Missouri Wrestling
Mizzou Storylines
• Mizzou and Kent State will meet in a MAC showdown between two teams near the top of the MAC standings. The Golden Flashes have the most wins in the MAC this season to-date with five.
• Mizzou leads the all-time series between the two schools, 7-1.
• There will be three ranked-vs.-ranked matches on the mat Sunday. At 133, No. 11 (Intermat) Zach Synon will face No. 11 (The Open Mat) Mack McGuire. At 149, No. 3 Lavion Mayes will face No. 11 Mike DePalma. At 184, No. 5 Willie Miklus will face No. 20 Cole Baxter.
• Mizzou looks to extend its 32-match win streak. The last time #TigerStyle lost a dual was on Jan. 31, 2014 to Oklahoma State, 688 days ago.
MAC Wrestler of the Week
• Redshirt junior Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) was named MAC Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 16. Synon provided the most electric moment of #TigerStyle’s win over then-No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday when he pinned No. 5 Johnni DiJulius in the third period at 5:59. The Tiger grappler also picked up a 9-4 win against Cameron Kelly of then-No. 21 Ohio on Sunday. Synon is now 12-3 on the season, 4-0 in duals, and ranked as high as No. 11 in the individual rankings (TheOpenMat.com). The Cary, Ill., native has amassed 16 dual points in four matches.
Eight in the Top-20
• Eight of Mizzou’s 10 weight classes were represented in the latest round of top-20 individual rankings.
• No. 6 Barlow McGhee (125 pounds)
• No. 11 Zach Synon (133 pounds)
• No. 8 Matt Manley (141 pounds)
• No. 3 Lavion Mayes (149 pounds)
• No. 8 Daniel Lewis (165 pounds)
• No. 3 Blaise Butler (174 pounds)
• No. 5 Willie Miklus (184 pounds)
• No. 2 J’den Cox (197 pounds)
By The Numbers
• Mizzou has won 32 consecutive duals, dating back Jan. 31, 2014. The last dual lost for Mizzou came by the hands of Oklahoma State, 688 days ago.
Miklus Named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
• After two dual wins last weekend, including a 15-0 technical fall (6:41) over No. 11 Kenny Courts of No. 3 Ohio State, redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus was named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on Dec. 14. The Tigers and Buckeyes were tied, 17-17, with two matches to go when Miklus and Courts took to the mat. Miklus’ five team point’s pushed Mizzou ahead for good, helping #TigerStyle knock off the defending NCAA champion Buckeyes, 26-17.
Romero Earns First Dual Win
• Freshman James Romero earned the first dual victory of his career on Sunday when he defeated James Webb of Ohio by way of a 9-4 decision. Romero is now 10-10 on the year. In eight of Romero’s 10 wins, he has pinned his opponent, ranking first on the team in falls. The Tiger freshman placed third at the UCM Open on Nov. 7.
Mayes Undefeated
• Redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes has yet to drop a match this season, posting a 13-0 this season, 4-0 in duals. Mayes, an NCAA All-American (seventh place) a season ago at 141 pounds, has not had any struggles after being bumped up to 149 pounds at the beginning of the year. Mayes has captured two open championships this year, winning the Joe Parisi Open and the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The final three wins at Cliff Keen came over opponents currently ranked in the top-20. The Illinois native has scored bonus points in eight of 13 matches this season, tallying six major decisions and two falls. In Mayes’ four dual wins, he has outscored his opponents, 52-24.
Scouting Kent State
Schedule Rundown
• Kent State is 5-1 on the season in duals and owns a three-match win streak heading into the dual with Mizzou. In its MAC opener, Kent State beat Buffalo, 28-3.
• The only team to defeat the Golden Flashes this season was Rider on Nov. 7, 18-14.
• In Kent State’s five dual wins, it has outscored its opponents, 181-24.
Four Wrestlers Ranked
• Kent State’s lineup features four wrestlers ranked in the top-20 in the individual rankings.
• No. 11 Mack McGuire (133 pounds, Intermat)
• No. 11 Mike DePalma (149 pounds, The Open Mat)
• No. 2 Ian Miller (157 pounds, Intermat)
• No. 20 Cole Baxter (184 pounds, The Open Mat)