University of Missouri, Columbia Columbia, MO
 
Former Missouri wrestler Mark Ellis Sings with Zinkin Entertainment

Former heavyweight champion launches MMA career

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Former Missouri wrestler Mark Ellis, the 2009 NCAA Division I heavyweight champ, has launched his MMA career by signing a contract with Zinkin Entertainment. He will be training with American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.

Zinkin Entertainment is largely considered to be one of the top sports management teams in Mixed Martial Arts. They represent over 30 fighters, including Chuck Liddell, Cain Velasquez and Forrest Griffin.
At AKA, Ellis will be joining fellow former NCAA All-American wrestlers Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez. Ellis is expected to be trained by Bob Cook, Javier Mendez and Dave Camarillo.

Ellis becomes the third ex-Tiger wrestler in recent history to make the switch to MMA, as he follows the post-collegiate success of former Missouri teammates Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.

Ellis was a four-time qualifier, winning the NCAA heavyweight crown as a junior in 2009 after defeating Konrad Dudziak of Duke in the finals, becoming only the second Missouri wrestler to win a national collegiate mat title. He finished off his career by taking sixth in the heavyweight bracket this past March, earning NCAA All-American honors for the second straight year.
The 2010-11 Missouri Recruiting Class is Ranked No. 11 in the Country

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri wrestling team is in the middle of the grind of their off-season training and workout program, looking to prepare themselves for another successful year. Of the 16 signees in this year's class, nine of them are currently here in Columbia taking classes and going through training to get prepared for the season.

InterMat named Missouri's 2010 recruiting class as the 11th best in the nation, highlighted by three top-100 recruits, Alan Waters (No. 49), Drake Houdashelt (No. 60) and Simon Kitzis (No. 89), and Danny Gonsor, a transfer from the University of Virginia who qualified for the NCAA Championship last season.
The incoming freshmen, who are taking a health professions class and Acting for Non-Majors, are wrapping up those two classes as they continue to prepare for the season. MUTigers.com recently spoke to the nine newcomers who are in town this summer to see how they are adjusting to life at Mizzou.

Danny Gonsor, Cleveland, Ohio, Projected Weight Class: 157
Career Highlights: Junior transfer from the University of Virginia. Made his first NCAA appearance last season as a sophomore, finishing the tournament with a 1-2 record. Was a member of four-straight state champion teams in high school at St. Edward, which included the national champion squad in 2007.
How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?

"Good, really good. I'm coming for a different program so it's nice to switch it up a little bit with new training partners and stuff. Everyone's working hard. I'm learning a new system, which is nice because I learned a lot at Virginia and now I'm here to learn even more so I can kind of mesh the two together in my own style."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?

"I really only have to personal goals and it's to win an NCAA Championship and help the team win an NCAA Championship."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?

"I like being with the team, working hard towards winning that national championship and having the right people around me to do it."


Drake Houdashelt, O'Fallon, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 157

Career Highlights: Two straight state championships in 2009 and 2010. Finished second at Junior Nationals in '09 and second at the FILA Juniors in '10.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?

"It's going well. I'm working on some things with my feet and trying to get that down."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?

"I just want to keep getting better and improve myself every practice."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?

"It's cool being around all of the people here."

Eric Hughes, Washington, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 125

Career Highlights: Back-to-back second-place finishes at state his junior and senior seasons. Was a combined 114-8 over the course of his last three seasons.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?

"Training's going really well. I'm getting a lot stronger and I'm really honing my technique and improving in a lot of positions that I need to."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?

"I want to make big strides toward wrestling at a higher level in the future and to improve myself greatly."
What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?

"I like being with all of the wrestlers. It helps us all get better as a team which will help us find ways to win later."


Austin Lindsay, Brookfield, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 149
Career Highlights: Won four straight state championships in high school while amassing a 179-2 career record. Was a perfect 137-0 during his last three seasons, and recorded 38 falls his senior year. Also named District Wrestler of the Year twice and finished high school with a 3.9 GPA.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?

"It's going pretty good. I'm starting to put on weight with lifting, shakes and everything else. We've been running, trying to get in shape and ready for the season."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?

"I want to have a winning record and give some of the starters a challenge for their spot."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?

"I love everything. The team and the campus are great, it's just awesome."

Devin Mellon, Lawson, Mo., Projected Weight Class: HWT
Career Highlights: Won state in 2008, '09 and '10 in high school after finishing second his freshman year. Finished high school career with a 152-8 record, which includes a perfect 43-0 senior season.
How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?

"It's going pretty good. I'm in pretty good shape so far and I'm working on my riding."
What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?

"I want to get a little bigger, I need to gain some weight, and become better overall on the mat."
What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?

"All of the guys on the team are pretty cool. The older guys don't hassle you or anything and they're always willing to help you out any way they can."

Ty Prazma, Granite City, Ill., Projected Weight Class: 157/165
Career Highlights: Finished second at the Southeastern Regional in freestyle in 2009. Lettered three times in soccer in high school and four times in wrestling. Registered 28 falls his senior year.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?
"They got us lifting every morning at seven, so that's a lot of fun. You can already tell that it's making a difference. All of the technique we've been working on is really starting to pay off it looks like."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?
"I want to get acquainted with the college-style of wrestling and hopefully place at some open tournaments later in the year since I'll probably be redshirting."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?
"The atmosphere. Everyone loves the athletics and it feels good to be a student-athlete for a school like that."
Mike Schmidt, St. Charles, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 133
Career Highlights: Recorded three runner-up finishes at state in high school. Graduated eighth in his class with a 3.98 GPA. Earned 12 letters, which includes four in football, four in wrestling and four in FFA. Career high school record was 151-14.
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How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?
"We've been working on our technique, getting everything down to the little pieces that make up the big difference."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?
"To work hard and get better for next year."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?
"My favorite thing is the environment and being around all of my teammates"

Alan Waters, Kansas City, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 125
Career Highlights: Four-time state champion in high school, finishing his career with a 182-4 record. Went a perfect 47-0 his senior year. Won two Fargo National Championships in freestyle and Greco in 2007.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?
"Summer training is going pretty good. I'm working on getting in shape and getting ready for the fall right now. We've been working pretty hard this summer and we're looking forward to getting ready for the season."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?
"Not sure for this season because I'm not sure if I'm redshirting or not yet."

What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?
"I like being apart of the team. I'm happy that I'm finally up here and I get to work out with them and get better."

Trevor Wiest, Blue Springs, Mo., Projected Weight Class: 149
Career Highlights: Finished third at state twice and fourth at state twice during his high school career. Recorded 19 falls his senior year on his way to a 46-4 record. Finished seventh at the 2007 Fargo Nationals in freestyle.

How's summer training going and what kind of things are you working on?
"It's going good. It's a lot tougher than what I'm used to. I'm lifting a lot of weights and conditioning right now."

What are some of your own personal goals for the upcoming season?
"I want to win all of my matches of course and hopefully take everything I can from these guys and try to get better during my redshirt year."
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What's your favorite thing about being at Mizzou and in Columbia so far?
"The guys on the team are awesome. They really motivate you and all of the coaches are here to help. The campus is awesome. I'm liking it all."The 2010-11 Missouri recruiting class is ranked No. 11 in the country
Missouri' Tigers Notch 3-0 Showing in Northeast

Missouri Wrestling Team Shuts Down CAA Opponents

Philadelphia, Pa. - Missouri's 15th-ranked wrestling team won back-to-back duals holding off George Mason and Drexel while improving to 6-4 on the year. Taking on their second and third Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponents of the weekend, Missouri topped the Patriots of George Mason, 34-7, and Dragons of Drexel, 31-9. Yesterday, Missouri held off Hofstra, 34-7.

"We've been in the training phase since Christmas," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "Our guys have been working hard and they were tired this weekend. But, they pushed through and we managed three solid team victories this weekend. We're a young team with a lot of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup. These wins really help build up their confidence."

Four Missouri wrestlers finished the evening duals contested in the Daskalakis Athletic Center with 2-0 records. Junior Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) won both of his 141-pound bouts by decision, besting Jaziah Bethea of George Mason, 14-7, and Shane Fenningham of Drexel, 7-1.

Missouri's 149 pounder, Scott O'Donnell (Kansas City, Mo.), managed a 3-0 showing on the weekend. After earning a 5-2 decision last night against his Hofstra opponent, O'Donnell opened Saturday's competition with an eight point, 9-1, win by major decision over Brandon Bucher. Later in the night, O'Donnell returned to the mat and held off Brett McCurdy of Drexel, 6-4.

All-American Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) improved on his standout senior season, winning his fourth match of the year by technical fall, 18-3, against Ty Knepp. Marable's second bout of the day marked his 28th win of the year and the 109th of his career. Currently tied for ninth on Missouri's wins list, Marable will take a seven match win streak into Missouri's Big 12 opener against Nebraska, Jan. 29.

Redshirt freshman Brent Haynes of Kansas City, Mo., notched two wins at 197 pounds. Earning a win by forfeit against George Mason, Haynes tacked on an additional six team points to Missouri's running team total against Drexel, pinning Jack Callendar in 2:13.

Missouri wrestlers totaled three falls on the night. Tiger heavyweight Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) was the first to win by pin, sticking Adam Barnette of George Mason in 49 seconds. Sophomore Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.) recorded his first win by fall of the season, dropping 174-pound opponent Dave Woodall of Drexel in 34 seconds. Missouri's second fastest fall of the campaign, Henderson is now 20-9. Haynes fall at 197 pounds against Drexel was the third and final of the evening.

Done with competition for the weekend, Smith and his Tiger squad will take in the sites of Philadelphia visiting Constitution Hall and the Liberty Bell as well as running the famous "Rocky" stairs, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, before returning to Columbia Sunday evening.
The Tigers will open Big 12 competition Friday, Jan. 29, in Lincoln, Neb., when they take on the Huskers at 7 p.m. (CT).
Wt.
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
GMU
125
Brian Wright (GMU) decision Eric Wilson (MU): 7-1
0
3
133
Brad Wisdom (MU) major decision Zachory Huxford (GMU): 12-3
4
3
141
Todd Schavrien (MU) decision Jaziah Bethea (GMU): 14-7
7
3
149
Scott O'Donnell (MU) major decision Brandon Bucher (GMU): 9-1
11
3
157
Patrick Wright (MU) decision Aaron Keeton (GMU): 6-2
14
3
165
Nicholas Marable (MU) technical fall Ty Knepp (GMU): 18-3
18
3
174
Mendbagana Tovuujav (GMU) major decision Dorian Henderson (MU): 13-5
18
7
184
Todd Porter (MU) major decision Andrew Rock (GMU): 13-5
22
7
197
Brent Haynes (MU) win by forfeit
28
7
HWT
Mark Ellis (MU) win by fall Adam Barnette (GMU): :49
34
7
Wt.
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
Drexel
125
Eric Wilson (MU) major decision Yi-Ming Law (Drexel): 20-8
4
0
133
Steve Mytych (Drexel) decision Brad Wisdom (MU): 2-0
4
3
141
Todd Schavrien (MU) decision Shane Fenningham (Drexel): 7-1
7
3
149
Scott O'Daniel (MU) decision Brett McCurdy (Drexel): 6-4
10
3
157
Joe Booth (Drexel) decision Patrick Wright (MU): 3-1 SV
10
6
165
Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Alex Rinaldi (Drexel): 12-6
13
6
174
Dorian Henderson (MU) fall Dave Woodall (Drexel) :34
19
6
184
Justin Wieller (Drexel) decision Todd Porter (MU): 3-1 SV
19
9
197
Brent Haynes (MU) fall Jack Callender (Drexel): 2:13
25
9
HWT
Dominique Bradley win by forfeit
31
9
Missouri Best Hofstra, 34-7

Hempstead, N.Y. - Eight Tiger wrestlers won their matches in 15th-ranked Missouri's 34-7 victory over Hofstra in Hempstead. N.Y. With the win, Missouri improves to 4-4 on the year, while the Pride fall to 5-7-2. The Tigers are now 5-0 in the all-time series with Hofstra.
Opening the dual at heavyweight, Missouri earned a quick six team points as Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) accepted a win by forfeit. Bradley is now a perfect 4-0 in duals this season.
True freshman Eric Wilson (Centennial, Colo.) collected his first career win as a member of Missouri's 10-man lineup. Battling Jaime Fanco at 125 pounds, Wilson shut out his Pride opponent, 3-0, Missouri's only win of the night by shutout.
Back-to-back true freshmen made starts for Missouri. Brad Wisdom (Farmington, Mo.) who has seen time at 125 pounds for the Tigers, competed at 133 pounds, winning a major decision, 13-5, over Jeff Rotella.
Ranked as high as 19th in the nation, Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) won a 14-3 major decision against Luke Vaith. Schavrien has the second most wins by major decision of his Tiger teammates at six.
Scott O'Donnell (Kansas City, Mo.) returned to the Tiger lineup at 149 pounds for the first time since Missouri's Nov. 20 contest against Purdue. Winning his match against Tyler Banks, 5-2, O'Donnell helped the Tigers to a 20 point advantage over the Pride.
Missouri's Patrick Wright (Grand Ledge, Mich.) entered his 157 pound match with No. 19 Jonny Bonilla-Bowman with a 1-0 advantage over the Hofstra wrestler, having bested him at the 2008 Missouri Open. The two exchanged shots, but Bowman came out the winner, 21-10.
Sixth-ranked All-American Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) earned his eighth dual victory and improved to 26-2 on the year holding off P.J Gillespie, 7-4 at 165 pounds. Sophomore Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.) added an additional five team points with his 19-2 win by technical fall over Jon Rothman. Henderson's match ended in 5:28.
Seventeenth ranked 197-pounder Brent Haynes (Kansas City, Mo.) closed out the dual with a win by fall. Haynes stuck Anthony Tortora in 2:38 to seal Missouri's fourth win of the year.
The Tigers will return to the mat and take on George Mason at 5:30 p.m. (CT) followed by a 7 p.m. (CT) dual against Drexel. Both duals will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Missouri 34, Hofstra 7
285 - Dom Bradley (MU) win by forfeit
125 - Eric Wilson (MU) dec. Jaime Franco (Hofstra), 3-0
133 - Brad Wisdom (MU) maj. dec. Jeff Rotella (Hofstra), 13-5
141 - #19 Todd Schavrien (MU) maj. dec. Luke Vaith (Hofstra), 14-3
149 - Scott O'Donnell (MU) dec. Tyler Banks (Hofstra), 5-2
157 - #19 Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (Hofstra) maj. dec. Patrick Wright (MU), 21-10
165 - #6 Nicholas Marable (MU) dec. P.J. Gillespie (Hofstra), 7-4
174 -#10 Dorian Henderson (MU) tech fall Jon Rothman (Hofstra), 19-2 (5:28)
184 - Ben Clymer (Hofstra) dec. Todd Porter (MU), 4-3
197 - #17 Brent Haynes (MU) WBF Anthony Tortora (Hofstra), 2:38
Missouri Tigers Collect 24-14 Win Over Chattanooga

Month of Road Duals Continues

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Recording its third win of the campaign, the 16th-ranked Missouri wrestling team held off Chattanooga, 24-14, in its second straight week of road competition. Six Tigers notched wins in the evening dual, four recording bonus point victories.

Missouri suffered an opening round match, beginning the dual at 184 pounds. Tiger redshirt freshman Brent Haynes (Kansas City, Mo.) brought Missouri even with the Mocs, managing a 15-4 win by decision over Nikolas Brown. Haynes' win by major decision was the first of two four-point wins for Missouri.
Next to the mat, senior Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) recorded his second fastest win of the season by fall. Ellis was quick to takedown Matt Letnner, squaring his shoulders for the stick in 1:41. His seventh fall of the season, Ellis is two shy of tying his career high for falls, nine.

True freshman Eric Wilson (Centennial, Colo.) made his debut in the Tiger lineup, wrestling at 125 pounds. Wilson suffered a four point loss, 5-1, to Demetrius Johnson, but Missouri held on to a 10-7 advantage.

Redshirt freshman Nathan McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) added to the Tiger team total, besting Josh Statum, 15-5, at 133 pounds. Teammate Nick Hucke (Pewaukee, Wis.) tacked on an additional three team points with his 6-1 win by decision over Moc 141-pounder, Bennett Johnson.

Missouri suffered back-to-back losses at 149 and 157 pounds, and the Mocs pulled within three points of the Tigers. Tiger captain Nicholas Marable, a native of Collierville, Tenn., put on a show for his home state, winning the 165 pound match against Bond Davis, 22-7. The five-point technical fall is Marable's third of the season, a mark that ties teammates Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.), Haynes and Luke Cherep (Naperville, Ill.) for the most on the team.

The sole match of the evening to pit two ranked wrestlers against each other, No. 10 Henderson held off No. 20 Jake Young, 6-4, for his 18th win of the season and third dual victory.

The Tigers will return to the mat Friday, Jan. 22, when they take on the Hofstra Pride beginning at 6 p.m. (CT) in Hempstead, N.Y. From there, Missouri will make its way south to Philadelphia for duals against George Mason and Nebraska, set for a 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (CT) start time on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Wt.
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
UTC
125
Demetrius Johnson (UTC) decision Eric Wilson (MU): 5-1
10
7
133
Nathan McCormick (MU) major decision Josh Statum (UTC): 15-5
14
7
141
Nicholas Hucke (MU) decision Bennett Johnson (UTC): 6-1
17
7
149
Dean Pavlou (UTC) major decision Brandon Wiest (MU): 10-2
17
11
157
Josh Condon (UTC) decision No. 16 Patrick Wright (MU): 2-1
17
14
165
No. 6 Nicholas Marable (MU) tech. fall Bond Davis (UTC): 22-7
22
14
174
No. 10 Dorian Henderson (MU) decision No. 20 Jake Young (UTC): 6-4
25
14
184
Jason McCroskey (UTC) major decision Todd Porter (MU): 12-1
0
4
197
No. 18 Brent Haynes (MU) major decision Nikolas Brown (UTC): 15-4
4
4
HWT
No. 7 Mark Ellis (MU) fall Matt Lettner (UTC): 1:41
10
4
Missouri deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
24
14
Missouri Suffers 23-15 Loss to No. 7 Cornell

Missouri Closes Out National Duals with Loss

Cedar Falls, Iowa- The No. 17 Missouri wrestling team suffered a 23-15 loss to seventh-ranked Cornell, closing out their fifth consecutive run through the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals with a 1-2 record. Missouri now stands at 2-4 on the year.

Four Tiger grapplers collected wins in their matches against Cornell. Sophomore Patrick Wright (Grand Ledge, Mich.) recorded Missouri's first victory of the evening with a 3-2 win by decision over John Basting. Missouri's 157 pound grappler closed out the day with a spotless 3-0 record.

Senior Nicholas Marable, also 3-0 on the day, shut down 12th-ranked Justin Kerber, 12-3, in the 165-pound bout. The Missouri All-American grappler managed three takedowns in the first period alone, tacking on an escape in the second and takedowns and reversal in the third. Additionally, Marable was awarded one point in the second period for Kerber's locked hands and one point for 1:12 of riding time.
Missouri's third win of the dual came from senior Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) at 184 pounds. Askren was one of three Missouri wrestlers, in addition to Wright and Marable, to finish the tournament with three wins. Askren won his bout with No. 17 Steve Bosak, 11-3 and collected 2:25 of riding time.
Sophomore Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) closed out the evening with a 13-4 win over Cornell's Taylor Moore. Bradley held on a 4-1 lead after the first period and retained his advantage throughout the entire match.

Missouri will return to dual competition on Jan. 16 when they take on Chattanooga in Tennessee.
Wt
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
CU
125
Cornell wins by forfeit
0
6
133
No. 12 Mike Grey (CU) major decision Nathan McCormick (MU): 13-1
0
10
141
No. 6 Kyle Dake (CU) decision No. 20 Todd Schavrien (MU): 6-1
0
13
149
Corey Manson (CU) decision Cody Farinella (MU): 5-4
0
16
157
No. 17 Patrick Wright (MU) decision John Basting (CU): 3-2
3
16
165
No. 6 Nicholas Marable (MU) decision No. 12 Justin Kerber (CU): 12-3
7
16
174
No. 1 Mack Lewnes (CU) major dec.No. 9 Dorian Henderson (MU): 11-1
7
20
184
No. 3 Maxwell Askren (MU) major dec.No. 17 Steve Bosak (CU): 11-3
11
20
197
No. 6 Cam Simaz (CU) decision No. 11 Brent Haynes (MU): 7-2
11
23
HWT
No. 8 Dominique Bradley (MU) major decision Tayllor Moore (CU): 13-4
15
23
Missouri Tigers Drop National Duals Opener to No. 6 Minnesota

Missouri Suffers 25-14 Loss to Minnesota

Cedar Falls, Iowa- The 17th-ranked Missouri wrestling team opened the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals with a 25-14 loss to sixth-ranked Minnesota. Competing on the Northern Iowa campus in the UNI-Dome, the Tigers now 1-3 on the year, will square off against Northwestern (2-3) in their first match of the consolation bracket beginning at 1 p.m. (CT). Fans unable to attend the event can watch online for free at livesportsvideo.com.

Sophomore Patrick Wright (Grand Ledge, Mich.) collected the Tiger's first win of the morning competition, besting Joe Grygelko, 2-0, in the 157 pound match. Wright, ranked 17th in the nation, scored an escape five seconds into the second period and collected 1:57 of riding time for the win, his 15th of the campaign.

Two-time All-American Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) exploded offensively, winning his 165-pound bout 22-7. The four point technical fall against Nate Matousek is Marable's fourth 15 point victory in his Tiger career. Over the course of the match, Marable amassed nine takedowns and was awarded two points for Matousek's stalling and one point for 1:51 of riding time.

Third-ranked senior Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) improved to 8-1 on the season after defeating Kaleb Young, 13-4, at 184 pounds. Missouri's All-American was first to score in the match, dropping Young 31 seconds into the first period. Askren controlled the bout and tallied 2:19 of riding time en route to his 92nd career victory.

Missouri closed out the dual by way of win, as senior heavyweight Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.), ranked eighth in the country, shut down Ben Berhow, 6-1. The two grapplers were scoreless in the first three minutes of action. Berhow deferred to start the second and Ellis chose down. From there, Ellis escaped and took down Berhow for a 3-0 advantage heading into the third period. Ellis tacked on an additional takedown and 1:34 of riding time for the win.

The Tigers and Wildcats of Northwestern will meet for the fourth consecutive year at the National Duals when they battle at 1 p.m. (CT) on mat No. 15. The winner will advance in the consolation bracket and compete at 5 p.m. (CT).
Wt
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
MN
125
Minnesota wins by forfeit
0
6
133
No. 2 Jayson Ness (Minn) fall Nathan McCormick (MU): 1:44
0
12
141
No. 7 Mike Thorn (Minn) decision No. 20 Todd Schavrien (MU): 5-3
0
15
149
No. 18 Mario Mason (Minn) decision Brandon Wiest (MU): 8-3
0
18
157
No. 17 Patrick Wright (MU) decision Joe Grygelko Minn): 2-0
3
18
165
No. 6 Nicholas Marable (MU) tech fall Nate Matousek (Minn): 22-7
7
18
174
No. 13 Scott Glasser (Minn) major dec. No. 9 Dorian Henderson (MU): 10-1
7
22
184
No. 3 Maxwell Askren (MU) major decision Kaleb Young (Minn): 13-4
11
22
197
No. 15 Sonny Yohn (Minn) decision No. 11 Brent Haynes (MU): 4-0
11
25
HWT
No. 8 Mark Ellis (MU) decision Ben Berhow (Minn): 6-1
14
25
Tigers and Gophers Go Head-to-Head at National Duals

Missouri and Minnesota to Meet in First Dual of National Duals

Columbia, Mo. - The 17th ranked Missouri wrestling team (1-2) will make its fifth consecutive trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to compete in the two-day National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals. Held in the UNI-Dome on the campus of Northern Iowa, Missouri will open the team tournament competition with a 9 a.m. (CT) dual against No. 6 Minnesota (3-2), Saturday, Jan. 9. This marks the first meeting between the two programs since they last battled for National Dual supremacy in 2007.

Tickets for the National Duals can be purchased at the UNI-Dome box office or by calling 877-216-DOME. All-session passes are $40 ($32 for seniors and students), while individual session tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors and students). Fans unable to attend the two-day competition can watch the action live online at <http://www.livesportsvideo.com/>www.livesportsvideo.com.  The online broadcast is free.

One of three Big 12 schools participating in the National Duals, Missouri enters the competition unseeded. Should Missouri top fifth-seeded Minnesota, the Tigers will take on the winner of the Northwestern vs. Central Michigan matchup at 1 p.m. (CT). The consolation match will also begin at 1 p.m. (CT) with the loser of the Missouri/Minnesota dual facing the loser of the Northwestern/Central Michigan dual.

Nine members of Missouri's 10-man lineup enter the week ranked among the top-25 of their respective weight class, with four, senior Nicholas Marable (165), sophomore Dorian Henderson (174), senior Maxwell Askren (184) and senior heavyweight Mark Ellis ranked among the top-10.

Minnesota brings eight grapplers ranked among the nation's elite. Two, 133-punder Jayson Ness and 165-pounder Dustin Schlatter, rank as high as second in the country. Ness a three-time All-American took third at the 2009 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., second in 2008 at 125 pounds and fifth in 2007, also at 125 pounds. Teammate and sixth-ranked 125-pounder Zach Sanders closed out the 2009 NCAA Championships by earning All-America accolades for his sixth-place showing. 

The Golden Gophers of Minnesota own a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers. Missouri's only wins came during the 1977-78 season (30-8 in Lincoln, Neb.) and again in the 1991-92 campaign, 21-19, in Columbia, Mo. Minnesota and Missouri have met only once with Tiger Head Coach Brian Smith at the helm. Missouri suffered a 20-16 loss in the championship matchup of the 2007 National Duals.
Five Missouri Tiger Grapplers Earn Missouri Open Titles

Wisdom Earns 125-Pound Crown

Columbia, Mo. - Five Tiger wrestlers earned Championship titles at the 10th annual Missouri Open held in the Hearnes Fieldhouse, while a program-high 18 collected top-six finishes. The all-day tournament drew nearly 400 wrestlers from across the Midwest and featured several of the nation's top-25 ranked grapplers. Competitors wrestled in either the Open or Freshman/Sophomore bracket.

True freshman Bradley Wisdom (Farmington, Mo.) improved to 7-0 on the season and claimed the 125 pound Freshman/Sophomore title topping Indianapolis' Alex Johns, 16-3, in his final match of the day. Wisdom recorded two falls in the tournament, an opening round stick in 49 seconds, followed by a quarterfinal win in 2:07 over Casey Kenney of Indianapolis. 

Junior Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) won his second tournament title of the year, claiming an 8-3 victory over Oklahoma's Kendrick Maple in the championship bout of the 141 pound Open bracket. The two were scoreless through the first period and Schavrien chose down to start the second. Missouri's 2009 NCAA qualifier at 133 pounds chose down to start the second period, escaped and notched a quick takedown to jump to a three point lead. Maple was held to three escapes in the final four minutes of action, while Schavrien went on to record two additional takedowns and 1:04 of riding time. 

Competing at 165 pounds, senior All-American and seventh-ranked Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) earned his second career Missouri Open crown pinning Tiger teammate Zach Toal (Sidney, Ohio) in 4:15 for the win. Toal wrestled unattached and was one of three Tiger grapplers to finish second on the day. Marable extended his win streak to 13 straight, a mark that dates back to his final win at the 2009 NCAA Championships, and opened tournament action with a win by technical fall (20-4) followed by a win by major decision (13-5). To date, Marable has managed six of his 13 wins by eight or more points. The most bonus point victories Marable has secured in a single season is seven, set in 2007-08.

For Toal, his runner-up finish marks the third straight tournament in which he has finished among the top four of his weight class. 

Missouri's redshirt freshman, Brent Haynes (Kansas City, Mo.) won the 197 pound Open bracket by shutting out No. 1 seeded Logan Brown of Purdue, 2-0. The two competitors met Nov. 20 in Missouri's second dual of the day, and Brown walked away with the 7-5 win in sudden victory. Haynes outscored his tournament opponents, 31-4.

Now 9-2 on the season, sophomore Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) improved on his third place showing from 2008 by earning the final win of the night and title at heavyweight. Bradley defeated Cal Poly's Jim Powers for the second time in three days, securing a 2-0 win by decision. Bradley and Powers were scoreless through the first three minutes of competition and Bradley chose down, escaping for the one point advantage, in the second period. Missouri's heavyweight rode out the Mustang grappler for 1:51 and the win

Next up for Missouri, the Tigers will travel to State College, Pa., and participate in the Nittany Lion Open, Sunday, Dec. 6.
Missouri's Askren Wins Match at NWCA All-Star Classic

Tiger Wrestler Takes 184 Pound Title

Fullerton, Calif.. - Two-time All-American Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.), ranked No. 1 in the nation at 184 pounds, held off ninth-ranked All-American Josh Patterson of Binghamton, 14-7, while competing at the 44th annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic held in Fullerton, Calif. Askren's win marks the second straight year in which a Missouri wrestler competed in, and won, his match at the annual event, 165 pounder Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) won his 2008 match against Mack Lewnes of Cornell, 3-2.
Wrestling in Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton, Askren put up four points in the first period with a takedown and reversal, but was reversed by Patterson to end the first three minutes of action, 4-2. Missouri's senior chose down to start the second period and turned Patterson for a reversal and four point lead. Patterson chose to start the third period in the neutral position and Binghampton's grappler took Askren down. Not to be outdone, Askren secured his third reversal of the match and locked up six points through takedowns with an additional point added for his 4:18 of riding time.

Senior teammate Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.), the 2009 heavyweight champion, was tapped to wrestle in the prestigious event, but was sidelined by injury and chose not to participate.
Askren's win does not count toward his official record.
Three Missouri Tigers Earn UCM Open Titles

Schavrien, Marable and Henderson Finish First

Warrensburg, Mo. - Competing in the 35th annual University of Central Missouri Open in Warrensburg, Mo., three Tigers, Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.), Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) and Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.) finished first in the 141, 165 and 174-pound bracket. Seventeen of the 30 Tigers competing at the open finished among the top five of their respective weight class.

Wrapping up the all-day tournament with a spotless 5-0 record, Schavrien opened competition with a fall in 1:19 over Northwest Missouri State's Trevor Cogdill. Three of Schavrien's five wins on the day were marked as bonus point victories, two by major decision. Schavrien took on fellow Missouri grappler Kyle Bradley (St. Peters, Mo.) in the 141 pound championship finals and won, 9-4. Bradley, wrestling unattached, came through the bracket with an opening round win by fall in 37 seconds, the second-fastest fall for any Missouri wrestler on the day. Kellen Bounous managed the fastest pin in 35 seconds. Bradley held on for a 7-5 sudden victory win over redshirt freshman Cody Farinella (Maryland Heights, Mo.) in the semifinals to advance to the title match.

Coming off of a one point win Thursday night in the Hearnes Center, Marable improved to 6-0 on his senior campaign. Missouri's 165 pound starter and two-time All-American opened with a 20-6 win by major decision over Joseph Ali of Oklahoma State and followed with a fall in 1:12 over Mike Wierra of North Central College. The Tiger grappler went on to record his second win of the day by major decision, topping Danny Grater of Ft. Hays, 13-5, in the semifinals. The final match of the night paired Marable with Blake Malloy, also of Ft. Hays State. Marable wrapped up a 6-3 win by decision claiming Missouri's second title of the tournament.

Henderson, a sophomore, rebounded from a hard-fought season opening loss by rattling off five straight wins and claiming the crown at 174 pounds. The 2009 NCAA qualifier began tournament competition with a 26-8 win by technical fall in 5:40 over Ashton Cooper of Missouri Valley. Henderson finished the Mules' annual event with a 9-4 win by decision over Oklahoma State's Mike Benefiel.

Sophomore transfer Scott O'Donnell (Kansas City, Mo.) earned runner up honors in the 149-pound weight class, falling to Oklahoma State's Albert White, 4-1, in the title round. O'Donnell recorded one of 17 Missouri falls on the day, managing a pin in 4:41 in his bout with UCM grappler Johnny Cloutier.

Patrick Wright (Grand Ledge, Mich.) a sophomore, also managed a second place showing, finishing behind Neil Erisman (Oklahoma State) at 157 pounds. Wright closed out the day with a 4-1 record, outscoring his opponents, 43-18.

Competing at heavyweight, No. 1 ranked Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) and sophomore teammate Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs. Mo.) suffered semi-final round losses and competed against each other for third. Bradley held off Ellis, 2-1, in the second tiebreaker.

The Tigers will return to dual competition Friday, Nov. 20 when they host Cal Poly at Noon (CT) in the Hearnes Center, followed by a 7 p.m. (CT) battle against Big Ten opponent Purdue. The event kicks off the wrestling homecoming weekend recognizing all former Missouri grapplers and coaches. For more information, or to attend, please visit www.mutigers.com.

Weight
Name
Finish
133
Nathan McCormick
Third
133
Taylor Crane
Fifth
141
Todd Schavrien
First
141
Kyle Bradley
Second
141
Cody Farinella
Fourth
149
Scott O'Donnell
Second
149
Brandon Wiest
Third
149
Tyler Lee
Fourth
157
Patrick Wright
Second
157
Nick Gregoris
Third
165
Nicholas Marable
First
165
Zack Toal
Fourth
174
Dorian Henderson
First
174
Todd Porter
Fifth
197
Brent Haynes
Third
HWT
Dominique Bradley
Third
HWT
Mark Ellis
Fourth
Missouri Tigers Open Season With Win Over Illinois

Ellis Sticks Opponent, Moves to 10th in Career Record Book

Columbia, Mo. - Extending its season opening win streak to seven straight years, a program best, the eighth-ranked Missouri wrestling team held off Illinois, 18-16, in the Hearnes Center marking the Tiger's second consecutive victory over the Fighting Illini. Five Tigers won their bouts, two decided by a mere one point.

"We had a lot of close matches tonight," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "We've got to get the team attacking more and being more offensive. They looked good, but there's always room to improve. It's a long journey to the end of the season."

Second-ranked All-American Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) collected his first win at 184 pounds, besting 10th-ranked John Dergo, 9-4. Askren's victory set the Tigers on a three-match win streak that included a 4-1 win by Brent Haynes (Kansas City, Mo.) at 197 pounds and a fall by No. 1 ranked heavyweight Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.).

Haynes was one of two redshirt freshmen in Missouri's lineup to claim their first career dual victory. Tiger 133-pounder Nathan McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) took a one point win, 3-2, over Daryl Thomas. The last time two Missouri redshirt freshmen made their first career start and won their bouts came in 2006 against Ohio State. Then redshirt freshman Ellis and teammate John Olanowski claimed victories at HWT and 125 pounds, respectively.

"Brent looked good tonight," Smith said. It was exciting to see him fight through his match and get the win."

Missouri's defending national champion, Ellis, extended his win streak to six straight bouts, dating back to day one of the 2009 NCAA Championships. Ellis has recorded 23 falls in his career, tying for 10th in Missouri's career falls record book.

Down 16-15 entering the final bout of the night, senior two-time All-American Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) came through with a 3-2 win over Conrad Polz to secure a Missouri victory. Marable and Polz were scoreless through the first period, one of five matches that were scoreless in the first three minutes of action. Marable put up three points in the second period with his escape from the down position and takedown in 45 seconds. Polz was held to one escape in the second and third, while Marable was hit with stalling late in the third, but held on for the victory.

The Tigers continue action at home next Friday, Nov. 20, at Noon (CT) against Cal Poly. The first of two duals on the day, Missouri will host its second Big Ten opponent of the season, Purdue, at 7 p.m. (CT). All former Missouri wrestlers and coaches are invited back to Columbia, Mo., for a wrestling homecoming, Nov. 20-22. Former wrestlers and coaches will be recognized during the Purdue dual as well as at Saturday's, Nov. 21 football game against Iowa State. For more information, or to register, please visit www.mutigers.com.

Wt.
Wrestler vs. Wrestler
MU
IU
125
John Dennen (UI) major decision Troy Dolan (MU): 9-0
12
7
133
Nathan McCormick (MU) decision Daryl Thomas (UI): 3-2
15
7
141
No. 13 Ryan Prater (UI) decision No. 18 Todd Schavrien (MU): 15-9
15
10
149
Eric Terrazas (UI) decision Brandon Wiest (MU): 4-2
15
13
157
Clint Arlis (UI) decision Patrick Wright (MU): 3-2
15
16
165
No. 7 Nicholas Marable (MU) decision Conrad Polz (UI): 3-2
18
16
174
No. 7 Jordan Blanton decision (UI) dec.No. 14 Dorian Henderson (MU): 7-4
0
3
184
No.. 2 Maxwell Askren (MU) decision No. 10 John Dergo (UI): 9-4
3
3
197
Brent Haynes (MU) decision No. 12 Patrick Bond (UI): 4-1
6
3
HWT
No. 1 Mark Ellis (MU) fall Pat Walker (UI): 3:54
12
3
Missouri University Wrestling Team Ranks Eighth in the Nation

Five Tiger Grapplers Ranked Among Top-20
 
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri wrestling team received a No. 8 ranking as announced today by InterMat.  Defending National Champion Iowa was awarded the No. 1 spot, while Big 12 opponent Iowa State stands at No. 2 in the country.  Five Tigers sit among the top 20 of their respective weight class, with three ranked among the top-10.
 
Senior heavyweight Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) has been named the No. 1 wrestler at heavyweight in three polls this preseason.  The defending National Champion is 68-26 in his career and has recorded 22 wins by fall.  Ellis is one of five returning heavyweight All-Americans; a list that includes 2009 runner-up and current No. 2 Konrad Dudziak of Duke, two-time All-Americans Jared Rosholt of Oklahoma State (No. 3) and David Zabriskie of Iowa State (No. 5) and 2009 fourth place finisher Dan Erekson of Iowa (No. 4).  Four Big 12 heavyweight grapplers are ranked among the top-10 in the nation, Ellis, Rosholt, Zabriskie and Tucker Lane of Nebraska (No. 9).  Oklahoma heavyweight Nathan Fernandez sits at No. 15.
 
Two-time All-American Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) received his highest ranking of the preseason at No. 2 at 184 pounds.  Down one weight class from 197 pounds, Askren stands behind 2009 NCAA second-place finisher Mike Pucillo of Ohio State.  Askren is the only Big 12 wrestler ranked among the top 10 at 184 pounds.  Oklahoma State's Clayton Foster, a junior, sits just outside the top 10 at No. 11. 
 
Missouri's 165-pound starter, senior Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.), rounds out Missouri's list of top-10 ranked grapplers and opens his season at No. 7.  Marable owns a 6-2 all-time record against the six wrestlers ranked higher than him.  The Tiger grappler has never paired with Minnesota's No. 1 ranked Dustin Schlatter or Wisconsin's third-ranked Andrew Howe.  In three seasons, Marable has managed one win over No. 2 Jarrod King of Edinboro, four against fifth-ranked Jon Reader of Iowa State and one over Bucknell's sixth-ranked Andy Rendos.  Marable's only losses came to fourth-ranked Ryan Morningstar of Iowa and Rendos, both last season. 
 
2009 NCAA qualifier and expected 133 pound starter Todd Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) will kick off the 2009-10 campaign ranked 19th in the nation.  One of only three Big 12 wrestlers ranked among the top-20 at 133 pounds, Schavrien stands behind Iowa State's fifth-ranked Nick Fanthorpe and Oklahoma State's seventh-ranked Jordan Oliver. 
 
The youngest Missouri wrestler to earn a top-20 ranking this preseason is sophomore Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.).  Henderson stands at No. 20 in the 174-pound weight class.  Last season, Henderson wrestled at 184 pounds and qualified for his first NCAA Championship. 
 
All five of the Big 12 wrestling programs are ranked among the top 20 in the nation, with four, Iowa State (No. 2), Oklahoma State (No. 6), Nebraska (No. 7) and Missouri (No. 8) among the top 10.  Oklahoma enters the season ranked 18th. 
 
 
 
==================================
Emily Gatewood Murray
Associate Director of Missouri Media Relations
Phone: 573-884-8519
Fax: 573-882-4720

Missouri University Tiger Wrestling Team Receives No. 10 Preseason Ranking

Four Missouri Grapplers Enter Season Ranked Among Top-20
 
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri wrestling team received a No. 10 preseason ranking as announced today by the Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (WIN).  Four Tigers, junior Todd Schavrien (133), Nicholas Marable (165), Maxwell Askren (184) and Mark Ellis (HWT), currently rank among the top-20 grapplers in the nation in their respective weight class, with Ellis ranked No. 1 at heavyweight.
 
The preseason Division I Tournament Power Index (TPI) poll is compiled by awarding points to each team for the ranked wrestlers listed in WIN's current individual rankings.  Teams are awarded points based on how many potential All-Americans they could have and get advancement points for wrestlers ranked No. 9-20.  The order of teams in the TPI vary greatly from dual meet rankings.
 
Missouri's three returning All-Americans stand among the top-10 of their respective weight class with returning National Champion Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) standing atop the heavyweight list at No. 1 in the country. This marks the third time in four years and second consecutive season in which a Tiger grappler was awarded the No. 1 ranking at his respective weight class.  Marable stood No. 1 at 165 pounds prior to the 2008-09 campaign, while Ben Askren was awarded the No. 1 spot at the start of the 2006-07 season.
 
A two-time All-American at 197 pounds, Askren (Hartland, Wis.) will spend his senior season competing in the 184-pound weight class.  Askren enters the season ranked sixth in the nation and is the highest ranked Big 12 grappler at 184 pounds. 
 
Marable, also a two-time All-American, ranks seventh in the nation at 165 pounds.  The Tiger starter is one of six seniors ranked among the top 10 165-pounders in the country.
 
Tiger wrestler Schavrien (Poway, Calif.) kicks off his junior campaign ranked 18th in the nation at 133 pounds.  Schavrien was one of eight Missouri grapplers to qualify for the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. 
 
All five Big 12 Wrestling programs rank among the top-20 in the nation, with Iowa State earning the highest TPI ranking of second.  Nebraska stands just ahead of Missouri at eighth, while Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are tied at 17th. 
 
The Tigers will kick off the 64th season of Missouri wrestling on Sunday, Nov. 1 with the annual Black and Gold match slated for a 1 p.m. (CT) start in the Hearnes Center.  Dual competition will begin Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in a border showdown with Illinois, also in the Hearnes Center.
 
 
==================================
Emily Gatewood Murray
Associate Director of Missouri Media Relations
Phone: 573-884-8519
Fax: 573-882-4720

Missouri Wrestling Team Releases 2009-10 Schedule

Tigers Host Six Home Events
 
Columbia, Mo. - The nationally ranked Missouri wrestling team released its 2009-10 schedule today as announced by Head Coach Brian Smith.  The Tigers will open the 64th season of Missouri wrestling on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. (CT) with the annual Black and Gold meet held in the Hearnes Center.  Throughout the campaign, Missouri will host six home events, including the dual-opener against Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m.
 
Smith, entering his 12th year as head coach of the Tigers, will lead the squad through a challenging schedule that includes duals against five teams that finished among the top 25 in the nation at the 2009 NCAA Championships. 
 
"Our team and staff are anxious to get another season of TigerStyle wrestling underway," Smith said.  "We've scheduled a lot of solid opponents for the upcoming year, and our guys will take on some of the best in the field.  In addition to our 11 scheduled duals, the team will be traveling to three tournaments and will compete in our annual Missouri Open, Nov. 22."
 
Big 12 action will begin on Friday, Jan. 29 as the Tigers take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a 7 p.m. (CT) dual in Lincoln, Neb.  Missouri will host Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in back-to-back duals, Saturday, Feb. 6 and Sunday, Feb. 7, before closing out the dual season on Feb. 14 against Iowa State in Ames.
 
The 14th annual Big 12 Championships return to Norman, Okla., for the third time in league history and first time since 2002.  All five Big 12 squads are expected to rank among the top 15 teams in the nation.
 
The wrestling season concludes at the 80th annual NCAA Division I Championships, March 18-20, at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.  The Tigers return three All-Americans including 2009 NCAA heavyweight champion Mark Ellis for the upcoming season.  Additionally, five members of Missouri's 10-man lineup are prior NCAA qualifiers. 
 
For a look at Missouri's 2009-10 schedule please visit the schedule page (http://www.mutigers.com/sports/m-wrestl/sched/miss-m-wrestl-sched.html) on www.mutigers.com.
 
==================================
Emily Gatewood Murray
Associate Director of Missouri Media Relations
Phone: 573-884-8519
Fax: 573-882-4720

Missouri Qualifies Eight for NCAA Championships

As a reminder to media, Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith as well as Schavrien, Hoehn, Chandler, Marable, Henderson and Ellis will be available on Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m. (CT) in the annual NCAA media day held in the interview room of the Hearnes Center.
Missouri Qualifies Eight for NCAA Championships
Henderson Receives At-Large Bid
Columbia, Mo. - Redshirt freshman Dorian Henderson (Buford, Ga.) was awarded one of 52 at-large bids to the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships bringing the fifth-ranked Missouri wrestling team's total number of NCAA qualifiers to eight. The eight qualifiers ties a program high previously set in 2007, the same year Missouri finished third at the National Tournament, also a program high showing.
Wrestling at 184 pounds, Henderson was one of six grapplers awarded an at-large bid in his particular weight class. Additionally, Henderson was one of five Big 12 wrestlers awarded an at-large bid This marks Henderson's first ever appearance at the NCAA Championships.
Henderson joins Missouri teammates Todd Schavrien, Marcus Hoehn. Michael Chandler, Nicholas Marable, Raymond Jordan, Maxwell Askren and Mark Ellis as competitors in the 79th annual tournament. The three-day event will run March 19-21, in the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
As a reminder to media, Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith as well as Schavrien, Hoehn, Chandler, Marable, Henderson and Ellis will be available on Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m. (CT) in the annual NCAA media day held in the interview room of the Hearnes Center.
Missouri Wrestling Team to Hold Media Day

Wrestlers Prepare for 79th Annual NCAA Championships

Columbia, Mo. - In preparation for the upcoming Division I Wrestling Championships, March 19-21, in St. Louis, Missouri Wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith and his NCAA qualifiers will be available to the media Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m. (CT) in the interview room located on the event level of the Hearnes Center.  This is the only opportunity that media will have to talk with Smith and his squad until the completion of the first session of the National Championships on Thursday, March 19. 

The interview room can be accessed by entering the Hearnes Center on the West side of the building and taking the elevator to the event (basement) level. Or, media can utilize the ramp also located on the west side of the Hearnes Center to walk down and enter the building.

Seven Missouri wrestlers automatically qualified for the 79th annual event held in the Scottrade Center. 2009 Big 12 Champions Marcus Hoehn (141, Farmington, Mo.) and Nicholas Marable (165, Collierville, Tenn.) as well as second place finishers, Michael Chandler (157, High Ridge, Mo.), Raymond Jordan (174, New Bern, N.C.) and Mark Ellis (HWT, Peculiar, Mo.). Additionally, Todd Schavrien (133, Poway, Calif.) and Maxwell Askren (197, Hartland, Wis.), who finished the Big 12 Championships third in their respective weight class, also qualified. 

Missouri's Troy Dolan (125, Blairsville, Pa.), Andrew Sherry (149, Sewickley, Pa.) and Dorian Henderson (184, Columbus, Ga.) will learn Wednesday, March 11, if they are one of 52 at-large qualifiers that will advance to the NCAA Championships.
Missouri Wrestlers Receive Academic Accolades

Missouri Receives Five Academic All-Big 12 Honorees

Columbia, Mo. - Five members of Missouri's fifth-ranked wrestling team received Academic All-Big 12 accolades as announced by the league office. Four Tigers, John Andrews (McLean, Va.), Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.), Joey Garrity (Orion, Ill.) and Marcus Hoehn (Farmington, Mo.) received first-team honors, while senior Andrew Sherry (Sewickley, Pa.) was named to the second team. This marks the Missouri wrestling programs' second highest Academic All-Big 12 total, with six individuals crowned in 2005. Additionally, this marks the first time since 2005 that the Tigers had four wrestlers named to the first team.

A total of 23 grapplers from the five Big 12 schools that boast wrestling squads were named to the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 team. Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma recorded a league high five selections each on the team.

Askren is a three-time first team academic All-Big 12 recipient, while Andrews, Garrity, Hoehn and Sherry are first-time recipients of the annual award. Askren becomes Missouri's fourth wrestler to earn three or more Academic All-Big 12 first team honors.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the wrestling academic all-league squad consisted of 16 first team members combined with seven on the second team. First team members have recorded a 3.20 or better grade-point average (GPA), while the second team are those with a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

FIRST TEAM
Name Year Major Hometown
John Andrews Sr. English McLean, Va.
Maxwell Askren Jr. General Studies Hartland, Wis.
Joseph Garrity Sr. Biology Orion, Ill.
Marcus Hoehn Sr. General Studies Farmington, Mo.

SECOND TEAM
Name Year Major Hometown
Andrew Sherry Sr. Business Admin. Sewickley, Pa.