and composure. Brad never seemed to panic throughout the seven minutes, he just stuck with the game plan and pulled away with the win.”
The Tigers’ put two wins together after senior co-captain Woodley (Ferguson, Mo.) won a 7-2 victory over Sam Lewnes at 165 pounds. Ranked eighth in the nation, Woodley collected 2:07 of riding time, outscoring Lewnes with a takedown, two escapes and a two-point nearfall. Now owning 102 career wins, Woodley stands tied with former Tiger wrestlers Joe Spinazzola (118 pounds) and Dave Young (177 pounds) for the seventh most wins in Missouri history.
Tenth-ranked sophomore Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) added the Tigers’ final three team points to Missouri’s total after dropping Clay Kehrer 3-2. Allowing Kehrer only two escapes, Pell held his opponent scoreless through the second period, retaining his two-point lead entering the third period.
“Both Tyron and Matt wrestled really aggressively tonight, “Smith said. “It’s never easy for any wrestler to walk out of Stillwater with a win. Those two did it and looked strong on the mat.”
In a much anticipated match that came down to the final seconds of action, No. 1 Chris Pendleton (OSU) held on for a 4-3 win over Missouri’s second ranked sophomore Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) at 174 pounds. Down by two points entering the final period, Askren scored a reversal as the seconds ticked off the clock tying the dual at three. With 3:02 of riding time to his name, Pendleton won his sixth of seven matches over Askren. The loss was Askren’s first of the season and sets his record at 26-1.
The Missouri wrestling team will travel to Norman, Okla., for a 2 p.m. (CT) Saturday, Feb. 4, dual with the eighth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Norman High School.
Wt: Wrestler over Wrestler: Result MU OSU
125 Missouri forfeit 0 6
133 #8 Nathan Morgan (OSU) dec. Tyler McCormick (MU): 8-2 0 9
141 Daniel Friskhorn (OSU) tech. fall #16 Chris McCormick (MU): 16-1 0 14
149 #2 Zack Esposito (OSU) major dec. #14 Cody Greene (MU):20-7 0 18
157 Brad Cieleski (MU) decision #15 Kevin Ward (OSU): 5-2 3 18
165 #8 Tyron Woodley (MU) decision Sam Lewnes (OSU): 7-2 6 18
174 #1 Chris Pendleton (OSU) decision #2 Ben Askren (MU): 4-3 6 21
184 #10 Matt Pell (MU) decision Clay Kehrer (OSU): 3-2 9 21
197 #1 Jake Rosholt (OSU) major dec. #20 Jeff Foust (MU): 12-3 9 25
HWT Steve Mocco (OSU) fall Chase Wetenkamp (MU):33 9 31
Missouri Updated Records: Season (Career)
125: Tim Kephart : 19-12 (19-12)
133: Tyler McCormick : 19-11 (19-11)
141: Chris McCormick : 24-8 (50-40)
149: Cody Greene: 23-6 (64-23)
157: Brad Cieleski : 20-6 (20-6)
165: Tyron Woodley : 29-3 (102-35)
174: Ben Askren : 26-1 (58-6)
184: Matt Pell : 28-5 (59-17)
197: Jeff Foust : 22-6 (67-27)
HWT: Chase Wetenkamp : 22-13 (22-13)
Wrestling Gear
