In only its sixth year, the Missouri Open has become one of the largest and most competitive wrestling tournaments in the country. Attracting nearly 600 wrestlers from 20 teams, the all-day event brings in athletes from across the Midwest, including several of the top-ranked wrestlers in the nation. Beginning in 2000, the University of Missouri took on the responsibilities of hosting the event, drawing several hundred wrestlers. Over the past three years, the Missouri Open has taken on a life of its own, gaining national attention and increasing in size.
"We really enjoy hosting the Missouri Open," Tiger Head Coach Brian Smith said. "The tournament gives us the opportunity to compete with some of the top wrestlers in the nation right here in our home facility."
Held in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse, nearly 1,700 fans attended the 2004 Missouri Open, with more expected to attend in 2005.
"Every year the Open seems to run smoother," Smith said. "It's really gotten the community involved with our program, which is important, and also one of the main reasons for hosting a tournament; to have another home event, but also get people hands on with the Mizzou program."
Including the Tigers, five top-20 teams will attend the Open. No. 2 Oklahoma returns for their sixth-straight appearance, while No. 4 Illinois and No. 11 Indiana will make the trip to Columbia, Mo., from the Big Ten Conference. Rounding out the field is No. 20 Edinboro, which features Shawn Bunch, the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at 133 pounds. As many as 17 teams plan to attend the all-day event.
Last season, Missouri captured 11 top-six finishes at the Missouri Open and hopes to have even more wrestlers finish in the top-six this year. Several Tigers that placed in the 2004 Open are back to wrestle this year, including senior Austin DeVoe and sophomore Tim Kephart at 125 pounds, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Two returning grapplers also appear at 133 pounds, where sophomore Tyler McCormick and junior Amond Prater look to defend their first and third-place finishes, respectively. At 141 pounds senior Chris McCormick is back after taking second a year ago, and fellow senior Jeff Foust was a third-place finisher at 197 pounds. The only other returning placewinner is junior Matt Pell, who took at 184 pounds last season but will compete at 165 pounds this year. Tyler McCormick is the only member of the 2005-06 squad to earn a Missouri Open title in his career.
With three Missouri home sporting events taking place Sunday, parking will be limited. Wrestling fans should park in parking lot M on the east side of the Hearnes Center. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. In addition, the price of admission is $2 for all members of Columbia club teams and any 2005 summer campers eighth grade and under.
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