Jan. 14, 2007

Cedar Falls, Iowa - Competing in the finals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Cliff Keen Duals, the No. 1 ranked Missouri Tigers fell to No. 2 Minnesota, 20-16, to finish with runner-up honors in the UNI Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. Despite a change in lineup and two-point lead going into the heavyweight bout, the Tigers were unable to hold on for the win.

Suffering an 11-0 loss by major decision at 125 pounds, junior All-American Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) helped bring the Tigers even with Minnesota blanking Mike Thorn, 12-0 at 133 pounds. Controlling the match, McCormick recorded three takedowns, one in each period, with a three-point nearfall call at the buzzer in the second period. Earning one point for Thorn's continual stalling, McCormick racked up 1:30 of riding time for his 10th win of the season and 61st of his career.

Minnesota took its second lead of the dual with fifth-ranked Manuel Rivera's 18-7 major decision over Missouri's 15th-ranked true freshman Ashtin Primus (South Connelsville, Penn.). The Golden Gophers' team lead was extended an additional three points (11-4) after Missouri's No. 15 Josh Wagner (Milton, Wis.) lost a 1-0 bout to No. 1 Dustin Schlatter. The two wrestlers were scoreless through the entire match, with Schlatter earning his only point on two minutes of riding time.

Competing at 157 pounds, sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) took the early lead on C.P. Schlatter, but lost by one point (6-5) as Schlatter stormed back to score three takedowns in the final period of action. Chandler had jumped to an early 3-0 lead through the first five minutes but was only able to score two escapes in the third.

Making changes to the lineup, redshirt freshman Nicholas Marable (Colliersville, Tenn.) made his second dual start of the season at 165 pounds. Wrestling 19th-ranked Jeremy Larson, Marable won his match, 5-3 to improve to 26-6 on the season while helping Missouri pull within seven points of the Golden Gophers.

Next up for the Tigers, senior All-American Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) scored a 9-4 victory over 12th-ranked Gabe Dretsch at 174 pounds. Pell, ranked No. 7 at 165 pounds, and Dretsch stood tied at three entering the third period, but Pell broke loose in the third, scoring two takedowns and an escape while collecting 1:16 of riding time for the win. Pell now holds 112 wins in his career at Missouri and moved ahead of 165 pound All-American Tyron Woodley for sixth place in the record book.

In a rare matchup, senior 174 pound defending National Champion Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.), ranked No. 1 in the nation, paired with second ranked Roger Kisch at 184 pounds and helped the Tigers come within one point of the Gophers with his 5-4 win by decision. Scoreless through the first period, Askren scored an escape after starting the period down and takedown to end the period with a 3-0 lead. Kisch started the third period down and escaped, but Askren was quick to take the Gopher down for his final two points of the match.

Redshirt freshman Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) kept his perfect record in tack with an 11-5 decision over Brent Eidenschink. The win helped Missouri to a short-lived two point advantage that came to an end when Missouri's true freshman Tyler Perry (Hannibal, Mo.) was pined by defending National Champion Cole Konrad in 2:13.

The dual loss was Missouri's first of the season and the Tigers return home to Columbia with a 7-1 record.

Missouri's next dual of the season will at home, Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. (CT) against No. 20 Nebraska in the Hearnes Center.

125	#6 Jayson Ness (Minn) major dec. #18 John Olanowski (MU): 11-0
133	#15 Tyler McCormick (MU) major dec.Mike Thorn (Minn): 12-0
141	#5 Manuel Rivera (Minn) major dec. #15 Ashtin Primus (MU): 18-7
149	#1 Dustin Schlatter (Minn) decision #15 Josh Wagner (MU): 1-0
157	C.P. Schlatter (Minn) decision Michael Chandler (MU): 6-5
165	Nicholas Marable decision #19 Jeremy Larson (Minn): 5-3
174	#7 Matt Pell decision #12 Gabe Dretsch (Minn): 9-4
184	#1 Ben Askren (MU) #2 decision Roger Kisch (Minn): 5-4
197	#1 Maxwell Askren (MU) Brent Eidenschink (Minn). 9-5
HWT	#1 Cole Konrad (Minn) fall Tyler Perry (MU): 2:13
**Rankings based on Jan. 9 USA Today/NWCA/Intermatwrestle.com poll.**
Wt.	Name			Season		Career
125	John Olanowski		17-10		17-10
133	Tyler McCormick	10-5		61-28
141	Ashtin Primus		29-8		29-8
149	Josh Wagner		20-7		57-31
157	Michael Chandler	18-6		37-22
165	Nicholas Marable	26-5		26-5
165	Matt Pell		13-2		112-30
174	Ben Askren		27-0		138-8
184	Raymond Jordan	18-4		51-16
197	Maxwell Askren		22-0		22-0
HWT	Mark Ellis		9-6		9-6
HWT	Tyler Perry		2-5		2-5