Marable and Askren Claim Big 12 Wrestling Titles

Saturday, March 8

Irving, Texas

All Day

University of Missouri

Big 12 Championships

3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

March 8, 2008

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Stillwater, Okla. - Missouri sophomores Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) and Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) won Big 12 wrestling titles at 165 and 197 pounds respectively, while senior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) and sophomore Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) finished second at the 12^th annual event held in Gallagher Iba Arena. The Tigers finished the all-day tournament in fourth place with 49.5 points, while Iowa State claimed its second consecutive title with 75.5 points.

"We didn't reach our goals today of winning a Big 12 title," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "But, we'll refocus and prepare for Nationals. We had several guys really step up and compete well today, while others didn't have their best day on the mat. It happens. Now we go back to the room and prepare for St. Louis."

Marable collected Missouri's first win of the night and became the eighth Tiger to earn a Big 12 title after holding off seventh-ranked Stephen Dwyer of Nebraska, 3-2. Marable's win over the Cornhusker was his second of the year by a score of 3-2, the last coming Feb. 2 in Lincoln, Neb. Taking down Dwyer 37 seconds into the first period, Dwyer escaped to cut the Tiger's lead in half. Dwyer chose down to start the second period and escaped to tie the match. At the start of the third period, Marable chose down and escaped in 13 seconds to take the lead and hold on for the win. Marable has not given up a takedown in 11 matches and improves to 22-3 on the year.

"I kept pushing the pace of the match," Marable said. "Our last match went into overtime and I didn't want that to happen again. I've been able to score a lot off of my defense and I think I did a good job of making adjustments over my opponents today. I actually think I wrestled better today against Jon (Reader of Iowa State) and (Stephen) Dwyer than I did in our previous matches."

Wrestling at 197 pounds, Askren became only the fourth Tiger in program history to earn back-to-back league titles and first since his older brother, Ben, achieved the feat in 2006 and 2007. Askren and Nebraska wrestler Craig Brester met at center circle for the second time of the season, and Askren dominated the Cornhusker scoring two takedowns and a reversal as well as wracking up over two minutes of riding time for the 8-3 win.

"I'm doing alright," Askren said after his match. "I'm having fun and winning matches. Today's match with Brester didn't get close. I knew I could win. "

Making his second consecutive appearance in the Big 12 Championship finals, McCormick suffered an 8-1 loss to Iowa State's seventh-ranked Nick Fanthorpe to finish the day in second. McCormick, who advanced to the title round after upsetting No. 1 ranked Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State, gave up two takedowns and a reversal and scored his only point through a first period escape. Despite the loss, the two-time All-American will compete in the NCAA Championships for the third straight year.

"I had a tough road today," McCormick said "I knew coming in that I had to finish third or better and taking on (Coleman) Scott in his house was a challenge. I felt I wrestled well and made good strides on the season. I'm really looking forward to getting back to St. Louis for Nationals."

Up next for Missouri was 157-pounder Michael Chandler. Ranked as high as ninth in the nation and seeded No. 1, Chandler made his first Big 12 title match appearance against 13^th-ranked Cyler Sanderson of Iowa State. Tied at two entering the third period, Chandler took a two point lead with a reversal 11 seconds in bout allowed Sanderson an escape and was taken down with 29 seconds left to suffer his first loss in five matches and first Big 12 loss of the season.

Earlier in the day, sophomore Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) took third place at heavyweight, finishing the tournament with a 2-1 record. Three Tiger grapplers, senior Josh Wagner (149, Milton, Wis.) and juniors Emanuel Brooks (174, Cahokia, Ill.) and Raymond Jordan (184, New Bern, N.C.) finished fourth in their respective weight class.

The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships hosted by the University of Missouri and St. Louis Sports Commission in the Scottrade Center of St. Louis, will run Thursday, March 20-Saturday, March 22.

125: Olanowski, No. 5 Seed, FINISHED 5TH

#14 Tyler Clark (ISU) decision John Olanowski (MU): 5-0

#15 Joey Fio (OU) decision John Olanowski (MU): 10-4

133: McCormick, No. 4 Seed

#14 Tyler McCormick (MU) decision Brian Shelton (OU): 10-8

#14 Tyler McCormick (MU) decision #1 Coleman Scott (OSU): 5-3

#7 Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) decision #14 Tyler McCormick (MU): 8-1

141: Hoehn, No. 5 Seed, FINISHED 5TH

#16 Zack Bailey (OU) decision #29 Marcus Hoehn (MU): 3-2

Mike Rowe (NU) decision #29 Marcus Hoehn (MU): 6-1

149: Wagner, No. 2 Seed, FINISHED 4TH

Mitch Mueller (ISU) decision #12 Josh Wagner (MU): 9-5