James Hackney
#3 Mizzou over #9 Virginia Tech (22-17)
The Tigers split matches 5-5, but bonus points in four of their wins made up for the upset losses as they rallied to win 22-17. The team was upset at 125, 141, and 157, plus missing Peyton Mocco at 174. However Kade Moore not only scored a massive upset, but did it by pin for a minimum nine point swing early in the dual. After going 1-4 in the first five matches, the team rebounded going 4-1 out of intermission with a tech, two majors, and a dominant decision by Zach Elam to win the dual. It’s never idea to drop the close matches they did, but the team showed their depth by still getting the win against a top ten team to start 2024.
125lbs: #10 Cooper Flynn Dec. #2 Noah Surtin (SV 10-3)
Surtin took his first loss of the season here, as 125lbs continues to be the most chaotic weight. He gave up the first takedown but scored two escapes and a rideout to take it to overtime. There they ended up in an over under position on the edge with around a minute left in OT. Surtin tried to go for a lateral drop but Flynn had been anticipating it, getting a bodylock and driving him to his back. A near pin, but Surtin fought off his back to avoid it. While Surtin had looked great with his leg attacks this year, he got away from it here. Hopefully the loss here helps him get back to winning ways.
133lbs: Kade Moore Fall #5 Sam Latona (4:37)
Likely the most electric moment of the night, Moore ended up being the hero of the dual with a pin over two-time All-American Latona. He started the match defending a takedown for nearly two minutes, showing great balance, awareness, and flexibility as he sat in the splits. He ended giving up the takedown, but didn’t make it easy. Then in the second period on top Moore was looking to turn, and hooked Latona’s head to score nearfall. It looked like he was close to giving up an escape or reversal, but Moore swung his leg backwards to scoop Latona’s arm. Still undefeated as a starter, this is Moore’s biggest win of his career….
