The Tigers have a strong start to their season at the Black and Gold Scrimmage on Oct. 23
As Missouri Wrestling steps into its 2024-25 season, the team’s end goal is a high finish in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Wrestling Tournament, where they finished just short of the top-10 in the No. 11 spot last season.
The Tigers will likely rely heavily on seniors Keegan O’Toole and Rocky Elam to place in the top three. The finishing placement will also depend on having at least five All-American placements, falling back on the other teammates to contribute on the mat. Contenders for those next three spots include Noah Surtin, Josh Edmond, Cam Steed and Logan Gioffre.
The regular season, through both tournaments and duals, could be a preview of what the national tournament might look like.
The team is planning for its NCAA goals, but can’t get ahead of themselves with the start of its season just ahead. The Tigers kicked off its season with the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Oct. 23.
Attendants of the scrimmage kept close eyes on O’Toole and Elam, both four-time All-Americans.
O’Toole ended his junior season as a two-time NCAA champion in the 165-pound weight class. He moved up to the 174-pound weight class in his senior season and made his weight class debut at Black and Gold where he won against teammate Logan Cole by technical foul. Despite being in a new weight class, O’Toole is favored to win another NCAA title this season to close out his college career on a high note.
Elam joins his teammate O’Toole as a clear NCAA title contender in the 197-pound weight class, where he has won against nearly every wrestler around him.
Other Tigers to look out for include Noah Surtin, Kade Moore and Josh Edmond.
Surtin, a senior, is a four-time national qualifier and is currently ranked at No. 3 despite a 0-2 finish last season.
With consistency, redshirt sophomore Kade Moore is expected to rise in the rankings this season despite having a 0-2 match in the NCAA tournament.
In contention for All-American once again, Edmond, in the 141-pound weight class, finished his sophomore season one match shy of the All-American honors, but he still retains his No. 9 rank due to his regular season finish at 18-10.
The Black and Gold scrimmage was also the debut of the team’s eight freshmen.
The Tigers officially began their competitive season with a victory on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Greeley, Colo. at Northern Colorado where Big 12 Conference wrestling kicked off.
The Black and Gold scrimmage, as well as the Northern Colorado match, was just a sneak peek into what the Tigers expect their season to look like. With consistent and healthy wrestlers, Missouri could expect a strong finish in their season.
Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Alana Sheba and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com