Wrestling wins two over the weekend

By Nick Forrester
Feb. 12, 2008

Junior Michael Chandler scores back points on Oklahoma junior Shane Vernon during their match at 157 pounds Friday night during the second annual Beauty and the Beast competition at the Hearnes Center. Chandler, who holds a season record of 21-3, won the match by an 18-1 technical fall.

(Click graphic to enlarge)

In front of a record-setting 6,308 fans, the Missouri wrestling team got its first Big 12 win of the season Friday night by defeating the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners 23-10.

The team also faced Oregon State Sunday and won 28-13.

The match against Oklahoma marked the second-annual Beauty and the Beast competition, where the wrestlers competed simultaneously with the Missouri gymnastics team.

Coach Brian Smith never had any difficulty keeping the wrestlers focused on Friday night with the gymnastics meet going on simultaneously.

“Last year, they had us coming out of the tunnel holding hands with the girls, and that’s why I wanted them to split up the duals, so it would simply be a concentration on wrestling,” Smith said. “Our guys understand that this was a Big 12 dual, and every match matters for seeding. They understand the importance of it.”

Coming into the dual meet, there were several closely ranked wrestlers between the two teams at their respective weight classes. In one of those matches, No. 15-ranked senior Josh Wagner defeated Oklahoma’s No. 13-ranked Will Rowe.

After a close first period, Wagner was able to pull away from Rowe, winning by a score of 10-6.

“I knew going out there that I was going to win,” Wagner said. “But it’s still a great feeling to beat a kid who’s ranked ahead of me.”

Wagner, along with the other Missouri wrestlers, was able to stay focused despite the gymnastics meet.

“It’s cool when you see a girl do a double back flip out of the corner of your eye, but at the same time, you got to concentrate with what is going on on the mat,” Wagner said.

Missouri 133-pound senior Tyler McCormick upset No. 13-ranked Brian Shelton of Oklahoma, defeating Shelton 6-0.

“I know how good I am and what I’m capable of doing,” McCormick said. “I just had some bad luck with some injuries earlier in the season but I’m showing everyone in the country right now that I’m back and I’m ready to wrestle anybody.”

McCormick sat out for about three weeks with knee problems.

“He’s back to 100 percent,” Smith said. “Tyler’s extremely tough to beat when he wrestles like that.”

On Sunday, Missouri defeated Oregon State 28-13. It was senior day for Missouri, and Wagner, McCormick and fellow-senior James Williamson were able to win in their last match at the Hearnes Center.

“The Hearnes Center has been a special place for me,” McCormick said. “For my last match here to be a blowout, it’s really special.”

Share on Facebook

Wrestling wins two over the weekend

More Feb. 12, 2008 Sports Stories

Most recent Sports Stories