Mizzou adds another NCAA qualifier from Northwestern

06/19/2025 9:07 AM

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The Tigers made another addition from the transfer portal with the addition of redshirt senior Evan Bates. He joins Maxx Mayfield as transfers from Northwestern this season. Out of high school he was a state champ while at Chesterson High School in Indiana. He started his career at Northwestern where he started from 2023-2025 and was a two-time NCAA qualifier at 197lbs.

He was 13-15 in 2024 and 20-12 in 2025. Both seasons he went 1-2 at NCAA’s. This past season he appeared to make a jump, placing 3rd at CKLV and Midlands. All but one of his losses this season came to an All-American while getting wins over wrestlers that finished in the bloodround. He also more than doubled his bonus point percentage from 17% to 43%.

His addition adds depth to the upperweights where the Tigers are very thin. While Bates has been at 184, it more likely establishes Sinclair at 184 this upcoming season. This does raise the question for Colton Hawks future, although coming off a significant injury and surgery I think there is the possiblity for a medical redshirt.

Like Mayfield, this is a step in the right direction for the program to bring in transfers to fill spots in the lineup and become a well rounded team. Bates is coming in with plenty of valuable Big Ten experience and gets to work with training partners like Sinclair, Steed, and O’Toole.

CAREER HONORS

Two-time NCAA Qualifier: 2024 and 2025

NORTHWESTERN
REDSHIRT JUNIOR (2024-25)

Finished the year ranked No. 20 by InterMat at 197 pounds with a 20-12 overall record
Placed second at Michigan State Open (Nov. 11)
Opened dual play with a 19-4 technical fall over NIU Spencer Mooberry (Nov. 16)
Defeated South Dakota State’s No. 22 Zach Glazier in an 8-2 decision en route to a third-place finish at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 6)
Defeated a total of nine ranked opponents
Earned a second consecutive NCAA Championship birth with a technical fall over Maryland’s Chase Mielnik at Big 10 Championships (March 8)
Picked up a win at the NCAA Championships by upsetting No. 25 Nick Stemmet of Stanford

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2023-24)

Posted a 13-15 overall record at 197 pounds
Posted bonus-point wins in five matches
Opened the year with a runner-up finish at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 11)
Upended The Citadel’s Patrick Brophy by a 10-5 decision at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 1)
Came away with a pair of wins at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (Dec. 29)
Closed the year with a flurry, going 4-2 across his final six appearances of the regular season
Downed Joshua Otto by decision, 9-2, in a dual match at Wisconsin (Feb. 2)
Dispatched Purdue’s Ben Vanadia (Feb. 9) 11-4
Ground out a 2-0 decision win over No. 33 Gabe Sollars to help lead Northwestern to a win over No. 23 Indiana (Feb. 18)
Followed up with a dominant 22-6 technical fall over Illinois’ Isaiah Pettigrew (Feb. 18)
Opened Big Ten Championships with a win by fall over Vanadia
Punched his ticket to his first NCAA tournament with an 8-3 win against Sollars at the conference tournament
Victorious at NCAA Championship debut, battling a 4-3 decision win against Franklin & Marshall’s John Crawford

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2022-23)

Opened the year competing at 197 pounds before moving down to 184 pounds
Finished the year with a 19-18 record and winning seven matches by major decision
In his 184-pound debut, he notched a pair of wins by major decision en route to an eighth-place finish at the Midlands Championships (Dec. 29)
Put up back-to-back wins by major decision to close the regular season by blanking NIU’s Matt Zuber 8-0 (Feb. 10) and then earned an 11-3 win over Purdue’s Ben Vanadia (Feb. 12) in his first conference dual action
Picked up a pair of decision wins over Maryland’s Kevin Makosy ahead of an 11-3 major decision against Wisconsin’s Tyler Dow at the Big Ten Championships (March 4-5)

REDSHIRT SEASON (2021-22)

Closed his redshirt season 17-3 at 197 poundsn while wrestling unattached
Picked up 11 wins by fall
Was dominant at Michigan State Open (Nov. 6), winning four bouts by fall, including triumphs over Big Ten foes Joe Braunagel (Illinois) and Jacob Lee (Michigan)
Went 5-1 at the Lindenwood Open (Nov. 20), picking up four wins
Added four victories at the Cleveland State Open (Dec. 11), highlighted by a 7-3 decision over Bobby Striggow (Michigan)
Finished 4-1 at the Loras Open (Jan. 29)

BEFORE MIZZOU

2021 Indiana State Champion at 220 pounds
Wrestled at Chesterton High School with a combined 124-12 record through three seasons with the Trojans
Posted a 42-1 record in his junior season
Earned Indiana Class 3A All-State honors following both his sophomore and junior seasons, also winning Team MVP in both seasons
Three-time All-Region honoree
Wrestled for Chesterton Wrestling Club from ages 8-14

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