Where to Watch: February 1st, 7PM CT on ESPN+
On a three match win streak, the Tigers hit the road to the Sooner state for a pair of duals against new SEC rivals Oklahoma and red hot OK State. Oklahoma has a solid team this season having rebounded from some transfer losses. They have a number of wrestlers who are lower in the rankings but can threaten some of the top wrestlers.
Missouri has been wrestling well as of late but will likely be missing starters Keegan O’Toole and Colton Hawks. This is the team’s first two-day weigh in this season, another potential challenge for the young team. With back to back duals there’s a chance the team could use Aeoden Sinclair’s last date for both duals, but no guarantee. While hitting 0.500 in duals this season seems unlikely, the team can still keep up the positive momentum to kick off February.
125lbs: #32 Gage Walker (10-6) vs #28 Antonio Lorenzo (12-6)
Walker gets an underrated test in sixth year senior Lorenzo. A transfer from Cal Poly, Lorenzo was a two-time qualifier before not competing last season. This year he is low in the rankings but beat Jore Volk early in the year. He can keep matches close against tough competition and also beat Noah Surtin in 2023.
Walker has shown good but infrequent offense in neutral, and this match could test that again. His work on top seems to only be getting better, so a turn could blow a match like this open. He seemed to fade against Strickenberger and wasn’t able to get a takedown, so if Walker is unprepared he could have a tough match against Lorenzo. I think Walker is able to get the win here, and if he can put up a takedown or two that would be an impressive win.
Prediction: Gage Walker Dec. Antonio Lorenzo (MIZ 3 OU 0)
133lbs: Kade Moore (11-12) vs #23 Cleveland Belton (9-5)
Another transfer, Belton was a two-time qualifier for Oregon State at 141. He made the bloodround last season and has had mostly solid results this year. He is coming off back to back bonus point losses to top 15 wrestlers and a great step up in competition. Moore has looked good in his last handful of matches, but it has been mostly unranked wrestlers. Belton is lanky and has good neutral offense, which should create some fun scrambles.
