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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

Cell: (314) 363-6627                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fresh off his 200^th career victory in a 21-9 conference win over Old Dominion last Sunday, Brian Smith and the No. 9 Missouri Tigers travel north to Kent State looking for their 10^th win in their final dual of the season on Friday evening.  

 

Last time out, the Tigers (9-2, 6-1) handed Old Dominion their ninth loss of the season fueled by a Joey Lavallee decision over No. 19 Tristan Warner. Lavallee’s 7-2 win broke a 6-6 tie at 157 pounds, giving the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish. Mizzou’s true freshman has another tough test versus Kent State’s Ian Miller, who holds the top ranking in the MAC at 157 and is No. 4 nationally. Lavallee entered the national rankings at No. 18 after topping ODU’s Warner.

 

Redshirt freshmanLavion Mayes will also have a tough task at hand Friday when he battles Tyler

Small. In the most recent MAC rankings, Mayes and Small are tied for fourth, giving their matchup

huge conference implications. Mayes is coming off a tough 2-1 loss against No. 4 Chris Mecate in a

match where riding time was the deciding factor.

 

Mizzou holds a 5-1 advantage all-time against the Golden Flashes, with their lone loss coming in the championship dual at the2012 Virginia Duals, 18-14. Friday night’s dual will feature six Tigers ranked in the top-20 in their respective weight classes. The Golden Flashes only have one grappler, Ian Miller, ranked in the top-20, with others just outside the rankings.

 

Kent State’s highly ranked 184-pounder Sam Wheeler will not compete. Wheeler was suspended indefinitely from the program due to anti-gay tweets directed at Michael Sam, a former defensive end at Mizzou and an NFL Draft hopeful. Wheeler sits at No. 13 among 184 pounders in the nation, with Mizzou’s starter Johnny Eblen just behind him at No. 14.

 

Live streaming video of both duals can be seen with a subscription on Flowrestling. Additionally, live audio can be heard free on Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. 

 

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. Kent State

125 – Barlow McGhee (19-8) vs. Del Vinas (17-14) or Alfredo Gray (11-20)

133 – Matt Manley (21-10) vs. No. 20 Mack McGuire (23-11, 14-8 duals)

141 – No. 18 Lavion Mayes (24-10) vs. No. 23 Tyler Small (21-13, 13-9 duals)

149 – No. 1 Drake Houdashelt (30-1) vs. No. 30 Mike DePalma (21-15, 11-10 duals)

157 – No. 18 Joey Lavallee (24-7) vs. No. 4 Ian Miller (22-4, 13-3 duals) or T.J. Keklak (9-16)

165 – No. 12 Zach Toal (21-4) vs. Clay Wenger (4-10)

174 – Mikey England (16-11) vs. Caleb Marsh (15-8, 14-6 duals)

184 – No. 14 Johnny Eblen (19-7) vs. Mike Vollant (10-12) or Cory Campbell (9-8)

197 – No. 2 J'den Cox (29-2) vs. Cole Baxter (21-14, 14-8 duals)

285 – Devin Mellon (21-9) vs. Mimmo Lytle (14-20, 7-15 duals) or Jordan Marrero (11-12)

 

FOLLOW LIVE

Live Stream: http://livecoverage.flowrestling.org/account/login?id=113 (need Flo Pro subscription)

Live Radio: Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio

Live Stats: www.trackwrestling.com

Live In-Match Updates: @MizzouWrestling on Twitter

 

WHAT’S NEXT

After the No. 9-Tigers close out the regular season against Kent State, the squad will have a few weeks off to prepare before returning to Kent State for the 2014 MAC Championships on March 8-9. The Tigers will then close out the 2013-14 campaign at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., on March 20-22.