The weekend was a successful one for Missouri wrestling, as four members of the team posted top-eight finishes at University Nationals in their respective weight classes.
Junior Dom Bradley, who took first place in the heavyweight class, provided the highlight of the day for the Tigers.
Bradley took home top honors after would-be competitor Jeremy Johnson (Bobcat Wrestling) had to default due to injury, thus marking the third straight year MU has had an individual champion at University Nationals.
Bradley reached the semi-finals unscathed, having won by decision of 6-0/2-0, 1-0/2-0, and 1-0/3-0. Tyrell Fortune (Cougar WC) provided stiff competition in the semis, forcing a third and final period, which Bradley inevitably won 5-0 to advance to the championship round.
The University Nationals Title is just the latest accomplishment by Bradley this season, who has already garnered a third place finish in NCAA Nationals, earned All-American honors, and was named Missouri’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
The junior credited his work ethic and desire to win with helping him have such a successful season.
Bradley may have stood atop the podium, but he was not the only Tiger to turn in a standout performance at Nationals.
Redshirt freshman Zach Toal took second-place honors in the 165-pound weight class, while sophomores Cody Farinella and Nicholas Hucke respectively placed seventh and third in the 145-pound weight class.
Toal took a long, less-than-desirable path to the podium, as he needed to win five consecutive matches just to claim second after a defeat in the quarterfinals bumped him to the consolation bracket.
Much like Bradley had in his class, Toal was awarded the victory after his competitor defaulted due to injury.
Toal was unavailable for comment, but coach Brian Smith said he believes the comeback was a testament to Toal as a person.
“Sometimes tournaments don’t go the way you want, but he showed a lot of character by coming back,” Smith said. “There were some pretty tight matches, but he found a way to win. A lot of kids get down after a loss, but he came back and was probably the best wrestler in the tournament after that loss.”
The performances of Bradley and Toal accomplished more than placing at Nationals, as both qualified for the United States World Team Trials this summer in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Both Bradley and coach Smith said they are excited about the U.S. trials, as both individual wrestlers and the MU wrestling program as a whole figure to benefit from the experience.
“It’s a great accomplishment to have a shot at the national team,” Bradley said. “The Olympics have been a goal of mine, doing that would be something I could say I did for the rest of my life.”
“It brings good exposure to the program,” Smith said. “It shows kids that want to come here that they can reach that top level, that national level. Look at past results; with Ben (Askren) making the Olympic team and Dom winning a world junior title, you can achieve it here. And get a quality education.”