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Updated 2/20/2014

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLING RANKINGS

Northern Iowa maintains lead over Missouri as favorite in narrow Conference rankings

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches announced the second February weight class individual rankings in conjunction with the league office today. Based on the individual rankings, the Northern Iowa Panthers remain in the top spot ahead of Missouri and were selected first overall in the Conference and will look to defeat the defending MAC tournament champions, Missouri.

The second February rankings were very close as two and one-half points separated first-place Northern Iowa (20.0 points) and second-place Missouri (17.5 points). Within the Conference rankings, only five and one-half points separated the top five positions as Ohio (15.0 points) ranked third and both Central Michigan (14.5 points) and Old Dominion (14.5 points) were tied for fourth place.

Coming off a successful 2012-13 wrestling season that witnessed a Conference-best 11 All-Americans and 40 wrestlers seeded in the 2013 NCAA Wrestling Championship, the momentum for MAC wrestling continues to rise as the Conference welcomes affiliate members Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion for the 2013-14 regular season and 2014 MAC Wrestling Tournament.

In the fall of 2012, the MAC announced the addition of Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion as affiliate members in the sport of wrestling. All three universities joined the MAC with five-year agreements, as Missouri and Northern Iowa joined the MAC for the 2013 conference tournament and then to participate in regular season and tournament action for the next four consecutive years (2013-14 season thru 2016-17 academic season). Old Dominion joins the MAC for the regular season and tournament action this season through the 2017-18 academic season.

The rankings will be released each month throughout the season, with one additional ranking system (two total) in January and February. The 2014 rankings, voted on by the league’s head coaches in an open forum are as follows:

2013-14 MAC Weight Class: Second February Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Freshman); 2. Jared Germaine (Eastern Michigan, Senior); 3. Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion, Freshman); 4. Corey Keener (Central Michigan, Freshman).

133 – 1. Joe Colon (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Joe Roth (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Vinnie Pizzuto (Eastern Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Mac McGuire (Kent State, Sophomore).

141 – 1. Chris Mecate (Old Dominion, Sophomore); 2. Zach Horan (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 3. Joey Lazor (Northern Iowa, Senior); t4. Tyler Small (Kent State, Junior); t4. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman).

149 – 1. Drake Houdashelt (Missouri, Junior); 2. Tywan Claxton (Ohio, Junior); 3. Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion, Sophomore); 4. Michael DePalma (Kent State, Sophomore).

157 – 1. Ian Miller (Kent State, Sophomore); t2. Luke Smith (Central Michigan, Sophomore); t2. Tristan Warner (Old Dominion, Junior); 4. Joey Lavallee (Missouri, Freshman).

165 – 1. Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa, Freshman); 2. Zach Toal (Missouri, Senior); 3. Harrison Hightower (Ohio, Junior); 4. Nick Becker (Central Michigan, Freshman).

174 – 1. Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan, Junior); 2. Billy Curling (Old Dominion, Senior); 3. Cody Walters (Ohio, Sophomore); 4. Cody Caldwell (Northern Iowa, Sophomore).

184 – 1. Ryan Loder (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Johnny Eblen (Missouri, Junior); 3. Sam Wheeler (Kent State, Sophomore); 4. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Redshirt Freshman).

197 – 1. Phil Wellington (Ohio, Sophomore); 2. J’den Cox (Missouri, Freshman); 3. Cole Baxter (Kent State, Sophomore); 4. Nick Whitenburg (Eastern Michigan, Senior).

HWT – 1. Jeremy Johnson (Ohio, Senior); 2. Devin Mellon (Missouri, Junior); 3. Jared Torrence (Northern Illinois, Senior); 4. Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa, Sophomore).

The team rankings were also decided in the same forum. The nine schools were ranked based on the number of first through fourth-place votes that were earned in the individual voting system. A first-place vote was worth four team points; a second-place vote earned three team points; third-seeded votes were worth two team points, while a fourth-place tally earned one point in the team ranking system. The team rankings for the MAC are as follows:

2014 MAC Rankings Poll – Second February Rankings
1. Northern Iowa (20.0)
2. Missouri (17.5)
3. Ohio (15.0)
t4. Central Michigan (14.5)
t4. Old Dominion (14.5)
6. Kent State (10.5)
7. Eastern Michigan (6.0)
8. Northern Illinois (2.0)
9. Buffalo (0.0)

The 2014 MAC Wrestling Championships will be held March 8-9 and hosted by Kent State University.

Last year, Missouri ended Central Michigan’s eleven-year run as Conference Tournament Champions. Missouri finished with 136 points, followed by second-place Central Michigan (88 points) and third-place Northern Iowa (83 points).

- See more at: http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Art ... alQ1k.dpuf

M I Z

Missouri takes second straight MAC title

Updated: March 9, 2014
By Tony Randazzo
Missouri Sports Information

KENT, Ohio – For the third time in as many years, the Tigers are conference champions. Mizzou posted 118.5 team points en route to the 2014 Mid-American Conference title, their second title since joining the MAC as an affiliate member last year. The squad placed all 10 grapplers in the top six, and crowned two individual champions in Drake Houdashelt and J’den Cox. Seven Tigers booked their trips to the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City throughout the tournament.

Brackets & Results

“I’m really proud of the way this team kept fighting,” said Head Coach Brian Smith following the Championships. “To have five freshman in the lineup and to keep competing at a high level really shows our maturity as a program. I’m shocked, but I shouldn’t be. We believe in this team. They showed everyone why today.”

After a couple of tough losses early in the placement rounds for first, third and fifth, Houdashelt turned the tide with an overtime win against Alex Richardson (ODU) in the championship bout. The victory clinched his third individual title since entering the Tigers starting lineup in 2012. His takedown with 16 seconds left in sudden victory gave the Tigers some life.

With Northern Iowa holding a comfortable lead in team points, Mizzou needed a lot of help. They decided to create their own, winning placement matches at 157, 174 and 184 with bonus points, closing the gap on their new MAC-rivals.

True freshman Joey Lavallee followed up Houdashelt’s title with a pin over Tristan Warner (ODU) at 4:13. Then, after a Zach Toal decision over Shaun’Qae McMurtry (NIU) in a rematch from Saturday, Mikey England pinned two-seed Caleb Marsh from Kent State, a guy he fell tojust a couple of weeks ago 2-0. Suddenly, the Tigers were within striking distance.

“I honestly thought we were out of the team race after the first few weight classes, said Smith. “We started to focus on getting guys to qualify for NCAAs, and we really thought it was over. But they never stopped battling.”

Down two team points to UNI, Cody Johnston took the mat against Ryan Garringer of Ohio in the 184-pound fifthplace match. On the adjacent mat, UNI had All-American Ryan Loder wrestling in the 184-pound championship. A win by decision and a Loder loss would tie the scores up, however a win in bonus points would make things interesting. Johnston, who was notified Wednesday that he would replace the injured Johnny Eblen, would proceed to tech fall Garringer in 5:21, 18-2. And then, Loder lost toODU’s Jack Dechow in sudden victory. Mizzou had taken a 115.5 – 114.0 lead over UNI, their first lead of the tournament.

J’den Cox’s major decision in the title match over Phil Wellington (Ohio) closed the door on the rest of the nine-team field. Cox dominated Wellington in a 10-1 bout to avenge his lone MAC loss from back in December. His major gave Mizzou an extra team point to seal it, giving the Tigers their second-consecutive MAC title. Cox went a perfect 3-0 on the weekend winning by a technical fall and two major decisions. Theconference named Mizzou’s true freshman the tournament’s ‘Most Outstanding Wrestler’ following his performance.

Junior Devin Mellon would finish second at heavyweight after falling to Ohio’s Jeremy Johnson. Johnson ranks No. 11 in the nation at 285 pounds.

All 10 Mizzou starters placed in the top-six in their respective brackets. Seven grapplers are headed to the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City later this month following their MAC finishes. The other three still have a shot to get a wild card bid, which will be announced later this week by the NCAA.

Last year at the Mid-American Conference tournament, the Missouri Wrestling program dominated the eight-team field on their way to being crowned MAC Champions in their first year as an affiliate member of the conference. The Tigers dethroned CentralMichigan, who had been MAC Champions for 11-straight seasons. Mizzou shattered the previously held team score high at the Championships, posting 136.0 points while crowning four individual champions.

TEAM SCORES

1. Missouri …………………….118.5
2. Northern Iowa …………….116
3. Old Dominion ……………..97
4. Ohio ………………………….94.5
5. Central Michigan…………85.5
6. Kent State ………………….67
7. Eastern Michigan ………..57.5
8. Northern Illinois…………..50
9. Buffalo……………………….12.5