Missouri pushes six into finals to lead MAC Championships, with Buffalo in second place

Missouri wrestling lineup graphic courtesy of @MizzouWrestling Twitter


NORFOLK, Va. – Fifth-ranked Mizzou Wrestling is in first place at the Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships after sending six of 10 wrestlers to the finals after day one of competition Friday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on the campus of Old Dominion. Mizzou has 127.5 total team points, well ahead of second-place Buffalo (94.5).


Advancing to tomorrow's finals for the Tigers are: RS senior John Erneste – 133; RS junior Jaydin Eierman – 141; Freshman Brock Mauller – 149; Freshman Jarrett Jacques – 157; RS senior Daniel Lewis – 174; RS junior Dylan Wisman – 184


"Those six wrestled really well," head coach Brian Smith said. "They did what they had to in order to get some wins, and got bonus points in a bunch of them. Dyaln Wisman didn't get flustered in a match where he was down and had some close calls, and battled back to dominate a match. Daniel (Lewis) did Daniel things. John (Erneste) not only found a way to win, but got a pin in the third period. We lost some tough, tough semifinal matches at the buzzer – two of them in the final seconds of the third period. Frustrating. But we'll be back tomorrow."


In the first session, Mizzou was dominant as it sent all 10 wrestlers to the semifinals with a perfect 10-0 mark in the first round. Of the 10 wins, seven came via a bonus-point wins with three pins, three technical falls and a major decision at heavyweight. Mizzou's seven No. 1 seeds combined for those six of the bonus point wins, including pins from John Erneste (133), Connor Flynn (165) and Daniel Lewis (174). The trio needed a combined 2:38 to register the three pins.


Mizzou was close to sending nine of 10 to the finals, but last-second third-period losses by Flynn (165), Wyatt Koelling (197) and an OT loss at heavyweight by freshman Zach Elam prohibited that from happening.


The finals will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) on ESPN3. Mizzou will look to win its eighth consecutive conference tournament title, dating back to its final year in the Big 12. It would be Mizzou's seventh straight MAC title and of course its seventh overall, which would be fifth-most in league history.

Tiger Notes:

- With 127.5 points on day one, Mizzou already has more team points than 64 of the previous 68 MAC Champions.

- Mizzou sent all 10 wrestlers into the semifinals, going a perfect 10-0 in the opening round. As a team, Mizzou averaged 8.15 of a 9.0 possible team points per bout in the opening round.

- RS senior Daniel Lewis extended his personal win streak to 15 bouts, earning 10 pins during that stretch.

- Heading into tomorrow's finals, Lewis has a chance to become just the eighth four-time MAC Champion in league history and first since Mizzou's J'den Cox did so in 2017.

- Jaydin Eierman and John Erneste are both looking to become three-time MAC Champions Saturday after going 2-0 Friday.

MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Norfolk, Va.


Finals pairings

125 - Michael McGee (Old Dominion) vs. Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan)

133 - John Erneste (Missouri) vs. Derek Spann (Buffalo)

141 - Jaydin Eierman (Missouri) vs. Bryan Lantry (Buffalo)

149 - Brock Mauller (Missouri) vs. Kevin Budock (Old Dominion)

157 - Larry Early (Old Dominion) vs. Jarrett Jacques (Missouri)

165 - Colt Yinger (Ohio) vs. Troy Keller (Buffalo)

174 - Daniel Lewis (Missouri) vs. Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois)

184 - Dylan Wisman (Missouri) vs. Andrew McNally (Kent State)

197 - Timothy Young (Old Dominion) vs. Brett Perry (Buffalo)

285 - Matt Stencel (Central Michigan) vs. Colton McKiernan (SIU Edwardsville)

Semifinals results


125 pounds

Semifinal - Michael McGee (Old Dominion) won by decision over Dack Punke (Missouri) Dec 7-1

Semifinal - Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan) won by decision over Bryce West (Northern Illinois) Dec 6-2


133 pounds

Semifinal - John Erneste (Missouri) won by fall over Tim Rooney (Kent State) Fall 5:56

Semifinal - Derek Spann (Buffalo) won by decision over Mario Guillen (Ohio) Dec 6-4


141 pounds

Semifinal - Jaydin Eierman (Missouri) won by fall over Sa`Derian Perry (Old Dominion) Fall 3:00

Semifinal - Bryan Lantry (Buffalo) won by decision over Cory Simpson (Kent State) Dec 4-0


149 pounds

Semifinal - Brock Mauller (Missouri) won by decision over Tyshawn Williams (SIU Edwardsville) Dec 7-1

Semifinal - Kevin Budock (Old Dominion) won in tie breaker - 2 over Alec Hagan (Ohio) TB-2 4-3


157 pounds

Semifinal - Larry Early (Old Dominion) won by decision over Logan Parks (Central Michigan) Dec 3-1

Semifinal - Jarrett Jacques (Missouri) won by decision over Alex Smythe (Buffalo) Dec 10-3


165 pounds

Semifinal - Colt Yinger (Ohio) won by decision over Connor Flynn (Missouri) Dec 5-4

Semifinal - Troy Keller (Buffalo) won by decision over Nate Higgins (SIU Edwardsville) Dec 5-2


174 pounds

Semifinal - Daniel Lewis (Missouri) won by fall over Collin Lieber (Central Michigan) Fall 3:00

Semifinal - Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois) won by major decision over Luke Drugac (Old Dominion) Maj 12-4


184 pounds

Semifinal - Dylan Wisman (Missouri) won by fall over Jordan Atienza (Central Michigan) Fall 6:07

Semifinal - Andrew McNally (Kent State) won by decision over Antonio Agee (Old Dominion) Dec 5-3


197 pounds

Semifinal - Timothy Young (Old Dominion) won by decision over Wyatt Koelling (Missouri) Dec 3-1

Semifinal - Brett Perry (Buffalo) won by decision over Christian DuLaney (SIU Edwardsville) Dec 8-3


285 pounds

Semifinal - Matt Stencel (Central Michigan) won by fall over Caleb Gossett (Northern Illinois) Fall 1:52

Semifinal - Colton McKiernan (SIU Edwardsville) won by fall over Zach Elam (Missouri) Fall 7:30

Team Standings after day one

1 Missouri, 127.5

2 Buffalo, 94.5

3 Old Dominion, 92.5

4 Central Michigan, 82.5

5 Ohio, 76.0

6 Northern Illinois, 71.0

7 SIU Edwardsville, 59.5

8 Kent State, 56.5