Missouri Wrestling
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pure domination was on display from Mizzou Wrestling at the Hearnes Center on Friday as No. 4 Mizzou [6-0] defeated Buffalo [6-5] by a final score of, 32-6. Mizzou competed alongside with Mizzou Gymnastics, a part of the Beauty and the Beast event. The victory improved #TigerStyle’s dual win streak to 34.
The Tigers set the tone early, winning the first five matches by decision. Redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.) started the night off for Mizzou with a 7-3 decision over Kyle Akins. Next, redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) defeated Bryan Lantry, 5-0.
Redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.) found himself in a close-fought bout with Colten Cotton. Mayes trailed 6-2 in the first period and 7-4 after two periods, but the undefeated Mayes used three takedowns to grab the lead late and sneak out a 13-10 win. With the win, Mayes improves to 15-0 on the season and 6-0 in duals.
Making their first dual starts of the season, redshirt junior 141-pounder Cole Baumgartner (Jefferson City, Mo.) and redshirt senior 157-pounder Le’Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.) each earned decision victories. Baumgartner earned his victory by a score of, 3-0, over Brandon Lapi, and Barnes beat Tim Schaefer with a 6-1 win. Barnes’ win gave Mizzou a 15-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Following the break, Mizzou picked up the momentum, rattling off three bouts decided by bonus points in the last five matches. Beginning with redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), who picked up a major decision, winning, 11-2, over Rrok Ndokaj. Next, redshirt senior 174-pounder Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.) defeated Muhamed McBryde, 8-2.
Riding a 22-0 lead, redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa) earned a win by technical fall, 19-4, over Joe Ariola. Miklus picked up a near-fall near the end of the third period and riding time gave him the technical fall. Junior 197-pounder J’den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) picked up a takedown 20 seconds into his match with James Benjamin, earned three more takedowns in the second period, and grabbed a near-fall in the third period to earn a technical fall, 19-4, at 5:37. The win was Cox’s 90th career win.
The Tigers will wrestle again on Sunday, Jan. 10 when they take on No. 14 Cornell in Jesse Auditorium. The dual will begin at 1 PM CT and will be streamed on the Mizzou Network.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Match-by-Match Results
125: Barlow McGhee (Mizzou) def. Kyle Akins (Buffalo) by 7-3 decision
133: Zach Synon (Mizzou) def. Bryan Lantry (Buffalo) by 5-0 decision
141: Cole Baumgartner (Mizzou) def. Brandon Lapi (Buffalo) by 3-0 decision
149: Lavion Mayes (Mizzou) def. Colt Cotten (Buffalo) by 13-10 decision
157: Le’Roy Barnes (Mizzou) def. Timothy Schaefer (Buffalo) by 6-1 decision
165: Daniel Lewis (Mizzou) def. Rrok Ndokaj (Buffalo) by 11-2 major decision
174: Blaise Butler (Mizzou) def. Muhamed McBryde (Buffalo) by 8-2 decision
184: Willie Miklus (Mizzou) def. Joe Ariola (Buffalo) by 19-4 technical fall (7:00)
197: J’den Cox (Mizzou) def. James Benjamin (Buffalo) by 19-4 technical fall (5:37)
HWT: Jake Gunning (Bufalo) def. James Romero (Mizzou) by fall (2:29)