Photos by Shane Epping
Published Feb. 19, 2014
In the 149-pound bout, No. 1-ranked Drake Houdashelt extends his 18-match winning streak with a win over No. 14-ranked Alexander Richardson of Old Dominion.
Mizzou's wrestlers won their final home dual of the 2013-14 season against Old Dominion University Sunday, 21-9. The victory marked coach Brian Smith's 200th win as head coach. The Tigers head to Ohio for a match against Kent State this weekend and then will wrestle in the MAC Championships in Ohio March 8-9 to defend their 2013 title. The final challenge of the season will take place March 20-22 at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., an event in which the Tigers finished 7th last year, with half the team's wrestlers earning spots on the All-American podium.
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Mizzou's victory against Old Dominion University marked coach Brian Smith's 200th win as a head coach. Smith is in his 16th season at Mizzou, where his wrestlers have earned 198 wins. His two other wins came during a one-year stint at Syracuse University in 1997-98.
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Along with team videographer Johnny Pepper, five senior Mizzou wrestlers were honored before the start of Sunday's dual: Taylor Ronan (141), Zach Toal (165), Jordan Gagliano (165), Eric Wilson (133) and Kyle Bradley (157). It was Missouri's final home meet of the year.
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Freshman Brandon Jeske of Old Dominion wins against freshman Barlow McGhee 7-1 to give Old Dominion a 3-0 lead after the 125-pound division.
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Head assistant coach Sammie Henson yells from the side of the mat during the opening match.
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Mizzou redshirt freshman Matt Manley defeats redshirt freshman Michael Hayes 2-1 in the 133-pound weight class. Manley's win tied the team score 3-3 after two matches.
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No. 4-ranked Old Dominion sophomore Chris Mecate defeats No. 20-ranked redshirt freshman Lavion Mayes 2-1 and extends the ODU lead 6-3 after the 141-pound match.
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A Tigers fan nervously threads her fingers behind her head during the Mayes-Mecate bout, decided by only one point.
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Junior Drake Houdashelt's 4-1 victory in the 149-pound match tied the team score 6-6 after four matches.
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Mizzou freshman Joey Lavallee defeats No. 19-ranked junior Tristan Warner 7-2 to give the Tigers a 9-6 lead after the 157-pound match. "Probably the big turnaround was at 157. Getting a win over Warner was a big one," coach Smith said. "And not just winning but getting a couple takedowns and even backpoints. Our freshmen just keep growing up under our eyes; it's really nice to see."
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Senior Zach Toal competes for the final time at the Hearnes Center Sunday after four years in the Tigers starting lineup. No. 12-ranked Toal defeated Devin Geoghegan 6-3, giving the Tigers a 12-6 lead. Toal posted an 87-47 record.
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No. 14-ranked Mizzou junior Johnny Eblen defeats redshirt freshman Jack Dechow 7-5 in the 184-pound division to give the Tigers a 15-9 lead in the dual.
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Old Dominion redshirt freshman Kevin Beazley offers to shake hands with No. 2-ranked freshman J'den Cox after losing to Cox 9-2 in the 197-pound match.
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J'den Cox drinks a cup of water while continuing to work out on a stationary bike after his match. His win extended the Mizzou lead 18-9.
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Mizzou junior Devin Mellon defeats junior Matt Tourdot in overtime 7-5 and cements a Tigers win 21-9.
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Mellon's takedown 21 seconds into sudden victory capped off Mizzou's 21-9 MAC Conference win.
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Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin congratulates coach Brian Smith after the dual. During his tenure at Mizzou, Smith has coached 18 All-Americans to 31 top-eight finishes at the NCAA Championships, including national champions in Ben Askren (2006, 2007), Mark Ellis (2009) and Max Askren (2010). With Smith at the helm, Mizzou has had one of the nation's most prolific programs over the past decade, posting 13-consecutive winning seasons.