After a tough loss in their home opener the Tigers host Stanford for the teams Alumni Dual. Stanford is a rising team with Head Coach Chris Ayres having them on the rise as of late. They have two top ten wrestlers along with returning All-American Hunter Garvin and podium threat and previous #1 Nico Provo. Both teams have some lineup questions, with Mizzou almost desperately needing a win to get things back on track. There is a path for a Mizzou upset, but it will take an improved outcome at multiple weights to make it happen.
125lbs: #31 Gage Walker (8-4) vs Nico Provo (0-0)/Wyatt Richter (0-0)
This weight is a big question mark for Stanford, who has forfeited in every dual and hasn’t sent out a 125 wrestler this season. Nico Provo hasn’t competed this season but is listed in their probables for this dual. He made the round of 16 last season and won CKLV, one of the more prestigious college tournaments. He didn’t have the best NCAA’s but would be a favorite in this one.
Whenever a wrestler is making a late season debut it’s always tough to gauge how he will look. I think Walker is good enough to hang with most 125’s, so he should be in this match. If Provo isn’t where he was last season it could be a chance for Walker to get a statement, albeit unranked, win this season. However I’ll take Provo by a close decision in this one.
Prediction: Nico Provo Dec. Gage Walker (MIZ 0 STAN 3)
133lbs: Kade Moore (5-10) vs #10 Tyler Knox (14-2)
Tyler Knox has had a breakout season so far as a redshirt freshman and is a strong podium and sleeper title contender. Both of his losses came at CKLV, but he has wins over Zeth Romney and Drake Ayala this season. He’s lanky for the weight and has a scrambling heavy style with a lot of success. He’s coming off a solid Midlands tournament where he put up nine points or more in each match.
With how Moore has wrestled this season, it’s hard to be confident. He has good offense but hasn’t used it as of late, instead seeming to try and rely on counters and scrambles with minimal success. If Moore can get right this season I still think he can be an impact wrestler, but this is a tough matchup to see it happening in. Knox is tough on top as well, and can put up bonus points. With Moore’s struggles this season I think Knox can get a major here.
Prediction: Tyler Knox Maj. Kade Moore (MIZ 0 STAN 7)
141lbs: #17 Josh Edmond (8-6) vs Jason Miranda (8-2)/Jack Consiglio (4-1)
After a frustrating season so far, Edmond has another potential trap match here. Stanford has used a handful of different wrestlers at this weight so there’s not a clear option. One I don’t have listed is Aden Valencia, a blue chip recruit who has only used three of his dates. As it stands he is staying in redshirt and I’m not sure if they’ll want to use him here. If they do he is a lanky wrestler with explosive offense who will create action in the match. Miranda is an experienced wrestler who hasn’t been able to qualify but is a tough opponent. Consiglio is also a true freshman who has had some solid wins, including a fall over former Mizzou wrestler Korbin Shepherd.