Missouri puts six in finals to lead after day one of MAC Championships
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by MAC Conference website and Mizzou Sports Information
MAC Conference wrap story
After the day one of the 2016 MAC Wrestling Championships, three-time defending MAC Tournament Champion and 2016 MAC regular season champion Missouri Tigers have posted the early lead as the Tigers have 103.5 points for first place along with six wrestlers competing in Championship matches on Sunday afternoon.
Missouri has three wrestlers competing in Sunday's Championship matches as No. 1 seeds -- Matt Manley (141), Daniel Lewis (165) and J'den Cox (197), along with No. 2 seeds Barlow McGhee (125) and Blaise Butler (174), while Le'Roy Barnes (157) is a No. 5 seed.
Central Michigan has four wrestlers competing in Championship matches, including No. 1 seed Mike Ottinger (174), No. 2 seed Justin Oliver (149) and No. 4 seed's Corey Keener (133) and Jordan Ellingwood (184). Each MAC program has at least one wrestler competing in a Championship match on Sunday.
Following Missouri, Central Michigan is ranked second with 76.0 points, Northern Iowa ranks third with 60.0 points, while Ohio is fourth with 52.5 points and Kent State fifth with 49.0 points.
Missouri entered the MAC Wrestling Championships as the No. 6 ranked team in the nation with a 14-2 overall record, including 8-0 within the MAC. Missouri is seeking its fourth consecutive MAC Wrestling Championship.
The 2016 MAC Wrestling Championships conclude on Sunday, March 6 beginning at Noon ET from the Convocation Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan Un
University of Missouri press release
YPSILANTI, Mi. – No. 6 Mizzou Wrestling finished off the first day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Championships in first place with 103.5 team points, 27.5 points ahead of second place Central Michigan.
Six #TigerStyle grapplers, redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.), redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), redshirt senior 157-pounder Le’Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.), redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), redshirt senior 174-pounder Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.), and junior J’den Cox (Columbia, Mo.), all won both of their matches and will compete in the finals of their respective weight classes tomorrow.
In addition to competing for titles on Sunday, all six wrestlers have guaranteed their spots in the NCAA Championships, March 17-19 in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Cox and Butler will return to Nationals for the third time in their careers, while Manley will be making his second trip. McGhee, Barnes, and Lewis all qualified for Nationals for the first time in their careers.
Three Mizzou wrestlers are still alive in the consolation side of the bracket. Redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.), redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa), and redshirt senior heavyweight Cody Johnston (Warrensburg, Mo.) all have a chance to wrestle back for third place. With five and four MAC allocations at 149 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively, Mayes will have to finish fourth or better and Miklus fifth or better in order to guarantee spots at Nationals. The heavyweight weight class has only one MAC allocation, meaning Johnston would need to be awarded one of five wild card spots available to qualify for Nationals. Redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) lost his two matches on the day and will also need a wild card entry to qualify.
At 197 pounds, Cox won both of his matches by fall, pinning Northern Iowa’s Cody Krumweidle in the first period (0:39) and Eastern Michigan’s Anthony Abro in the third (6:37). In Lewis’ two matches, the Blue Springs, Mo. native did not allow either of his opponents to score a point, defeating Central Michigan’s Colin Heffernan by way of major decision, 10-0, and Kent State’s Tyler Buckwalter by major decision, 12-0. McGhee scored two wins by major decision as well, besting Northern Illinois’ Alijah Jeffery, 10-2, and Buffalo’s Kyle Akins, 12-4.
Butler defeated Buffalo’s Muhamed McBryde, 8-4, before narrowly defeating Ohio’s Cody Walters, 2-1. Manley defeated Buffalo’s Brandon Lapi, 8-4, and Central Michigan’s Zach Horan, 3-2, en route to the finals. At 157 pounds, Barnes pinned Ohio’s Spartak Chino at 3:40 in his opening match, before earning his way to finals due to an injury default from Kent State’s Ian Miller.
Mizzou will look to lock up its fourth consecutive MAC title and fifth straight conference title overall tomorrow, beginning with the consolation semifinals round at Noon ET. The Championship round is scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. ET. ESPN3.com will broadcast the championship rounds.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Team Scores
Missouri- 103.5
Central Michigan- 76.0
Northern Iowa- 60.0
Ohio- 52.5
Kent State- 49.0
Buffalo- 44.5
Northern Illinois- 40.5
Eastern Michigan- 40.0
Old Dominion- 35.0
Sunday's MAC Wrestling Championships:
125: No. 1 seed Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 2 seed Barlow McGhee (Missouri)
133: No. 4 seed Corey Keener (Central Michigan) vs. No. 7 seed Austin Eicher (Northern Illinois)
141: No. 1 seed Matt Manley (Missouri) vs. No. 2 seed Chris Mecate (Old Dominion)
149: No. 2 seed Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) vs. No. 4 seed Mike DePalma (Kent State)
157: No. 3 seed Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 5 seed Le'Roy Barnes (Missouri)
165: No. 1 seed Daniel Lewis (Missouri) vs. No. 6 seed Dakota Juarez (Eastern Michigan)
174: No. 1 seed Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan) vs. No. 2 seed Blaise Butler (Missouri)
184: No. 2 seed Jack Dechow (Old Dominion) vs. No. 4 seed Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan)
197: No. 1 seed J'Den Cox (Missouri) vs. No. 3 seed Phil Wellington (Ohio)
Hwt: No. 1 seed Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 3 seed Jake Gunning (Buffalo)
2016 MAC Wrestling Championships Schedule of Events:
Sunday, March 8
11:00 am ET Doors Open
11:55 am ET National Anthem
12:00 pm ET Consolation Semi-Finals (3 mats)
1:05 pm ET Championship Finals Parade and Face Off Introductions
1:20 pm ET Championship Finals; 3rd & 5th Place Matches (3 mats)
After the day one of the 2016 MAC Wrestling Championships, three-time defending MAC Tournament Champion and 2016 MAC regular season champion Missouri Tigers have posted the early lead as the Tigers have 103.5 points for first place along with six wrestlers competing in Championship matches on Sunday afternoon.
Missouri has three wrestlers competing in Sunday's Championship matches as No. 1 seeds -- Matt Manley (141), Daniel Lewis (165) and J'den Cox (197), along with No. 2 seeds Barlow McGhee (125) and Blaise Butler (174), while Le'Roy Barnes (157) is a No. 5 seed.
Central Michigan has four wrestlers competing in Championship matches, including No. 1 seed Mike Ottinger (174), No. 2 seed Justin Oliver (149) and No. 4 seed's Corey Keener (133) and Jordan Ellingwood (184). Each MAC program has at least one wrestler competing in a Championship match on Sunday.
Following Missouri, Central Michigan is ranked second with 76.0 points, Northern Iowa ranks third with 60.0 points, while Ohio is fourth with 52.5 points and Kent State fifth with 49.0 points.
Missouri entered the MAC Wrestling Championships as the No. 6 ranked team in the nation with a 14-2 overall record, including 8-0 within the MAC. Missouri is seeking its fourth consecutive MAC Wrestling Championship.
The 2016 MAC Wrestling Championships conclude on Sunday, March 6 beginning at Noon ET from the Convocation Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan Un
University of Missouri press release
YPSILANTI, Mi. – No. 6 Mizzou Wrestling finished off the first day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Championships in first place with 103.5 team points, 27.5 points ahead of second place Central Michigan.
Six #TigerStyle grapplers, redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.), redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), redshirt senior 157-pounder Le’Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.), redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), redshirt senior 174-pounder Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.), and junior J’den Cox (Columbia, Mo.), all won both of their matches and will compete in the finals of their respective weight classes tomorrow.
In addition to competing for titles on Sunday, all six wrestlers have guaranteed their spots in the NCAA Championships, March 17-19 in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Cox and Butler will return to Nationals for the third time in their careers, while Manley will be making his second trip. McGhee, Barnes, and Lewis all qualified for Nationals for the first time in their careers.
Three Mizzou wrestlers are still alive in the consolation side of the bracket. Redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.), redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa), and redshirt senior heavyweight Cody Johnston (Warrensburg, Mo.) all have a chance to wrestle back for third place. With five and four MAC allocations at 149 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively, Mayes will have to finish fourth or better and Miklus fifth or better in order to guarantee spots at Nationals. The heavyweight weight class has only one MAC allocation, meaning Johnston would need to be awarded one of five wild card spots available to qualify for Nationals. Redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) lost his two matches on the day and will also need a wild card entry to qualify.
At 197 pounds, Cox won both of his matches by fall, pinning Northern Iowa’s Cody Krumweidle in the first period (0:39) and Eastern Michigan’s Anthony Abro in the third (6:37). In Lewis’ two matches, the Blue Springs, Mo. native did not allow either of his opponents to score a point, defeating Central Michigan’s Colin Heffernan by way of major decision, 10-0, and Kent State’s Tyler Buckwalter by major decision, 12-0. McGhee scored two wins by major decision as well, besting Northern Illinois’ Alijah Jeffery, 10-2, and Buffalo’s Kyle Akins, 12-4.
Butler defeated Buffalo’s Muhamed McBryde, 8-4, before narrowly defeating Ohio’s Cody Walters, 2-1. Manley defeated Buffalo’s Brandon Lapi, 8-4, and Central Michigan’s Zach Horan, 3-2, en route to the finals. At 157 pounds, Barnes pinned Ohio’s Spartak Chino at 3:40 in his opening match, before earning his way to finals due to an injury default from Kent State’s Ian Miller.
Mizzou will look to lock up its fourth consecutive MAC title and fifth straight conference title overall tomorrow, beginning with the consolation semifinals round at Noon ET. The Championship round is scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. ET. ESPN3.com will broadcast the championship rounds.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Team Scores
Missouri- 103.5
Central Michigan- 76.0
Northern Iowa- 60.0
Ohio- 52.5
Kent State- 49.0
Buffalo- 44.5
Northern Illinois- 40.5
Eastern Michigan- 40.0
Old Dominion- 35.0
Sunday's MAC Wrestling Championships:
125: No. 1 seed Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 2 seed Barlow McGhee (Missouri)
133: No. 4 seed Corey Keener (Central Michigan) vs. No. 7 seed Austin Eicher (Northern Illinois)
141: No. 1 seed Matt Manley (Missouri) vs. No. 2 seed Chris Mecate (Old Dominion)
149: No. 2 seed Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) vs. No. 4 seed Mike DePalma (Kent State)
157: No. 3 seed Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 5 seed Le'Roy Barnes (Missouri)
165: No. 1 seed Daniel Lewis (Missouri) vs. No. 6 seed Dakota Juarez (Eastern Michigan)
174: No. 1 seed Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan) vs. No. 2 seed Blaise Butler (Missouri)
184: No. 2 seed Jack Dechow (Old Dominion) vs. No. 4 seed Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan)
197: No. 1 seed J'Den Cox (Missouri) vs. No. 3 seed Phil Wellington (Ohio)
Hwt: No. 1 seed Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 3 seed Jake Gunning (Buffalo)
2016 MAC Wrestling Championships Schedule of Events:
Sunday, March 8
11:00 am ET Doors Open
11:55 am ET National Anthem
12:00 pm ET Consolation Semi-Finals (3 mats)
1:05 pm ET Championship Finals Parade and Face Off Introductions
1:20 pm ET Championship Finals; 3rd & 5th Place Matches (3 mats)
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