Mizzou wrestling drops dual, crushes attendance record
Brock Mauller could barely hear Missouri wrestling assistant coach Alex Clemsen give him last-second advice before his match against Oklahoma State’s Kaden Gfeller.
Mauller’s teammate, redshirt junior and No. 3-ranked Jaydin Eierman had just pinned No. 13 Kaid Brock at 141 pounds, and 4,721 fans packed into the newly-renovated Hearnes Center erupted.
The attendance at Saturday’s match thoroughly crushed the program’s previous record of 2,772, so much so that the banners covering the top levels of the arena had to be raised so more people could see the mat.
But No. 5 Missouri (151) couldn’t hold off No. 2 Oklahoma State (14-0), though it took until the last match in overtime when Pokes’ heavyweight and No. 2-ranked Derek White scored a takedown in sudden victory over freshman Zach Elam to give the Cowboys the 19-15 win.
“This is the way it should be every match,” Missouri coach Brian Smith said of the crowd. “It’s fun. People got to see that. It was a great environment. I’m glad we crushed the record, didn’t just beat it. I hope (the fan support) just continues.”
Missouri’s 36-dual win streak was snapped, but if there ever was a time to end a streak, a top-five matchup featuring seven ranked bouts and a sudden-victory ending might be the way to do it.
“It hurts, I hate to lose, but it was a lot of fun,” Smith said. “Because I saw a young team go out there and battle. I enjoyed it. I saw a team favored in eight matches and we just them battled tooth and nail. I’m proud of my team.”
After losing the first two matches, Eierman’s pin seemed to spark the next stretch of Tigers. Mauller, a freshman ranked No. 7 at 149 pounds, won 10-4 over No. 5 Kaden Gfeller. With his victory, Mauller improved to 25-1, the most single-wins for a true freshman since three-time national champion J’den Cox, who had 38 wins.
Freshman Jarrett Jacques, No. 13 at 157 pounds, beat Wyatt Sheets 6-5, and All-American senior Daniel Lewis, No. 2 at 174 pounds, crushed No. 6 Joe Smith 7-0. Lewis was coming off a huge pin against then-No. 2 and reigning national champion Zahid Valencia, in Mizzou’s dual at Arizona State last weekend.
“I’m chasing titles this season,” Lewis said. “Getting top wins, it makes you feel even more confident heading into (postseason) tournaments because you know you have the tools, you know you put the work in, and you’re wellprepared. That’s how I feel right now.”
At 125 pounds, No. 4 Nick Piccininni beat Mizzou redshirt freshman Dack Punk 11-2, but that was the largest gap of the day.
No. 10 John Erneste, a senior, lost to No. 2 Daton Fix 9-2 at 133 pounds. Mizzou’s No. 13 Connor Flynn lost to No. 10 Chandler Rogers 6-5 at 165-pounds, while Pokes’ Jacobe Smith, No. 8 at 184 pounds, beat No. 16 Dylan Wiseman.
Cowboys’ Preston Wiegal, who has missed most of this year with injury but is still ranked No. 6 at 197 pounds, beat No. 16 Wyatt Koelling, to give Oklahoma State a 16-15 lead heading into the heavyweight bout.
Missouri has one dual left at Iowa State next weekend before the MAC Tournament on March 8-9 and the NCAA Tournament, March 21-23 in Pittsburgh.
Saturday’s dual – even though Smith hates to lose – will help the individuals prepare for the postseason tournaments, especially the NCAA Tournament.
“Adversity does help, I will give you that,” Smith said. “This team has not been in a dual at that level all year. Oklahoma State could win the national title this year. But our guys know now that we can go toe-to-toe with them. We’re going to have to be ready.”