Columbia News

No. 23 Missouri wrestling will face Arizona State on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Columbia, Missouri, at the Hearnes Center. The match will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Missouri recently secured an 18-16 win over Utah Valley on Jan. 17, with decision victories from Gage Walker (125), Jake Crapps (133), Josh Edmond (141), Zeke Seltzer (149), and James Conway (157). Utah Valley rallied to take the next four matches before heavyweight Jarrett Stoner sealed the win for Missouri with a 5-1 decision.

Three true freshmen—Gage Walker, Jake Crapps, and Logan Cole—were included in Missouri's lineup against Utah Valley. Jake Crapps stepped in for Kade Moore at 133 pounds and defeated Kase Mauger with a score of 9-2. "Crapps earned two takedowns and a reversal in a 9-2 win over Mauger. The freshman is 10-5 in attached competitions this season, including four bonus-point victories," according to team information.

At the Cyclone Open on Jan. 19, Missouri achieved ten podium finishes. Redshirt sophomore Cam Steed won at 165 pounds with both a fall and technical fall en route to the final. Redshirt freshman Jarrett Stoner was runner-up at 285 pounds after defeating No. 19 Juan Mora of Oklahoma in the semifinals. Other podium finishers included Owen Uhls (third place at 141), Seth Nitzel (third place at 285), Mack Mauger (fifth at 125), Jake Crapps (sixth at 133), Kade Moore (fifth at 133), Easton Hilton (fifth at 141), Nate Pulliam (fifth at 149), and James Conway (fifth at 157).

The Tigers are currently without several experienced wrestlers due to injuries or retirement: Colton Hawks, Rocky Elam, Keegan O'Toole, and Noah Surtin are all missing from the projected lineup for various reasons announced by head coach Brian Smith since December. "Smith remains optimistic O'Toole will be ready for the postseason." These absences account for four wrestlers who have combined for nearly three hundred career wins.

Missouri is ranked No. 23 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll and has six of its ten starters ranked by InterMat and FloWrestling. Keegan O'Toole is ranked No.1 nationally at his weight class by FloWrestling.

The upcoming dual marks the tenth meeting between Missouri and Arizona State; Arizona State leads the series five wins to three with one tie since their first matchup during the1988-89 season. Head Coach Brian Smith has a record of three wins, four losses, and one tie against Arizona State.

Last season’s encounter saw Missouri defeat Arizona State decisively by a score of39-6, earning bonus points from every winner except two weights where Arizona State claimed decisions.

This month marks a homestand for Missouri after spending much of the early season on the road; following matches against Cornell, Stanford, Utah Valley, they host Arizona State on Jan.22 and West Virginia on Jan.26.

Keegan O'Toole leads active Tigers with99 career wins.