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University of Missouri                                                

Athletic Media Relations

260 Hearnes Center

P.O. Box 677

Columbia, MO 65205

www.mutigers.com             

 

(573) 882-3241                        FAX (573) 882-4720

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – After going 2-0 at home this past weekend against Buffalo and Eastern Michigan, the Missouri grapplers look to remain undefeated at the Hearnes Center this season when they face off against Old Dominion (8-8).

 

The No. 10-rankedTigers (8-2, 5-1) had a big night Friday, Feb. 7, at their annual Beauty and the Beast event where they shut out Buffalo 41-0 in front of over 3,000 fans. In a quick turnaround Missouri hit the mat Saturday afternoon and topped conference foe Eastern Michigan, 18-15, with the help of a few bonus-point victories.

 

Heading into the final stretch of their schedule Missouri looks to continue to build momentum in this next matchup. Missouri’s career record against Old Dominion is currently sitting at 7-0-1 in favor of the Tigers. Mizzou made history last time out against Old Dominion, defeating the Monarchs 35 to negative-1 on opening weekend last year. The last time Big Blue took the mat, ODU stunned the Ohio Bobcats at home 22-15. After a slow start, ODU tied the match up with a fall at 133 pounds and never looked back. At the 149 and 174 pound bouts the Big Blue grapplers defeated top-10 ranked opponents to help propel ODU to its fifth consecutive victory. Missouri is looking to bring an abrupt halt to this 5-match hot streak on Senior Night. A Tiger win would also mark the 200^th career win for Head Coach Brian Smith in his 17^th year as a collegiate wrestling head coach.

 

At 141 pounds forMissouri, redshirt freshman Lavion Mayes has just recently started to come into form.  Ranked No. 20 in the nation, Mayes (22-9) is coming off a big weekend for the Tigers after pinning Nick Flannery of Buffalo and notching a major decision against Eastern Michigan. Buffalo’s Flannery managed a 12-7 decision over Mayes’s upcoming opponent, No. 4-ranked Chris Mecate. Mecate hasn’t dropped a match since and is 23-6 on the season.

 

In the 149-pound bout, No. 1 Drake Houdashelt looks to extend his 18-match winning streak with a win over No. 14-ranked Alexander Richardson of Old Dominion. Richardson, a sophomore, was one of the two ODU grapplers who knocked off a top-10 rankedopponent in the dual against Ohio. Richardson defeated the then No. 8-ranked Tywan Claxton by a 4-3 decision. Richardson's victory over Claxton gave theBobcat his first MAC loss this season and improved his own record to 22-6 on the season and 5-1 in the MAC. Houdashelt and Richardson met at the Southern Scuffle earlier in 2014, with Houdashelt walking away victorious 3-2.

 

“Old Dominion is a very talented team that had some struggles in the beginning of the year, but right now they’re not struggling,” said Head Coach Brian Smith. “They have a lot of guys ranked, and they have a lot of guys beating and knocking off top-ranked guys. They really believe in the way they’re wrestling so we’re in for a real competitive battle on Sunday.”

 

The four Tiger seniors being honored before the start of Sunday’s dual are Taylor Ronan (141), Zach Toal (165), Jordan Gagliano (174), and Eric Wilson (133). Sunday’s dual will start at 1 p.m. and will be Missouri’s final home meet of the year. Fans are encouraged to participate in the “blackout” by wearing black for $3 admission. In addition, the first 500 fans at the Hearnes Center will receive an official Missouri Wrestling license plate frame!

 

Stay tuned with everything Tiger Style wrestling by following the program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also join the conversation by using hashtag #TigerStyle.

 

BOUTCARD vs. Old Dominion

125-Barlow McGhee, Fr., (18-6) vs. Brandon Jeske, Fr., (15-11)/Buddy Scarborough, RSo., (12-12)

133-Matt Manley, RFr., (20-9) vs. Michael Hayes, RFr., (11-10)

141-No. 20 Lavio Mayes, RFr., (22-9) vs. No. 4 Chris Mecate, RSo., (23-6)

157-Joey Lavallee, Fr., (21-7) vs. No. 19 Tristan Warner, RJr., (16-8)

165-Jordan Gagliano, Sr., (24-11)/ No. 12 Zach Toal, Sr., (20-4) vs. Devin Geoghegan, RSo., (10-14)/Dillon Geoghegan, RSo., (3-10)

174-Mike England,Jr., (15-9) vs. Billy Curling, RSr., (13-7)

184-No. 14 John Eblen, Jr., (18-7) vs. Jack Dechow, RFr., (13-3)

197-No. 2 J’den Cox, Fr., (26-2) vs. Kevin Beazley, RFr., (15-11)/Jake Henderson, RJr., (8-4)

HWT-Devin Mellon,Jr., (18-9) vs. Matt Tourdot, RJr., (12-12)

 

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