Conquistadors
01-17-2006, 12:39 PM
Missouri – Oklahoma State Outlook
Rankings derived from the Wrestling Report January 16th rankings (http://www.wrestlingreport.com/ )
125: #6 Coleman Scott (OSU) vs #20 Austin DeVoe (Missouri)
All-American Scott is very fast and skilled, built like a bean pole, rides like cellophane, and is knocking on the door of the elite wrestlers. DeVoe is a solid wrestler that has challenged for top 15 ranking this year, but can’t quite get there. Look for a major decision by Scott. OSU 4-0.
133: #4 Nathan Morgan (OSU) vs #13 Tyler McCormick (Missouri)
Morgan is very much like Scott in physique (does a bean pole have a physique?), style, and in challenging for elite status. McCormick is a skilled solid wrestler trying to climb into top 12 group. On a good day, Tyler could stay close to Morgan; otherwise Morgan wins by a major decision. I’ll factor in a home-field advantage to McCormick and predict Morgan by a regular decision. OSU 7-0 (I sat next to the McCormicks Saturday afternoon and evening-- very nice folks. And amazingly calm parents.)
141: #11 Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) vs #10 Chris McCormick (Missouri)
All American Frishkorn has taken his lumps this season and was really beaten up at National Duals by Nebraska’s Moyer and Minnesota’s Rivera. When he’s on, Frishkorn is a very explosive and dominant wrestler. I would think that his confidence has taken a hit. McCormick-the-Elder is a solid wrestler trying move solidly into the top 15 (the WR’s #10 ranking is too high for Chris). Given Frishkorn’s recent struggles (which are probably exaggerated), Chris’ best performance, and home field advantage, McCormick could win this one. I’ll go with a homer pick and predict McCormick by a decision. OSU 7-0
149: #3 Zach Esposito (OSU) vs #24 Josh Wagner (Missouri)
Defending National Champion and two-time NCAA Finalist Esposito is perhaps the most exciting wrestler in college. Fast, skilled in all positions, and not afraid to try daring things. Despite a couple of recent losses, he is a favorite to win most all matches by a major decision. Wagner lost in a wrestle-off to McCormick at 141, moved up to start at 149, and has had a very solid season, including a pin of ASU’s Payne. Wagner will not be intimidated by Esposito; none the less, Esposito by at least a major decision. OSU 11-3
157: #7 Kevin Ward (OSU) vs Michael Chandler (Missouri)
Although Ward may be only the 9th best starter on the OSU team, he has developed into a solid wrestler. Last season he was the Big XII champ and made it to the Round-of-Twelve at the NCAAs. Despite being injured for much of the last month, Redshirt Freshman Chandler has looked quite good this season. Ward’s experience should be enough to stay on top of a very game Chandler. Ward isn’t a big scorer, so I’ll predict a regular decision. OSU 14-3
165: #2 Johny Hendricks (OSU) vs #4 Matt Pell (Missouri)
Best match-up of the night. Hendricks is a two-time All American and defending NCAA Champion; Pell was an All American at 184 lbs. Hendricks has lost twice this season (to Matt Nagel—yes the All Star match counts!- and to Oregon’s Bracamonte by pin); Pell, who has beaten Nagel, has one loss to Ryan Churella. Both these guys are very physical wrestlers and display an attitude. They won’t be able to out-muscle each other, and the technique edge probably goes to Hendricks. It will probably come down to guts and who wants it more. With his home field advantage, I’m going with a homer pick and choosing Pell by a decision. OSU 14-6
174: #8 Brandon Mason (OSU) vs #1 Ben Askren (Missouri)
Redshirt Freshmen Mason is having a solid season. His best position is reputed to be the top position. Askren, a two-time NCAA runner-up, is having a phenomenal season, with something like 23 falls in 28 matches. Askren is looking to put his opponent on their back from the opening whistle. He overwhelms most opponents as he gathers them octopus-like into his grasp. If he doesn’t catch his opponent during a scramble, he turns opponents with a mix of finesse (cradles & Turks) and brute strength (head-arm thingies). Mason will have to bring his A-game in order to last all seven minutes. Askren by fall. OSU 14-12
184: # 28 Rusty Blackmon (OSU) vs #11 Raymond Jordan (Missouri)
Blackmon is a solid and experienced wrestler—his #28 ranking is probably on the low side. Redshirt freshman Jordan was having a solid season up until National Duals, but after three wins over top 15 wrestlers at that tournament, one can now say he is having a very solid season. Jordan will have to make sure he doesn’t overlook the generally-not-remembered Blackmon in order to win by regular decision. Missouri 15-14
197: #4 Jake Rosholt (OSU) vs #16 Jeff Foust.or Joe Garrity (Missouri)
Rosholt is a three time All American and two-time NCAA Champion. At National Duals, he didn’t hit me as wrestling as sharply as he did last year. Also, last year he scored a lot of points. Foust was the Big XII champ two years ago, but has been injured for most of this season. If he wrestles, Foust will probably keep the result to a regular decision. Joe Garrity is Ben Askren’s back-up and is very undersized at 197. Rosholt by fall over Garrity. OSU 20-15
HWY: #2 Steve Mocco (OSU) vs Sean Connole (Missouri)
Mocco is a three-time finalist and two time NCAA Champion; Sean Connole isn’t. Mocco by Fall. OSU 26-15.
Rankings derived from the Wrestling Report January 16th rankings (http://www.wrestlingreport.com/ )
125: #6 Coleman Scott (OSU) vs #20 Austin DeVoe (Missouri)
All-American Scott is very fast and skilled, built like a bean pole, rides like cellophane, and is knocking on the door of the elite wrestlers. DeVoe is a solid wrestler that has challenged for top 15 ranking this year, but can’t quite get there. Look for a major decision by Scott. OSU 4-0.
133: #4 Nathan Morgan (OSU) vs #13 Tyler McCormick (Missouri)
Morgan is very much like Scott in physique (does a bean pole have a physique?), style, and in challenging for elite status. McCormick is a skilled solid wrestler trying to climb into top 12 group. On a good day, Tyler could stay close to Morgan; otherwise Morgan wins by a major decision. I’ll factor in a home-field advantage to McCormick and predict Morgan by a regular decision. OSU 7-0 (I sat next to the McCormicks Saturday afternoon and evening-- very nice folks. And amazingly calm parents.)
141: #11 Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) vs #10 Chris McCormick (Missouri)
All American Frishkorn has taken his lumps this season and was really beaten up at National Duals by Nebraska’s Moyer and Minnesota’s Rivera. When he’s on, Frishkorn is a very explosive and dominant wrestler. I would think that his confidence has taken a hit. McCormick-the-Elder is a solid wrestler trying move solidly into the top 15 (the WR’s #10 ranking is too high for Chris). Given Frishkorn’s recent struggles (which are probably exaggerated), Chris’ best performance, and home field advantage, McCormick could win this one. I’ll go with a homer pick and predict McCormick by a decision. OSU 7-0
149: #3 Zach Esposito (OSU) vs #24 Josh Wagner (Missouri)
Defending National Champion and two-time NCAA Finalist Esposito is perhaps the most exciting wrestler in college. Fast, skilled in all positions, and not afraid to try daring things. Despite a couple of recent losses, he is a favorite to win most all matches by a major decision. Wagner lost in a wrestle-off to McCormick at 141, moved up to start at 149, and has had a very solid season, including a pin of ASU’s Payne. Wagner will not be intimidated by Esposito; none the less, Esposito by at least a major decision. OSU 11-3
157: #7 Kevin Ward (OSU) vs Michael Chandler (Missouri)
Although Ward may be only the 9th best starter on the OSU team, he has developed into a solid wrestler. Last season he was the Big XII champ and made it to the Round-of-Twelve at the NCAAs. Despite being injured for much of the last month, Redshirt Freshman Chandler has looked quite good this season. Ward’s experience should be enough to stay on top of a very game Chandler. Ward isn’t a big scorer, so I’ll predict a regular decision. OSU 14-3
165: #2 Johny Hendricks (OSU) vs #4 Matt Pell (Missouri)
Best match-up of the night. Hendricks is a two-time All American and defending NCAA Champion; Pell was an All American at 184 lbs. Hendricks has lost twice this season (to Matt Nagel—yes the All Star match counts!- and to Oregon’s Bracamonte by pin); Pell, who has beaten Nagel, has one loss to Ryan Churella. Both these guys are very physical wrestlers and display an attitude. They won’t be able to out-muscle each other, and the technique edge probably goes to Hendricks. It will probably come down to guts and who wants it more. With his home field advantage, I’m going with a homer pick and choosing Pell by a decision. OSU 14-6
174: #8 Brandon Mason (OSU) vs #1 Ben Askren (Missouri)
Redshirt Freshmen Mason is having a solid season. His best position is reputed to be the top position. Askren, a two-time NCAA runner-up, is having a phenomenal season, with something like 23 falls in 28 matches. Askren is looking to put his opponent on their back from the opening whistle. He overwhelms most opponents as he gathers them octopus-like into his grasp. If he doesn’t catch his opponent during a scramble, he turns opponents with a mix of finesse (cradles & Turks) and brute strength (head-arm thingies). Mason will have to bring his A-game in order to last all seven minutes. Askren by fall. OSU 14-12
184: # 28 Rusty Blackmon (OSU) vs #11 Raymond Jordan (Missouri)
Blackmon is a solid and experienced wrestler—his #28 ranking is probably on the low side. Redshirt freshman Jordan was having a solid season up until National Duals, but after three wins over top 15 wrestlers at that tournament, one can now say he is having a very solid season. Jordan will have to make sure he doesn’t overlook the generally-not-remembered Blackmon in order to win by regular decision. Missouri 15-14
197: #4 Jake Rosholt (OSU) vs #16 Jeff Foust.or Joe Garrity (Missouri)
Rosholt is a three time All American and two-time NCAA Champion. At National Duals, he didn’t hit me as wrestling as sharply as he did last year. Also, last year he scored a lot of points. Foust was the Big XII champ two years ago, but has been injured for most of this season. If he wrestles, Foust will probably keep the result to a regular decision. Joe Garrity is Ben Askren’s back-up and is very undersized at 197. Rosholt by fall over Garrity. OSU 20-15
HWY: #2 Steve Mocco (OSU) vs Sean Connole (Missouri)
Mocco is a three-time finalist and two time NCAA Champion; Sean Connole isn’t. Mocco by Fall. OSU 26-15.