University of Missouri
Northern Illinois
Missouri Wrestling Bounces Back with 31-7 Victory
2/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 18, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - The fifth-ranked Missouri wrestling team took their 13th consecutive win in the Hearnes Center with a 31-7 victory over Northern Illinois. Helping the Tigers score points was third-ranked Jeremy Spates, earning career-win number 100 with a 12-6 decision over 15th-ranked Josh Wooton.
"I was happy to see Jeremy take his 100th win," head coach Brian Smith said. "I know in the back of his mind he's really pleased, and a few years down the road he'll be able to look back proudly on the fact that he was one of only a few Missouri wrestlers to hit the century mark. At the same time, I know that Jeremy's main goal is to bring home a Championship title in March, so he'll continue to work hard in the practice room to attain that dream. He really is a hard working and dedicated wrestler."
Only the 10th Tiger in Missouri's 60-year wrestling history, Spates and Wooten closed out the first period tied at six, before Spates broke away with a takedown and escape followed by takedown in the third period. With one point awarded for riding time, Spates took his win to the sounds of an excited crowd.
Opening the dual at 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Ben Askren took his first technical fall of the season with a 17-2 score in 6:47 over Danny Burk of Northern Illinois. With a takedown in the first period, Askren scored a reversal and three-point nearfall in the second, bringing the score to 7-0. With two minutes left on the clock, Askren recorded two takedowns, two-and three-point nearfall's and an escape to Burk's one reversal.
Two of the top-10 wrestlers in the nation met at center circle for the match at 184 pounds. Redshirt freshman Matt Pell, ranked eighth in the nation, paired with second-ranked Huskie Ben Heizer. Heizer scored a takedown in the first period with an escape in the second. Pell was able to earn one point after two stalling calls were made against Heizer. With one point awarded for riding time, Heizer took the 4-1 decision, bringing the team points to 5-3 in favor of Missouri.
Next on the mat was junior Jeff Foust at 197 pounds. Coming off of a disheartening 4-3 loss to Iowa State's Trevor Smith, 16th-ranked Foust took a 6-2 decision over NIU wrestler Greg Reardon. Scoring the first points of the match, Foust put Reardon on his back for a three-point nearfall, but allowed Reardon a one point escape to close the second period at 3-1. Reardon was only able to score one point for an escape in the third period, while Foust managed at two-point reversal, with one point given for riding time.
Senior heavyweight Mike Whitehead held his sixth opponent of the season scoreless, knocking off Joe Sapp in a 9-0 major decision. With neither wrestler scoring points in the first period, Whitehead made the first move with a takedown and three point nearfall in the second and an early escape and takedown in the third.
Moving to the top of the lineup at 125 pounds, sophomore Austin DeVoe (125) took a 13-4 major decision over Dave Aranda. Landing four takedowns, a reversal and an escape, with one point of riding time and one point awarded for a warning, DeVoe put a season-high 13 points on the board and helped the Tigers to four team points.
Missouri native Brett Watkins made his third start of the season at 133 pounds. Wrestling against 12th-ranked junior Sam Hiatt, Watkins took a 14-5 loss, earning points for five escapes.
J.P. Reese managed to tie Askren for falls on the season with a pin over Andy Hiatt in 6:36. Now at 15 falls on the season, Reese and Askren are a mere four falls away from breaking former heavyweight Kevin Herron's season-high record of 18 set during the 2002-03 season.
Entering with a season-record 27 wins, Kenny Burleson chalked up number 28 against NIU's Joe Henning. Burleson's sixth consecutive win of the season came in the form of a 12-6 decision that included eight points scored in the first three minutes of action. Beginning with a takedown, Burleson put Henning on his back twice earning two near falls and finally an escape.
Junior All-American Tyron Woodley closed out the night for the Tigers, securing the 31-7 win with an 8-3 decision over Alex Nelson at 165 pounds. Standing at 20 wins on the season, Woodley scored two takedowns in the first period with a final takedown and escape in the second. Earning a point for riding time, the referee raised Woodley's hand, declaring him the winner.
Missouri will close out its regular season wrestling against seventh-ranked Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 22, at noon in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
Weight-Wrestler over Wrestler Team Points 125-Austin DeVoe (MU) major dec. Dave Aranda (NIU): 13-4 MU 16 NIU 3 133- Sam Hiatt (NIU) major dec. Brett Watkins (MU): 14-5 MU 16 NIU 7 141-J.P. Reese (MU) fall Andy Hiatt (NIU): 6:36 MU 22 NIU 7 149-Jeremy Spates (MU) dec Josh Wooton (NIU): 12-6 MU 25 NIU 7 157-Kenny Burleson (MU) dec Joe Henning (NIU):12-6 MU 28 NIU 7 165-Tyron Woodley (MU) dec Alex Nelson (NIU): 8-3 MU 31 NIU 7 174-Ben Askren (MU) tech fall Danny Burk (NIU):17-2, 6:47 MU 5 NIU 0 184- Ben Heizer (NIU) dec Matt Pell (MU): 4-1 MU 5 NIU 3 197-Jeff Foust (MU) dec Greg Reardon (NIU): 6-2 MU 8 NIU 3 HWT-Mike Whitehead (MU) major dec. Joe Sapp (NIU): 9-0 MU 12 NIU 3
