Brian Smith Head Coach | Curators of the University of Missouri
Brian Smith Head Coach | Curators of the University of Missouri
No. 25 Missouri wrestling will host No. 13 Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo., with the match scheduled to begin at noon. The Tigers will honor 11 seniors prior to the dual, starting at 11:25 a.m.
The seniors being recognized are Jesse Cassatt, Trey Crawford, Jerrdon Fisher, Logan Gioffre, Cole Gripka, Jeremy Jakowitsch, Eric Lovelace, Seth Nitzel, Keegan O'Toole, Nate Pulliam and Noah Surtin. Among them is Noah Surtin, who has qualified for the NCAA tournament four times and was a two-time conference finalist. Keegan O'Toole could finish his career as one of the program's most decorated wrestlers with two NCAA Championships and four All-American honors.
Senior Keegan O'Toole is set to return to competition after an injury that sidelined him since Dec. 22. O'Toole holds an 11-0 record this season with a bonus rate of over 90 percent. His last match saw him defeat No. 2-ranked Levi Haines of Penn State in sudden victory.
Missouri has faced challenges this season due to injuries affecting key wrestlers including Noah Surtin, Rocky Elam, Keegan O'Toole and Colton Hawks. Surtin announced his medical retirement in December 2024 and head coach Brian Smith stated that Rocky Elam would not compete this season due to injuries. Colton Hawks was also sidelined by injury but both he and O'Toole are expected back for the Iowa State dual ahead of postseason competition.
Missouri enters the matchup ranked No. 25 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll with six or seven wrestlers appearing in various national rankings from InterMat, NCAA Coaches rankings and FloWrestling. O'Toole is ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound by FloWrestling and remains No. 1 at 174 pounds.
The meeting between Missouri and Iowa State marks their 59th contest since first competing in 1927. Iowa State leads the series with a record of 46-12 but Missouri has won four of the last six meetings despite losing last year's dual against the Cyclones while battling injuries and illness.
After facing Iowa State, Missouri will prepare for the Big 12 Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 8-9.
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