Missouri Wrestling
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 9 Mizzou Wrestling season will kick off the 2015-16 season on Thursday, Oct. 5, when the team hosts its third-annual Black & Gold Scrimmage. The event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Hearnes Center. Fans are encouraged to stop by to get their first glance at this year’s team as the event will be free to the public.
The Tigers are coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history after capturing the Mid-American Conference championship for the fourth consecutive season in 2014-15, as well as posting a perfect 24-0 dual record and finishing fourth at the 2015 NCAA Championships in St. Louis.
Three NCAA-All Americans from a year ago will return for the Tigers in 2015-16, including junior J’den Cox (197 pounds), redshirt sophomore Willie Miklus (184 pounds), and redshirt junior Lavion Mayes (141 pounds).
As preseason accolades continue to amount for Mizzou, the Tigers will begin the season ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Mizzou was selected as the top overall team in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll. Two Tiger wrestlers (Cox- 197 and Zach Synon– 133) were ranked first in their respective weight classes, while three others were ranked second (Blaise Butler– 174, Joey Lavallee– 149, and Milkus- 184).
Mizzou will open the regular season on Nov. 20 when head coach Brian Smith‘s squad travels to Edwardsville, Ill., to wrestle Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook (MizzouWrestling), Twitter, and Instagram @MizzouWrestling.
