Mizzou improves to 16-0 on the season, only the second time in program history Mizzou has started a season with 16 consecutive victories, matching the 2014-15 Tigers who finished the season 24-0.
DUAL RECAP
Following an injury default loss at 125 pounds and a decision defeat at 133 pounds, redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.) provided the first momentum swing of the dual for the Tigers, defeating defending two-time national champion Dean Heil with a pin in the second period. The win was the first of three for the Tigers, who took a 12-9 lead after a 9-5 win from redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nev.) over Jonce Blaylock.
The Tigers found themselves down once again, 15-12, after a Cowboy pin at 165 pounds, but Mizzou responded with three decision wins from redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), redshirt freshman 184-pounder Canten Marriott (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) and redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa) and to take the lead for good.
NOTABLE TIGERS
Eierman improved to 22-1 and 13-0 in duals with his pin over Heil at 4:49 in the second period. Eierman has now defeated five ranked opponents this season, and two ranked in the top-five as Heil entered the dual ranked No. 5. The Tiger sophomore has now won 17 matches by bonus points this season, 11 by fall, four by major decision and two by technical fall.
Miklus helped seal Mizzou's win in the second-to-last bout of the dual, as the two time All-American defeated No. 3-ranked Preston Weigel, 10-4, to give Mizzou a 21-15 lead with one match remaining. Miklus improves to 15-3 on the season with the win, and 11-2 in duals.
At 149 pounds, Redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) avenged one his two losses this season with an 8-4 win over No. 15-ranked Boo Lewellan. The win was Leeth's 12th consecutive win, who last lost twice on Nov. 18 at the Lindenwood Open. With the win, Leeth improves to 17-2 on the season and 14-0 in duals.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Brian Smith
On the adversity the team faced in the dual…
"Time and time again, this team has found ways to win, which is fun. I'm coaching a fun group of kids. We had this at Virginia Tech, where Willie was dead-in-the-water and found a way to win. All the way through, our guys fought hard. It's always a battle to come in here (Gallagher Iba Arena). We have had two battles in a row with Oklahoma State the last two years, and I was glad when we got that sixth win. It was a really good night, a special night for the program"
On any individual performances that stuck out…
"Everybody. Everybody fought hard. It took a team to win tonight, because things did not go our way. But we found a way to get through it."
Redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman
On the excitement of the moment…
"It was unreal, but I knew what I was capable of. We've worked all season, all summer, working at everything. I just feel like I've put everything together this year and I didn't doubt it, but I didn't think it would happen like that."
UP NEXT
Mizzou will next wrestle Northern Illinois on Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. (CT). The dual will be the final MAC dual of the season for Mizzou, who has already clinched the MAC Dual Title.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Results:
125: No. 7 Nick Piccininni (OSU) inj. default No. 17 Barlow McGhee (MIZ) | MIZ 0, OSU 6
133: No. 3 Kaid Brock (OSU) dec. No. 7 John Erneste (MIZ): 8-7 | MIZ 0, OSU 9
141: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ) fall No. 5 Dean Heil (OSU): 4:49 | MIZ 6, OSU 9
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. No. 15 Boo Lewallen (OSU): 8-4 | MIZ 9, OSU 9
157: No. 3 Joey Lavallee (MIZ) dec. Jonce Blaylock (OSU): 9-5 | MIZ 12, OSU 9
165: No. 10 Chandler Rogers (OSU) fall No. 23 Connor Flynn (MIZ): 3:17 | MIZ 12, OSU 15
174: No. 4 Daniel Lewis (MIZ) dec. No. 14 Jacobe Smith (OSU): 7-3 | MIZ 15, OSU 15
184: No. 14 Canten Marriott (MIZ) dec. Keegan Moore (OSU): 2-1 | MIZ 18, OSU 15
197: No. 7 Willie Miklus (MIZ) dec. No. 3 Preston Weigel (OSU): 10-4 | MIZ 21, OSU 15
HWT: No. 10 Derek White (OSU) major dec. Wyatt Koelling (MIZ): 17-4 | MIZ 21, OSU 19
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