For the first time since the 2010 season, Mizzou starts their year with a 1-2 record. They dropped their second consecutive dual against a much more prepared looking Illinois team. The bright spots were the freshmen, with Gage Walker getting his first dual win, Aeoden Sinclair with a top ten upset, and even late entry Logan Cole wrestling tough while up a weight.
The down spots were many, starting with Kade Moore and Logan Gioffre having no answers in their matches. Cam Steed was injured and had to default out in a dual shifting result. Seth Nitzel was in another close match but unable to score. Josh Edmond had to sneak one out against Pucino. Even Keegan O’Toole managed to get a major at the buzzer but gave up multiple takedowns.
I’ve said it’s early in the season as a potential reason for these poor results so far, but it’s clear that it isn’t affecting Mizzou’s opponents. Consistently at multiple weights we see the Tigers get pushed to the edge, give up stall calls, and just overall not giving the effort you’d expect in losing matches. Coach Smith said it himself post match that it’s on them to figure it out and get the guys ready, and I agree. I was excited to see the tough start of the schedule and see guys get challenged, but disappointed in the preparation that has led to these results so far, even missing wrestlers to injury.
125lbs: Gage Walker Maj. Walker Caeden Riley (13-2)
Walker got his first dual win and did so in dominant fashion. He got an early takedown and great rideout in the first. He followed that up with two strong tilts in the second period to push it close to a tech. In the third and just needing one takedown Walker clearly slowed down, giving up stall points instead of the tech.
While it would have been nice to get the tech, it was good to see Walker get a win like this. He showed his strength from top, a trait that can be a gamebreaker in college. While Surtin should be on his way back soon, hopefully Walker can use this as a confidence boost and continue to develop and improve.
133lbs: #2 Lucas Byrd Maj. #30 Kade Moore (17-4)
This was all Byrd in this one, who had four takedowns and a reversal for a dominant win. Moore seemed to struggle in every position, as Byrd’s top tier positioning shut down his funk. Moore did get a nice reversal in the second but was reversed right back by Byrd. Moore managed to not give up a tech, but he had no answers in this one.
Kade has had a tough season and all of his losses have come to strong All-American contenders. He’s had some bright moments but overall just no answers for his own offense. I’m not writing him off yet and think he could have brighter days ahead of him, but he is one that is clearly fading in matches and on the losing end often. If the Tigers had an easy answer to slot in instead, I’d likely be calling to see them. Crapps had a strong Tiger Style Invite, but I’m not sure he’s the answer. Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing him at least get a chance if Moore continues to struggle.
141lbs: #18 Josh Edmond Dec. #15 Danny Pucino (8-7)
Pucino had a nice takedown in the first period that was eventually answered by Edmond with a double to tie the match up after one. From there it was Pucino either on his knees or a three point stance and pressing forward with Edmond backing up. There were stalls on Edmond that I don’t agree with, as I don’t understand how someone staying low like that isn’t stalling. Edmond managed to power through Pucino and get a late takedown and hang on for a win, but it was much closer than expected.
Edmond continues to struggle to make mid match adjustments, a problem that has been prevalent in his career. I know he has more offense than just his double, including a solid front headlock series, but we didnt see that here. As he hits rematches and wrestlers with good film study, they’ll replicate Pucino’s strategy. Edmond needs to show more variance in his offense and find ways to score or else he will continue to struggle in matches like this and have much closer results.
149lbs: #10 Kannon Webster Maj. #24 Logan Gioffre (20-7)
Like 133, this was all Illinois in this match. Gioffre had no answer for the lanky Webster and his various attacks. Webster got two takedowns in every period and just out-physicaled Gioffre all match. He consistently hit the same low ankle takedown throughout the match and had easy success. He went to cut Gioffre once, and Gioffre kept his head down which led Webster to post his head into the ground hard and lead to injury time and a penalty point. Gioffre came back to finish, and just barely stopped the tech.
I’m not sure if Gioffre is struggling with the cut or something else, but he looks completely different from last season. He seems to be struggling in the handfight and his scrambling from last season is just not there right now. I don’t know what the reason is, but after two one-sided results with no answers I think it’s time to consider putting in Zeke Seltzer. They’re very different style wrestlers, but I know that Seltzer at least has shown more in neutral offense right now. Hopefully it is just something temporary and we see a return to form sooner than later, as I think Gioffre had a high ceiling last season.
157lbs: #20 Jason Kraisser Dec. J Conway (9-3)
This one looks worse on the scoreboard than it did in the match. Conway got to a deep single off the whistle and was looking to finish, but the dangerous Kraisser hit a high flyer to put him on his back for nearfall and nearly the pin. From there Kraisser had a tough rideout, and threatened a turn more than once.
It was a tough start, but from there I thought Conway wrestled well. He stayed aggressive and got to legs multiple times, but Kraisser had scrambling to stop most of his attacks the last two periods. He got one off a great double in the third and continued to come close after cutting him. If it wasn’t for that first exchange, this was a winnable match for Conway.
Conway is a great example of something the Tigers are missing in other losses, non stop effort. Even when he is in a hole, he is active, taking shots, and trying to score. He hasn’t had the results, but he is close to having a completely different record. He looks coachable, and his improvement is a statement to his effort in the room that I’ve only heard praise for. This loss was tough but I’m not writing Conway off to turn it around this season and start getting wins.
165lbs: #24 Braeden Scoles Inj. Def. #15 Cam Steed
Another just frustrating match with a result that completely changed the dual. Steed was dominant early and got two takedowns, going cut and release. He gave up a penalty point for a forearm tight under the throat while looking for his snake but was wrestling well. He cut Scoles in the first but didn’t go too hard for another takedown, which was a disappointing match strategy.
In the second Steed was on bottom and quickly got to his feet. While there however he appeared to just hope that Scoles would cut him as he was not in a hurry to break the grip or get out. Scoles hit a big mat return almost immediately to a leg turk that led to Steed getting injured.
With Steed clearly in a lot of pain, Coach Smith even used a challenge brick to look for an illegal move. There wasn’t one, but it bought Steed more time to try and get back into the match. Steed returned to the match and got another double, and even locked up a cradle. However Scoles slipped out for a reversal, cut Steed, and then Steed was hurt again. With no injury time, the match was over and it was 6 points for Illinois.
Steed has struggled with injuries in his career and this is concerning. The Tigers do not have depth behind him, with either Joel Mylin bumping up or true freshman Kolten Oborny. If Steed has to miss extended time, which he has multiple times as a non-starter, this could be a massive season changing loss for Mizzou.
174lbs: #1 Keegan O’Toole Maj. #16 Danny Braunagel (16-7)
When just one or two wrestlers struggle in a dual, I don’t think much of it. But when Keegan O’Toole gives up multiple takedowns and genuinely almost gets upset, it’s concerning and goes beyond just the wrestlers.
Braunagel wrestled great and actually scored the first takedown. O’Toole got out and finished a takedown of his own after the first. The second was the same as both wrestlers again got a takedown but O’Toole finished on top with a finish at the buzzer. Up 9-7 with just over a minute of riding time, Braunagel almost got a late go behind for the win. O’Toole did what he does best though and not only got a takedown of his own but straight into a tilt for late nearfall to get the major.
Braunagel wrestled great, and gave O’Toole more issues than I’ve seen in a while. Coming off the 165 finish, I’m hoping it was just O’Toole being a bit flat footed after seeing his friend/teammate get injured. At the end of the day he not only won but clutched up to keep his bonus streak alive. Hopefully O’Toole serves as a wrestler to emulate, as his non stop effort makes the difference in matches like this.
184lbs: #9 Edmond Ruth Dec. Logan Cole (10-3)
I don’t know what the reason for Hawks not traveling with the team was, as he didn’t look injured after the Tech dual. Either way, Logan Cole impressed me. He was making his dual debut on the road, up a weight, against a returning All-American.
The first period was scoreless, with Ruth coming close but Cole never stopped moving and managed to not give up points. In the second Cole got out quickly, but Ruth got back in and managed to get a takedown. Cole still escaped quick and kept the score a tight 3-2. Ruth took bottom in the third, and Cole was riding tough to force a stall. Ruth eventually escaped and twice caught Cole pursuing for late takedowns. While Cole lost, he showed exactly what you’re looking for in a young wrestler in a tough situation and that’s non stop effort. Cole was pressuring, handfighting hard, and never stopped moving on bottom. Ruth was clearly fading but the veteran found a way.
Cole was somewhat of an afterthought initially coming into this season but has forced himself into being someone to look out for. Even in a losing effort he showed a lot of positive things and seems to be very coachable. It’s unfortunate as I think Hawks could have dominated this match with how Ruth faded but hopefully he is back sooner than later.
197lbs: Aeoden Sinclair Dec. #10 Zach Braunagel (16-10)
Coming into this match I thought Braunagel would be a nightmare matchup with his positioning, hard handfighting, and being a full size 197. Sinclair proved me wrong however with a great upset over a top ten wrestler. Braunagel got the first two takedowns and had a 6-2 lead after one.
The second saw Sinclair make adjustments with some great duck unders and get a body lock takedown to make it 8-5. In the third Sinclair got to an ankle for another takedown and quickly cut him. Braunagel got in deep on a shot but great hips from Sinclair and that classic AWA scrambling showed as Sinclair not only got the takedown but put Braunagel on his back. It looked like a pin on the broadcast but Braunagel bellied down after giving up nearfall.
Sinclair has had some growing pains in his first three matches but looked great in this one. He’s clearly making gains every match in his handfighting and scrambling. I still worry he’s on the smaller size of 197, but that’s an easy problem to solve with more time in a college weight room. Sinclair has fully established himself as a threat and one to look out for once he’s fully in the lineup.
285lbs: #10 Luke Luffman Dec. #21 Seth Nitzel (4-3)
This was another razor close match for Nitzel against an All-American contender, with a semi controversial call early. Luffman got a takedown late but Nitzel reversed him almost immediately. From the broadcast Coach Smith was wanting to challenge that it was just a Nitzel takedown, but he had used the brick in the 165 match. That would have gone from a 3-2 score in favor of Luffman to 3-0 in favor of Nitzel, which completely changes the rest of the match.
From there neither wrestler was able to ride for too long. It was mostly Luffman working underhooks and pressuring forward on Nitzel. In the third period Nitzel forced a stall from his attacks, but never got that close to a finish.
Nitzel seems to work best when his opponents engage first, but that’s a tough strategy for consistent success at heavyweight. If Nitzel can improve his handfighting against these larger heavyweights and find a successful attack from neutral, he could take a big jump in the rankings. It’s a much easier said than done task, but with Zach Elam and Dom Bradley as partners I’m hoping we can see it this season.
The Tigers have another short week before taking on a borderline top ten team in Northern Iowa in Wisconsin. With their last two duals being on Thursday and Friday, they have been prime time viewing for wrestling fans with disappointing results. This dual on Tuesday will be no different. With a short turn around and starters seeming to drop like flies, I’m not too optimistic but I’ll have a preview with a deeper dive on what we may see in the Tigers last dual of this month.
*Rankings provided from Intermat