Missouri Wrestling
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Keegan O’Toole To Wrestle For National Championship, Rocky Elam Claims All-American Honors
The Tigers sit tied for ninth place after four sessions in Detroit
DETROIT – Freshmen Keegan O’Toole and Rocky Elam cemented All-American podium finishes as the University of Missouri wrestling program concluded the Friday’s penultimate day at the NCAA Championships tied for ninth place. The action will pick up Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT.
The returning All-American freshmen duo are Missouri’s lone wrestlers remaining in the tournament following Sessions III and IV Friday.
O’Toole earned his first trip to the NCAA Championshio with a gutsy 2-0 shutout win in Session III’s quarterfinals against No. 7 Carson Kharchla (OHST) and a 4-0 shutout in the semifinals against No. 6 Cameron Amine (MICH). Garning his second All-American honors, O’Toole has yet to give up a point in the tournament.
Elam rebounded from a quarterfinal loss in Session III to finish Friday’s action 2-0, including knocking off No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) 6-1 to lock in All-American honors and No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) 3-2 to advance to the consolation semifinals.
In Friday morning’s session, the Tigers wrestled three other athletes through with redshirt sophomores Zach Elam and Peyton Mocco and redshirt freshman Noah Surtin all going 2-0 and advancing through to the All-American round on Friday night.
The round was highlighted by Zach Elam’s back-to-back wins by fall. He first stuck No. 16 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) in 5:58 before beating No. 8 Matt Stencel (CMU) in a tournament-best 32 seconds. Surtin also tacked on a fall in the second consolation round, beating No. 17 Anthony Noto (LHU) in 6:40. He advanced to Session IV with an 8-4 victory over No. 23 Dylan Shawyer (RUT).
In the second consolation round, Mocco beat Big 12 foe No. 12 Cade DeVos (SDSU) 6-2 and followed up with a 2-1 victory over No. 13 Matt Finesilver (DUKE). Jeremiah Kent also scored team points for Mizzou, winning the second consolation round rematch against No. 15 Hunter Bolen (VT) by 4-2 decision before falling short in the third round.
Mocco, Surtin and Zach Elam all lost in the All-American round.
Hear from Coach
“We got after it in Session III and lost a heartbreaker in the third round with Jeremiah Kent,” head coach Brian Smith said. ”Rocky came back and beat some really tough dudes. I’m really proud of him to be in a position to take third with two wins tomorrow. Keegan is such an intelligent wrestler; he went out in the semifinal and got to the leg and didn’t get it but went right back at it. It was a tactical match. He’ll be on the attack tomorrow in the championship.”
Tournament Notes
- O’Toole and Rocky Elam All-Americans honors are good for Missouri’s 10th consecutive season with multiple All-American wrestlers.
- O’Toole has given up zero points in four matches in the tournament with three shutouts and a pin.
- Due to COVID eligibility, O’Toole and Elam are Mizzou’s first two-time All-Americans with freshman standing
- With Zach Elam’s 32-second pin, Mizzou holds the fastest three wins by fall in the tournament (2nd – Jeremiah Kent, 0:42 // T3rd – Keegan O’Toole, 0:52)
Up Next
The Tigers conclude the NCAA Championships on Saturday with Sessions V and VI. The fifth session is set to begin at 10 a.m. CT on ESPNU and the championship round at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Wrestling. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Mizzou Wrestling) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouWrestling).
RESULTS
125 | Noah Surtin (18 seed) | 3-2 | ELIMINATED
No. 15 Brody Teske over No. 18 Noah Surtin by 5-3 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 31 Antonio Lorenzo by 2-1 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 17 Anthony Noto (LHU) by fall (6:40)
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 23 Dylan Shawver (RUT) by 8-4
No. 11 Brandon Kayler (ORST) over No. 18 Noah Surtin by fall (5:31)
141 | Allan Hart (9 seed) | 1-2 | ELIMINATED
No. 9 Allan Hart over No. 24 Stevan Micic (MICH) by 7-3 dec.
No. 8 Grant Willits (ORST) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 3-1 TB-1
No. 7 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 7-5 dec.
149 | Josh Edmond (26 seed) | 0-2 | ELIMINATED
No. 7 Joshua Heil (CAMP) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 8-0 MD
No. 23 Jaden Abas (STAN) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 9-3 dec.
157 | Jarrett Jacques (25 seed) | 0-2 | ELIMINATED
No. 8 Will Lewan (MICH) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 4-2 SV-2
No. 24 Doug Zapf (PENN) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 2-1 SV-1
165 | Keegan O’Toole (2 seed) | 4-0 | UP NEXT: Championship vs. No. 5 Shane Griffith (STAN)
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 31 Caleb Fish (MSU) by fall (0:52)
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 18 Anthony Valencia (ASU) by 7-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 7 Carson Kharchla (OHST) by 2-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 6 Cameron Amine (MICH) by 4-0 dec.
174 | Peyton Mocco (11 seed) | 3-2 | ELIMINATED
No. 22 Mason Kauffman (NIU) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 3-1 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 27 Sal Perrine (OHIO) by 15-6 MD
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 12 Cade DeVos (SDSU) by 6-2 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 13 Matt Finesilver (DUKE) by 2-1 dec.
No. 10 Clay Lautt (UNC) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 6-3 dec.
184 | Jeremiah Kent (17 seed) | 2-2 | ELIMIANTED
No. 16 Dakota Geer (OKST) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by fall (6:26)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 32 Colin McCracken (KENT) by fall (0:42)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 15 Hunter Bolen (VT) by 4-2 dec.
No. 10 Taylor Venz (NEB) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by 3-2 dec.
197 | Rocky Elam (7 seed) | 4-1 | UP NEXT: Consolation semifinal vs. No. 21 Gavin Hoffman (OHST)
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 26 Michial Foy (MINN) by 4-2 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 10 Yonger Bastida (ISU) by 1-0 dec.
No. 2 Tate Samuelson (WYO) over No. 7 Rocky Elam by 4-0 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) by 6-1 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) by 3-2 dec.
285 | Zach Elam (16 seed) | 3-2
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 17 Trent Hillger (WIS) by 5-4 dec.
No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 23-8 TF
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 16 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) by fall (5:58)
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 8 Matt Stencel (CMU) by fall (0:32)
No. 3 Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 4-0 dec.
