#17 Mizzou (12-7) vs #4 Iowa State (11-2)
Where to Watch: Sunday, February 22nd at 2PM on ESPN+
The last dual of the season has arrived with the Tigers traveling to Ames to take on Iowa State on their senior night. The Cyclones bounced back in a big way from their struggles last season with a healthier lineup and strong transfer portal. They have seven wrestlers in the top ten and four in the top five. Their only dual losses this season have come to #2 Ohio State and #3 Oklahoma State and won their last duals by double digits. Injuries have affected their lineup recently at 133 and 184 but there’s a chance they’ll be fully healthy for this one.
For Missouri wrestling fans, seeing a member of the Elam family in anything other than Black and Gold is a surreal sight. We’ve had the privilege of watching Rocky and Zach grow up on the mats of this state, representing Missouri with the kind of class and dominance that defines “Tiger Style.” The Elam family has always been a cornerstone of our community, as respectful off the mat as they are relentless on it, and that bond doesn’t disappear just because the colors have changed.
While Rocky’s move to Ames for his final season was a significant shift, we remain fans of his success and the legacy he built in Columbia as a 4x All-American. Now a perfect 13-0 and ranked #2 for the Cyclones, Rocky faces Evan Bates in a matchup that feels more like a clash between brothers than rivals. Sunday is about the business of the dual, and Bates has the unenviable task of solving the puzzle Mizzou helped create. It’s a high-stakes meeting where every point matters, but no matter the result, the respect for what the Elams have given to Missouri wrestling remains permanent.
| Rocky Elam | #2 Ranked in Nation |
| Current Team | #4 Iowa State |
| Former Team | #17 Missouri (2020–2024) |
| Accomplishments | 4x NCAA All-American (5th, 4th, 3rd, 6th) |
| Current Record | 13-0 |
| Matchup | 197 lbs vs. #13 Evan Bates |
The Tigers are coming off a good, not great win over the Sooners at home. They’ve had struggles in the lightweights with big matchups here. Most of the lineup has been solidified, but Coach Smith seemed to be open to Max Mayfield returning at 165. Even if Missouri can’t win as a team there are opportunities at multiple weights to be competitive and look for upsets before conferences.
125lbs: #30 Mack Mauger (17-11) vs #10 Stevo Poulin (10-6)
Poulin is a returning All-American after finishing 8th last season and was a two-time blood rounder prior to that while at Northern Colorado. Since transferring this offseason he has had strong results and is 7-1 in his last eight matches including five ranked wins. Last season while in redshirt Mauger was almost teched by Poulin at the Cougar Clash 16-2. Poulin is solid in neutral but excels on top with riding and leg turns.
Mauger has been in a rough patch after losing his last two matches in close ones. His neutral attacks have taken a step back with difficulty getting to his two on one. Poulin is a solid handfighter himself and has an edge in scrambles. Stylistically this is a bad matchup for Mauger, where Poulin just needs one takedown to keep him down for a period. I think it will be closer than last season but with Mauger’s struggles this one could turn into bonus points with a late push.
