"Dorian and Dom had big wins for us today," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "It was good to see so many of our wrestlers step up and compete in such an exciting dual. This win was a confidence booster for us. We were wrestling in a tough environment and it's nice to come out of it with the victory."
Missouri, now 3-1 in duals with Cornell, suffered back-to-back losses at 125 and 133 pounds, finding themselves down, 8-0, early in the battle with the Big Red. Twelfth ranked senior Marcus Hoehn (Farmington, Mo.) came up with the Tigers' first win of the dual earning a 6-4 decision over Corey Manson at 141 pounds. Hoehn's victory marks the fifth time of the campaign in which he was first to put points on the board for Missouri and snaps a three bout losing streak for the Tiger middleweight wrestler. Hoehn led Manson the entire match and was awarded one point for riding time after accumulating over two minutes.
Senior Andrew Sherry (Sewickley, Pa.) went back and forth with his opponent, DJ Meagher, at 149 pounds. Sherry suffered a loss by one point, one of eight bouts on the day that were determined by two or fewer points.
Ninth-ranked senior Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) went head-to-head with fifth-ranked Jordan Leen. Leen, the 2008 NCAA Champion at 157 pounds, scored first in the match, managing a takedown with 17 seconds left in the first period. The two were scoreless through the second, but Leen took a 3-0 lead after choosing down in the third and escaping. Chandler's takedown cut Leen's lead to one, but his escape with 22 seconds left in the bout secured Corrnell's fourth and final win of he day.
For the ninth time of the campaign, the Tigers collected five consecutive wins at 165, 174, 184, 197 pounds and heavyweight. Leading off at 165 pounds, seventh-ranked Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) recorded a 4-1 win over John Basting. Marable scored all four of his points in the third period, escaping from the down position, earning a point for Basting's stalling, and two points for his takedown with five seconds left in the match.
The second match of the day to feature two top-10 ranked opponents pit No. 6 Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) against fifth-ranked Steve Anceravage of Cornell. Jordan won the bout, 10-5, his 24th win of the campaign and fourth against a top-10 opponent. The Tiger All-American managed a reversal in the second and third periods and back points in the second.
A redshirt freshman from Columbus, Ga., Henderson won his second match of the season over a ranked opponent, upsetting No. 16 Justin Kerber, 3-2, at 184 pounds. The two grapplers were scoreless in the first period and Henderson managed the only point of the second period with an escape four seconds in. Kerber escaped in the third period tying the match at one but was quickly returned to the mat on a Henderson takedown with 15 seconds left. Kerber was quick to escape but was unable to connect on a final shot, allowing Henderson the win.
"Dorian stuck with what he knew," Smith said. "He wasn't thinking, he was out on the mat just wrestling. He wrestled hard and confident and found a way to win a big match."
"I think I wrestled a smart match," Henderson said. "Kerber was real aggressive, but I got that takedown at the end of the period which secured the win. I think the win will help build our momentum going into the Big 12 part of our schedule."
Wrestling at 197 pounds, No. 4 Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) held off No. 18 Cam Simaz, 4-3, improving to 14-0 in duals.
Missouri held a one point, 15-14, lead heading into the heavyweight bout which paired Bradley of Blue Springs, Mo., against No. 13 Zach Hammond. Bradley's 1-0 win in which the Tiger scored the sole point on an escape in the third period, secured Missouri's 15th win of the year.
"I never think of Dom as an underdog," Smith said. "He's beaten some tough wrestlers this year and I know how talented he is."
Missouri's upset of No. 2 Cornell, while impressive, is not the highest ranked opponent the Tigers have ever beaten. In 2003, Missouri knocked off then No. 1 Oklahoma State, 21-17.
Tiger fans will have a chance to see their squad in action when they open the Big 12 portion of their schedule, Saturday, Jan. 31, against No. 5 Nebraska at 7:30 p.m. (CT) in the Hearnes Center.
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