University of Missouri
Nebraska
Tiger Wrestlers Fall to Ninth-Ranked Nebraska
12/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 17, 2000
Jefferson City, Mo. - Despite a winning effort by three freshmen, the Missouri Tiger wrestling team fell 21-17 to the Nebraska Cornhuskers Sunday at Helias High School in Jefferson City, Mo.
The Tigers won five and lost five, but due to a pin and a major decision by the Huskers, the Tigers were unable to score enough points to overtake the Nebraska grapplers.
"I thought the guys wrestled well for the most part," said Head Coach Brian Smith. "We split (5-5) with with the ninth-ranked team in the nation, but if we are going to compete in the Big 12, we've got to have some people step up. Some did, some didn't. We had three big wins by freshmen, though, so I am happy about that. The second semester, this team is really going to come together. We're right there," said Coach Smith.
At 125, sixth-ranked freshman Justin Spates, who has battled the flu all week, fell to tenth ranked Jason Powell 4-2. Spates' record falls to a still-impressive 17-4
Jesse West, the Tiger 133-pounder, was defeated by top-ranked Todd Beckerman 12-3.
141-pound redshirt freshman J.P. Reese dominated his match, defeating Nebraska's Adam Kastl 13-0. Reese turned Kastl to his back once in the first period and once in the third for a total of seven near fall points, and over 3 minutes riding time.
The 149-pound match saw Missouri's Kenny Burleson beat Travis Baker 10-6. Burleson jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first period and never looked back, scoring two more in the second and three more in the third.
At 157, junior Jesse Jordan was pinned by second-ranked Husker Bryan Snyder in 4:15.
Mark Vollmar, Tiger 165-pounder, was defeated 3-1 by Nebraska's Ryan Shultz Junior captain John Kopnisky, ranked seventh by Amateur Wrestling News, defeated tenth-ranked Ati Conner from Nebraska 3-2. The score was tied at one with only a minute to go when Kopnisky earned a takedown. Conner would eventually escape, but could not overcome the point deficit to win the match. This brings "Kop's" record to 16-2 on the year.
At 184, junior Ry Stone defeated Matt Fletcher 7-5.
Top-ranked Husker Brad Vering defeated Dante Stone 20-5 at 197. Vering is now 12-0.
In the heavyweight division, freshman Scott Barker took the mat for the first time as a Tiger to defeat Nebraska's Pat Miron 14-3.
The Tigers will practice this week before leaving for Christmas break. Their first action in 2001 will take place on Jan. 6 in East Lansing, Mich., as Missouri takes on the Spartans from Michigan State.
