Another season of Mizzou wrestling began at the Hearnes Center with the Missouri Duals, and another season began with three victories. The Tigers had a combined score of 132-9 across the three duals, only tallying three individual losses.
Despite the big day across the board for Mizzou’s 20 wrestlers that competed, head coach Brian Smith was dwelling on what needs to be fixed going forward.
“We weren’t very good in a lot of situations, just guys not trusting their shape,” Smith said. “They figured
it out at some point in the match, but they’ve got to have that trust from the beginning. But those are things we can work on. We had a leg a million times and didn’t get turns. We had turks and didn’t get turns, so those are the things my wheels are turning about, that we’ve got to be better in those positions.”
The Tigers have a spread out schedule that should make working out these struggles easier. Here’s the results and standouts from the three wins to begin the season.
All rankings are according to InterMat.
Central Methodist Dual
125lbs: No. 21 Jr Mack Mauger (MIZ) over NR RS Sr Riley Bettich (CM), Victory by Tech Fall 19-4
133lbs: NR So Hank Benter (MIZ) over NR RS Fr Corbin Porter (CM), Victory by Fall
141lbs: No. 12 Sr Zan Fugitt (MIZ) over NR RS So Jemarcus Thomas (CM), Victory by Fall
149lbs: NR Fr Demetri Carrera (MIZ) over NR Jr Kyron Zoet (CM), Major Decision 14-2
157lbs: NR Fr Kollin Rath (MIZ) over NR So Brayden Forman (CM), Victory by Fall
165lbs: No. 29 Fifth year J Conway (MIZ) over NR Jr Drake Jenkins (CM), Victory by Tech Fall 17-2
174lbs: NR Sr Roman Garcia (CM) over NR So Peyton Westpfahl (MIZ), Decision 4-1 SV
184lbs: NR Jr Kolten Oborny (MIZ) over NR RS Jr Griffin Ray (CM), Decision 3-0
197lbs: NR Fr Cash Cooley (MIZ) over NR Fr Kaden Cryer (CM), Victory by Fall
285lbs: No. 20 Sr Jarrett Stoner (MIZ) over NR Jr Sam Nam (CM), Victory by Tech Fall 17-2
The Brooms almost came out in Mizzou’s first dual of the season as it downed Central Methodist 46-3. The lineup featuring projected starters and key depth pieces accumulated seven combined victories by fall and tech fall.
Kollin Rath provided the most intrigue in the dual, getting a pin in the second period after missing his entire first season due to injury. The freshman is slotted to start at 157lbs going forward this season. Another underclassman who earned a pin in his inaugural college bout was Cash Cooley with one second left in the first period.
The Tigers also got their first look at All-american transfer Zan Fugitt, who quickly got a pin in his homecoming match.
Maryville Dual
125lbs: NR So Elijah Almarinez (MV) over NR Fr Jason Hampton (MIZ), Decision 12-9
133lbs: No. 12 Jr Gage Walker (MIZ) over NR So Yashua Amen (MV), Victory by Tech Fall 18-3
141lbs: NR Fifth year Easton Hilton (MIZ) over NR RS So Hudson Hackbarth (MV), Victory by Fall
149lbs: No. 15 So Seth Mendoza (MIZ) over NR Fr Kade King (MV), Victory by Fall
157lbs: NR So David Gleason (MIZ) over NR So Keyton King (MV), Victory by Fall
165lbs: NR So Danny Heiser (MIZ) over NR RS Fr Dane Garcia-Stormer (MV), Victory by Tech Fall 17-2
174lbs: No. 3 Fifth year Cam Steed (MIZ) over NR Fr Efosa Osayande (MV), Victory by Fall
184lbs: NR Jr Logan Cole (MIZ) over NR Fr Lyndon Thies (MV), Victory by Tech Fall 18-2
197lbs: No. 10 Sr Luke Geog (MIZ) over NR So Cayden Byrd (MV), Victory by Tech Fall 17-2
285lbs: NR RS Jr Orest Nazarchuk (MV) over NR Fr Trey Craig (MIZ), Decision 8-4
Tiger Style claimed eight individual wins against Maryville en route to a 44-6 victory. Both losses came against Mizzou’s freshmen in the lightweight and heavyweight division. Trey Craig nearly saw his first college win wrestling out of position, but a late takedown by Orest Nazarchuk put the blemish on his record.
Cam Steed made his season debut and got a pin in a blistering 28 seconds. Two matches later, Ohio State transfer Luke Geog picked up his first win as a Tiger with a first period tech fall.
“Luke was a beast getting out there,” Smith said. “He’s very physical and gets after it.”
In other results from projected starters, Seth Mendoza made two takedowns in the first 25 seconds of his match before getting the pin. Gage Walker began his season debut slowly before grinding to a third period tech fall.
Central Missouri Dual
125lbs: Mauger (MIZ) over NR Fr Henry White (UCM), Victory by Fall
133lbs: Walker (MIZ) over No. 4 D2 Fifth year Drew Stanfield (UCM), Decision 6-1
141lbs: Fugitt (MIZ) over No. 4 D2 senior James Wright (UCM), Decision 7-2
149lbs: Mendoza (MIZ) over No. 14 D2 Sr Garrett Lyons (UCM), Victory by Fall
157lbs: Rath (MIZ) over NR So Jack Ferguson (UCM), Major Decision 16-4
165lbs: Conway (MIZ) over NR SR Xerarch Tungjaroenkul (UCM), Major Decision 18-5
174lbs: Steed (MIZ) over NR So Colin McAlister (UCM), Victory by Fall
184lbs: Cole (MIZ) over NR Fr Tristan Waters (UCM), Major Decision 11-3
197lbs: Geog (MIZ) over NR Fifth year Paul Hernandez (UCM), Injury Default
285lbs: Stoner (MIZ) over No. 4 D2 Sr Torin Forsyth (UCM), Victory by Tech Fall 16-1
Even though Mizzou swept the Mules, they might’ve provided the best competition. Aside from the absence of All American Aeoden Sinclair (184lbs), who was held out so others could get reps, Smith employed what is likely to be the starting lineup.
Mack Mauger showed off his power that makes him such an intriguing lightweight by getting a pin in 52 seconds. Steed also got the fastest pin of the night in his bout – clocking in at 17 seconds.
“I’m just super excited for another opportunity for another season. It always feels good to wrestle the first one of the season and get the adrenaline going competing again,” Mauger said.
In the final match of the night, Stoner put on a show in the third period, growing a 7-0 lead into a last second tech fall. He won both of his matches by tech fall.
The Tigers will stay at Hearnes for the fifth straight season of hosting the Tiger Style Invite. They will also look to defend four consecutive titles in the event as Purdue, Oregon State, Little Rock, South Dakota State and Morgan State will come to Columbia Nov. 14.
