Michael Smith
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – At the Joe Parisi Open on Saturday, 38 teams had wrestlers compete in more than 1,500 matches on 13 mats, but no team came away more victorious than Mizzou Wrestling. In all, #TigerStyle walked away from the Open, hosted on Lindenwood’s campus, with five championships, including four in the elite division.
The highlight moment of the night came from redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.), who upset the No. 2-ranked Zeke Moisey from West Virginia by way of major decision, 14-4, to capture the 125 pound championship. Immediately following the win, teammates junior 197-pounder J’den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.) (who both won championships of their own), embraced McGhee on a group bear-hug, showing their excitement for the great win. The victory over Moisey capped an impressive day for McGhee, who won five matches on the day. McGhee recorded two technical falls and two major decisions in the five wins.
Barlow McGhee, 125 pound champion by way of major decision, 14-4 over Zeke Moisey (WVU). #TigerStyle #MIZ pic.twitter.com/Wgbv7seGCp
— Mizzou Wrestling (@MizzouWrestling) November 22, 2015
The 133-pound championship featured two Tigers, as freshman Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt junior Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) squared off against one another. The two, who have to be familiar with one another from practicing against each other every day, batted to a 5-3 decision, won by the young Tiger Eierman. Eierman won four matches on the day, two by major decision and one by fall.
Mayes brought home the next title for #TigerStyle when he defeated John Fahy from SIU Edwardsville for the second straight night. Mayes, who beat Fahy 11-6 on Friday night, one-upped his performance by handing Fahy a 15-3 major decision defeat in the championship match. The major decision was Mayes’ second on the night. He also recorded a fall in his quarterfinals match against Isaac Reinemann of Illinois.
Cox, who won a Joe Parisi Championship as a freshman, outlasted Jacob Smith of West Virginia, 2-0, in the 197-pound Championship match. Smith was ranked as high as No. 8 in national rankings coming into the tournament. Cox ran through the competition in route to his title, posted three technical falls and a first period fall on the day.
Redshirt senior 141-pounder Le’Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.) placed second in the 141-pound weight class, falling to Nate Rodriguez of Maryville by decision, 9-5 in the championship match. Three #Tigerstyle grapplers, redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Aaron Asaad (Brecksville, Ohio), redshirt freshman 133-pounder John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo.), and redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), also placed third in the elite division on the day.
In the freshman/sophomore division, freshman 157-pounder Luke Fortuna (Lombard, Ill.) took home the 157-pound title, beating teammate freshman 157-pounder Keegan McCormick by way of decision, 3-2. Freshman Alex Butler (Rockford, Ill.) placed second in the 149 pound weight class, falling to Michael Kememer of Iowa by fall in the championship match.
#TigerStyle will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa next Saturday (Nov. 28) to face the No. 15-ranked Northern Iowa Panthers. The dual is slated to begin at 7 P.M. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
