MAC Championships Preview: Missouri to battle for sixth-straight title

J'den Cox is a two-time NCAA champ and a three-time MAC champ.
Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com

The Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships are set to take place this weekend, March 4-5, on the University of Northern Iowa’s campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Of the 90 wrestlers expected to compete, only 37 will receive automatic bids to the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, based on the allocations set by the NCAA last week.

Three schools enter the tournament ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll, including No. 10 Mizzou, No. 14 Northern Iowa and No. 17 Central Michigan.

Other member institutions are Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ohio and Old Dominion.

Missouri looks to win its fifth-straight MAC Championship team title, since joining the conference in 2013. Last season, Mizzou put up 127.5 points with five individual champions. Central Michigan and Ohio rounded out the top-three teams with 93.5 points and 76 points, respectively.

Four 2016 champions are expected to return to defend their titles, including three from Missouri—Barlow McGhee (125), Daniel Lewis (165) and Cox (197)—as well as Central Michigan’s Jordan Ellingwood (184).

Missouri enters the tournament with five No. 1 seeds in Jaydin Eierman (141), Lavion Mayes (149), Joey LaVallee (157), Lewis (165) and Cox (197).

The Tigers collected an 11-4 dual record this year and enter the tournament with seven nationally ranked wrestlers, led by two-time NCAA champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox, who holds the top seed at 197 pounds.

Ranked No. 1 in the country by Flowrestling, Cox is perfect on the season with a 20-0 record. He has won 38-straight matches, dating back to last season. Should he finish the year undefeated, Cox will be only the second Tiger to record an undefeated season and Missouri’s first three-time NCAA champion. This weekend Cox looks to become only the seventh wrestler in MAC history to win four conference titles.

Mayes boasts a No. 4 national ranking and has compiled a 16-2 record, with his only losses coming to No. 2 Anthony Collica of Oklahoma State and conference rival No. 8 Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa. Mayes, a two-time All-American, looks to repeat as MAC champion.

Other nationally ranked Tigers include No. 5 LaVallee, No. 5 Lewis, No. 16 McGhee and No. 16 John Erneste (133).

Looking to capture its first MAC team title, tournament host Northern Iowa brings three top-seeded wrestlers to the tournament, including Josh Alber (133), Taylor Lujan (174) and Drew Foster (184).

The Panthers have three wrestlers who have previously defeated the top-seeded wrestlers in their respective weight classes.

Although the No. 6 seed at 125 pounds, senior Dylan Peters is 3-0 against Ohio’s Shakur Laney, the No. 1 seed. Peters is a returning two-time All-American and the No. 17 wrestler in the country.

Thomsen, who enters as No. 3 seed at 149 pounds, owns a dual win over Mayes from just two weeks ago. He has also tallied four other top-20 victories.

Bryce Steiert checks in at the No. 3  seed for UNI at 165 pounds. Steiert claimed a pin over fifth-ranked Lewis in the dual, which helped the Panthers power past the then-No. 7 Tigers.

Ohio staked its claim on the remaining two No. 1 seeds, with No. 20 Laney as the one-seed at 125 pounds and Zack Parker taking the top-spot at heavyweight. Both sophomores have won at least 20 bouts this season.

Also ranked for the Bobcats is 133-pounder Cameron Kelly, who comes in at No. 15 and is the No. 3 seed for the tournament.

No. 17 Central Michigan has four wrestlers seeded second. The program is in search of its 17th overall MAC Championship and first since 2012.

Leading the way for the Chippewas is 2016 All-American Justin Oliver at 149 pounds. Oliver is 26-6 on the season, recording six wins in MAC duals. So far this year, Oliver has picked up a team-high 10 wins by fall.

Brent Fleetwood, the No. 2 seed at 125 pounds, looks to improve on his third-place finish from the 2016 MAC Championships. Fleetwood is the highest ranked MAC wrestler at 125 pounds with a No. 15 ranking.

No. 10 Collin Heffernan and No. 17 CJ Brucki take the two-seeds at 157 and 174 pounds, respectively.

Returning champ and 15th-ranked Ellingwood is the No. 3 seed at 184 pounds.

The Chippewas have two other ranked wrestlers, including No. 17 Austin Severn (197) and No. 20 Corey Keener (133).

Old Dominion’s Jack Dechow (184) and Kevin Beazley (197) head into Cedar Falls, Iowa, with No. 2 seeds.

Dechow is a 2014 All-American and two-time MAC Champion, winning in 2014 and 2015.

Beazley, a junior for ODU, returns to the MAC Championships after taking an Olympic redshirt last season. He looks to build on a third-place finish in 2015.

Other ranked wrestlers expected to compete are No. 11 Steve Bleise (149), No. 12 Shawn Scott (197) and No. 19 Trace Engelkes (174) of Northern Illinois and Buffalo’s Bryan Lantry, ranked No. 13 at 133 pounds.

Action is set to begin on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT. The tournament will be streamed live on ESPN3/Watch ESPN.

MAC Championships
March 4-5 at University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Schedule
Saturday, March 4
12 p.m. – Session I (Quarterfinals)
3 p.m. – Session II (Championship semifinals, consolation round 1) 

Sunday, March 5
12 p.m. – Session III (Consolation semifinals)
2 p.m.  – Session IV (Championship finals, third and fifth-place matches) 

How to watch: ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Brackets: Trackwrestling.com

2017 MAC pre-seeds

125
1 - Shakur Laney, Ohio
2 - Brent Fleetwood, Central Michigan
3 - Kyle Akins, Buffalo
4 - Noah Gonser, Eastern Michigan
5 - Barlow McGhee, Missouri
6 - Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
7 - Brock Hudkins, Northern Illinois

8/9 - Cory Simpson, Kent State
8/9 - Steve Simpson, Old Dominion

133
1 - Josh Alber, Northern Iowa
2 - John Erneste, Missouri
3 - Cameron Kelly, Ohio
4 - Bryan Lantry, Buffalo
5 - Corey Keener, Central Michigan
6 - Anthony Tutolo, Kent State
7 - Alex Madrigal, Old Dominion

8/9 - Alijah Jeffery, Northern Illinois
8/9 - Sa’Derian Perry, Eastern Michigan

141
1 - Jaydin Eierman, Missouri
2 - Noah Forrider, Ohio
3 - Mason Smith, Central Michigan
4 - Kyle Springer, Eastern Michigan
5 - Kevin Budock, Old Dominion
6 - Angel Velasquez, Northern Illinois
7 - Jason Estevez, Buffalo

8/9 - Jake Hodges, Northern Iowa
8/9 - Chance Driscol, Kent State

149
1 - Lavion Mayes, Missouri
2 - Justin Oliver, Central Michigan
3 - Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa
4 - Steve Bleise, Northern Illinois
5 - Michael Hayes, Old Dominion
6 - Nick Barber, Eastern Michigan
7 - Colt Cotten, Buffalo

8/9 - Kade Kowalski, Ohio
8/9 - Tim Rooney, Kent State

157
1 - Joey Lavallee, Missouri
2 - Collin Heffernan, Central Michigan
3 - Caden McWhirter, Northern Illinois
4 - Casey Sparkman, Kent State
5 - Cullen Cummings, Ohio
6 - Zac Carson, Eastern Michigan
7 - Larry Early, Old Dominion

8/9 - Alex Smythe, Buffalo
8/9 - Paden Moore, Northern Iowa

165
1 - Daniel Lewis, Missouri
2 - Bryce Steiert, Northern Iowa
3 - Seldon Wright, Old Dominion
4 - Devan Marry, Eastern Michigan
5 - Shaun'Qae McMurtry, Northern Illinois
6 - Tyler Rill, Buffalo
7 - Isaac Bast, Kent State

8/9 - Logan Parks, Central Michigan
8/9 - Zach Wilson, Ohio

174
1 - Taylor Lujan, Northern Iowa
2 - CJ Brucki, Central Michigan
3 - Trace Engelkes, Northern Illinois
4 - Dylan Wisman, Missouri
5 - Arsen Ashughyan, Ohio
6 - Jerold Spohn, Kent State
7 - Antonio Agee, Old Dominion

8/9 - Muhamid McBryde, Buffalo
8/9 - Jacob Davis, Eastern Michigan

184
1 - Drew Foster, Northern Iowa
2 - Jack Dechow, Old Dominion
3 - Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan
4 - Brett Perry, Buffalo
5 - Matt Lemanowicz, Missouri
6 - Bryce Gorman, Northern Illinois
7 - Kayne MacCallum, Eastern Michigan

8/9 - Dontae McGee, Ohio
8/9 - Shane Mast, Kent State

197
1 - J'den Cox, Missouri
2 - Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion
3 - Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois
4 - Austin Severn, Central Michigan
5 - Stephen Suglio, Kent State
6 - Jacob Holschlag, Northern Iowa
7 - Nate Rose, Buffalo

8/9 - Derek Hillman, Eastern Michigan
8/9 - Nate Hall, Ohio

Hwt.
1 - Zack Parker, Ohio
2 - Austin Myers, Missouri
3 - JJ Everard, Northern Iowa
4 - Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan
5 - Jake Gunning, Buffalo
6 - Gage Hutchison, Eastern Michigan
7 - Devin Nye, Kent State

8/9 - Wil Hilliard, Old Dominion
8/9 - Caleb Gossett, Northern Illinois

2016 MAC Championships results
Team Standings
1.  Missouri - 127.5
2.  Central Michigan - 93.5
3.  Ohio - 76.0
4.  Kent State - 75.5
5.  Northern Iowa - 73.5
6.  Northern Illinois - 65.0
7.  Buffalo - 56.0
8.  Eastern Michigan - 54.5
9.  Old Dominion - 36.5 

125 lbs.
1st: Barlow McGhee (Missouri) dec. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa) 
3rd: Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan) dec. Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion)
5th: Shakur Laney (Ohio) fall Kyle Akins (Buffalo)

133 lbs.
1st: Austin Eicher (Northern Illinois) dec. Corey Keener (Central Michigan)
3rd: Mack McGuire (Kent State) fall Cameron Kelly (Ohio)
5th: Bryan Lantry (Buffalo) MF Shayne Wireman (Eastern Michigan)

141 lbs.
1st: Chris Mecate (Old Dominion) win by medical forfeit Matt Manley (Missouri)
3rd: Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois) MD Zachary Horan (Central Michigan)
5th: Trevor Jauch (Northern Iowa) fall Noah Forrider (Ohio)

149 lbs.
1st: Mike DePalma (Kent State) dec. Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) 
3rd: Nick Barber (Eastern Michigan) MF Lavion Mayes (Missouri)
5th: Colt Cotten (Buffalo) DQ

157 lbs.
1st: LeRoy Barnes (Missouri) MD Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa) 
3rd: Andrew Morse (Northern Illinois) dec. Luke Smith (Central Michigan)
5th: Spartak Chino (Ohio) MF Ian Miller (Kent State)

165 lbs.
1st: Daniel Lewis (Missouri) 25-4 dec. Dakota Juarez (Eastern Michigan)
3rd: Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa) dec. Austin Resse (Ohio)
5th: Tyler Buckwalter (Kent State) dec. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan)

174 lbs.
1st: Blaise Butler (Missouri) dec. Michael Ottinger (Central Michigan) 
3rd: Cody Walters (Ohio) fall Jairod James (Kent State)
5th: Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois) MD Jacob Davis (Eastern Michigan)

184 lbs.
1st: Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan) dec. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion)
3rd: Willie Miklus (Missouri) dec. Joe Ariola (Buffalo) 
5th: Drew Foster (Northern Iowa) dec. Andrew Romanchik (Ohio)

197 lbs.
1st: J`Den Cox (Missouri) MD Phillip Wellington (Ohio) 
3rd: Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois) dec. Anthony Abro (Eastern Michigan) 
5th: Kyle Conel (Kent State) dec. James Benjamin (Buffalo)

285 lbs.
1st: Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa) dec. Jake Gunning (Buffalo)
3rd: Devin Nye (Kent State) fall Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan)
5th: Newton Smerchek (Central Michigan) dec. Cody Johnston (Missouri)