Opening the 62nd season of Missouri wrestling, senior 2006 National Champion and Dan Hodge Award Winner Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) leads the Tigers with the highest team ranking, a unanimous No. 1 pick in wrestling polls across the nation. Joined by fellow co-captains and All-Americans Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) and Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) at 133 and 165 pounds, respectively, the three are among five Tigers in the lineup with previous NCAA appearances. Sophomores Michael Chandler (High Ridge, Mo.) and Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) qualified and competed in the 2006 NCAA Championships at 157 and 184 pounds, respectively.
With a third-place standing in three of the four nationally recognized preseason wrestling polls, this marks Missouri's highest preseason ranking in the history of the program and sixth straight year that the Tigers have been among the top-15 in the nation.
Missouri holds a 7-4 lead over the Buckeyes with the last meeting between the two schools resulting in a 25-13 win by the Tigers at home in 2005.
In season-openers, the Missouri wrestling team is 31-29, with three consecutive wins dating back to the 2003-04 season during which the Tigers knocked off No. 1 Oklahoma State in St. Louis.
Immediately following the dual, the Tigers will return to Columbia to prepare for the sixth annual Missouri Open, Sunday, Nov. 19, beginning at 9 a.m. (CT). Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children. Championship finals are expected to begin between 4 and 5 p.m. (CT).
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