Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Wrestlers Travel to the "Show Me" State
January 24, 2002 | Cowboy Wrestling
Jan. 24, 2002
Fifth-ranked Oklahoma State (14-3, 1-0 Big 12) will travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on No. 9 Missouri (11-0, 1-0 Big 12) on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m.
The Cowboys are undefeated all-time against the Tigers, 27-0, and defeated them last year in Stillwater, 29-6. Since the Big 12 formed in 1996, Oklahoma State has outscored Missouri 167-36, and have allowed the Tigers to score only nine points in the past four meetings.
"Missouri is an emerging team that is having a great year," said head coach John Smith. "They are coming off a win at the Virginia Duals and we have to stay on our toes if we expect to beat them."
Missouri is currently the ninth-ranked team in the nation, and it is the fourth straight week they have been ranked in the top 10. The Tigers are 11-0 and off to their best start in 34 years. The No. 9 ranking is the highest ever for any MU wrestling team.
Seven of the Tigers starters are ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes. Sophomore Jeremy Spates and senior John Kopnisky lead the Tigers with 16 wins each and were both NCAA Championship qualifiers in the past.
Oklahoma State is coming off a seventh-place finish last weekend where they defeated Pennsylvania, 23-15, in the Cliff Kenn/NWCA National Duals.
"It was a disappointing event for us," said Smith, "but we are not going to let something like that determine our success later on down the road. First place or seventh place doesn't matter, we have high standards and high expectations as Oklahoma State wrestlers."
After the dual, three Cowboy wrestlers will travel to Hofstra to take part in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. No. 2 Johnny Thompson will go against Bedlam rival No. 3 Witt Durden at 133, fourth-ranked Shane Roller will go head-to-head with No. 2 Yoshi Nakamura of Pennsylvania at the 157-pound spot and No. 2 Tyrone Lewis will take on third-ranked Matt Lackey of Illinois at 165-pounds.
