University of Missouri
Cougar Clash
No. 12 Wrestling Finishes With Nine Placers at Cougar Clash
12/7/2025 7:02:00 PM | Wrestling
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - No. 12-ranked University of Missouri wrestling finished the day in fourth place with 135 points at the Cougar Clash in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Sunday, December 7. Nine Tigers placed in the top eight of their respective brackets, highlighted by runner-up finishes by Easton Hilton at 141 pounds and J Conway at 157 pounds.
The fourteen wrestlers representing the Black and Gold combined to go 31-26 with 13 bonus point victories. Freshman Seth Mendoza led the way with one pin and two technical falls en route to a third-place finish. Mizzou picked up one upset win on the day with 141-pound redshirt junior Easton Hilton knocking off 13th-ranked Danny Pucino of Illinois.
MATCH NOTES
- This year's tournament marked Missouri's fifth appearance at the Cougar Clash. This is the fourth time the Tigers have scored over 100 points at the event, with the highest being 183 in 2024.
- Missouri had already encountered five of the seven other participating teams at events this season, namely Illinois and Little Rock at the National Duals Invitational, as well as a home dual against the Illini. Oklahoma State and UNI were also at NDI, with Little Rock competing at the Tiger Style Invite and Brown at the Hustle in the Heartland.
- At 125 pounds, Mack Mauger matched up with Illinois' Spencer Moore for the third time this season. The ranked foes had split matches coming into the day, with Moore claiming the rubber match.
- Missouri's freshman Hank Benter claimed his first career victories in the Mizzou singlet en route to an 8th-place finish. The four-time MSHSAA State Champion picked up wins against SIUE and Little Rock and placed for the first time at a collegiate tournament.
- Hilton's upset at 141 pounds was the first of his career against a ranked opponent and clinched his place in the finals.
- Of the nine placewinners, two wrestled in the first place match, four wrestled for third, two in the fifth place match and three competed for seventh.
UP NEXT
The Tigers head north to face off with Big 12 Conference foe Northern Iowa on Sunday, December 14 in Cedar Falls, Iowa with action starting at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Wrestling. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter and Instagram.
Results:
125 | [22] Mack Mauger, Fifth Place (2-2)
Win by decision over Caelan Riley (ILL), 4-0
Loss by decision to [25] Spencer Moore (ILL), 2-0
Loss by decision to Gary Steen (OKST), 2-0
Win by technical fall over CJ Campbell (ILL), 19-3 (5:17)
125 | Hank Benter, Eighth Place (2-3)
Loss by technical fall to Tyson Roach (LR), 3:41
Win by decision over Drew Davis (SIUE), 7-3
Win by decision over Tyler Harper (LR), 18-13
Loss by decision to Aydan Thomas (UNCO), 12-7
Loss by major decision to Brandon Paez (UNI), 9-1
133 | Boogie Harris, Eighth Place (1-3)
Loss by decision to Porter Matecki (SIUE), 1-0
Win by medical forfeit over [20] Richard Figueroa (OKST)
Loss by major decision to Sam Smith (OKST), 14-3
Loss by decision to Porter Matecki (SIUE), 5-2
141 | Easton Hilton, Second Place (3-1)
Win by major decision over Khimari Manns (BRWN), 9-0
Win by decision over Alec Peralta (SIUE), 2-1
Win by decision over [13] Danny Pucino (ILL), 4-1 SV1
Loss by decision to [14] Cory Land (UNI), 16-13
141 | Jace Roller, DNP (0-2)
Loss by decision to Ramon Salazar (UNCO), 6-0
Loss by decision to JJ McComas (OKST), 13-10
141 | Owen Uhls, Third Place (3-1)
Loss by decision to Cory Land (UNI), 8-3
Win by decision over Ramon Salazar (UNCO), 6-4
Win by decision over Kole Brower (ILL), 2-1
Win by decision over KJ Evans (UNCO), 12-11
Win by decision over Danny Martinez (SIUE), 11-6
149 | Seth Mendoza, Third Place (4-1)
Win by fall over Emilio Trujillo-Deen (UNCO), 3:58
Win by decision over Kolter Burton (OKST), 5-4
Loss by decision to [13] Casey Swiderski (OKST), 7-5
Win by technical fall over Will Baysingar (ILL), 19-4 (4:20)
Win by technical fall over Ethan Basile (UNI), 21-3 (4:09)
157 | David Gleason, Fifth Place (3-2)
Loss by decision to Dominic Frontino (BRWN), 11-4
Win by decision over Daishun Powe (UNCO), 3-0
Win by decision over Ryan Bennett (ILL), 8-2
Loss by decision to RJ Weston (UNI), 9-3
Win by decision over Hayden Whidden (SIUE), 2-1
157 | [18] J Conway, Second Place (3-1)
Win by major decision over Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 14-5
Win by decision over Ryan Bennett (ILL), 15-8
Win by decision over Hayden Whidden (SIUE), 4-2
Loss by technical fall to [7] Kannon Webster (ILL), 16-1 (4:51)
165 | Dominic Bambinelli, Eighth Place (1-3)
Loss by decision to [12] Ryder Downey (UNI), 5-3
Win by technical fall over Cody Wagner (LR), 20-4 (5:11)
Loss by major decision to Brock Woodcock (SIUE), 8-0
Loss by medical forfeit to Jack Thomsen (UNI)
165 | Joel Mylin, DNP (0-2)
Loss by decision to Kilian Schultz (UNCO), 5-2
Loss by decision to Tavius Hosley (SIUE), 12-5
174 | Danny Heiser, Sixth Place (2-3)
Win by technical fall over Hayden Trezek (SIUE), 17-0 (3:12)
Win by decision over Connor O'Donnell (BRWN), 8-3
Loss by technical fall to [16] Alex Facundo (OKST), 17-2 (3:27)
Loss by medical forfeit to Dominic Lopez (SIUE)
Loss by medical forfeit to Izzy Moreno (UNI)
184 | Logan Cole, Third Place (2-1)
Loss by decision to [27] CJ Walrath (UNI), 4-2
Win by major decision over Joey Braunagel (ILL), 16-6
Win by fall over Jake Stacey (LR), 5:56
285 | [25] Jarrett Stoner, Third Place (4-1)
Win by technical fall over Cameron Guether (UNI), 17-2 (3:18)
Loss by decision to Bryson Buhk (SIUE), 7-5
Win by medical forfeit over Kevin Zimmer (SIUE)
Win by decision over Adam Ahrendsen (UNI), 13-8
Win by decision over Alex Semenenko (BRWN), 2-0
Win by decision over Bryson Buhk (SIUE), 2-0
Players Mentioned
