As the PA announcer introduced the 197-pound finalists in a sold-out Madison Square Garden, junior J’den Cox emerged from a cloud of smoke, bolting out of the tunnel along the red carpet that led to the center mat.
In 2014, Cox found success on that mat in Oklahoma City when he won the national title in his freshman year. But this year was about redemption. The Columbia native fell in the semifinals last year.
Sporting the golden Tiger-striped singlet, the 197-pounder became only the second wrestler in Missouri history to win two national titles after prevailing over Penn State’s Morgan McIntosh on Saturday night in Madison Square Garden.
“This one is so great because because of how much I had to sacrifice to and change to make this happen,” Cox said.
The other Tiger to win two titles that was Ben Askren, who won at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA national wrestling tournament at 174 pounds.
Boom!!! Congrats Jden. Welcome to the club. #2timers
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) March 20, 2016
The top-seeded McIntosh defeated him in last year’s tournament in the consolation semifinals. Neither wrestler had suffered a loss the entire season leading up to the championship match.
When the two arrived to the mat, Cox strapped on his ankle bands for one last time this season. It was time for the 197-pounder to put the finishing touches on his masterpiece of a season.
In the opening period, Cox showed urgency with a flurry of shots that led to a shot that finished out of bounds. The match was scoreless after one period. Cox started the second period down and quickly escaped from McIntosh. On his feet, Cox pushed the pace, bobbing and weaving, attacking McIntosh with heavy hands. Leading 1-0 in the final period, Cox would build up 57 seconds of riding time before McIntosh escaped tying the match 1-1.
With 20 seconds remaining in the match, Cox continued to force his offense, grabbing McIntosh’s ankle on a low single He took McIntosh down, gaining three seconds of riding time as time expired to win his second national title 4-2.
“I gave it all I had this year,” Cox said. “I had ups and downs. I just wanted to end on top.”
Cox’s second title gives Missouri seven individual titles. The Tigers now have had three straight national champions. Drake Houdashelt won last season at 149 pounds. Cox also secured All-American honors for the third time in his collegiate career, becoming the fourth Mizzou wrestler in the program’s history to do so.
Congrats to @SuperstarW14T, special young man. Proud of @MizzouWrestling this weekend. St. Louis 2017 be ready #TigerStyle nation is coming!
— Brian Smith (@mutigerstyle) March 20, 2016
Missouri finished sixth overall in the team standings with 74.5 points. The Tigers went 4-3 on the final day of the national tournament. Junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes won both of his matches Saturday. He revenged his only loss of the tournament in his third-place match, defeating Anthony Collica of Oklahoma State, 3-2. Collica gave Mayes his only loss of the tournament Friday in the quarterfinals. Mayes also earned a pin in the consolation semifinals, as did his teammate Daniel Lewis at 165 pounds. Lewis finished in fourth place, falling to Ohio State’s Bo Jordan. Willie Miklus finished in sixth place at 184 pounds.
Mizzou will return seven of their nine qualifiers next season. All-American Joey Lavalle will also return to the Tigers lineup at 157 pounds. Lavalle redshirted this season. Columbia native and four-time Missouri high school state champion Jaydin Clayton is expected to make his collegiate debut next season. Clayton redshirted this season.
And as for Cox, he isn’t done yet.
“Next year I want to dominate the NCAA Finals and win the Hodge Award (as the nation’s best wrestler), be a part of some special and be recognized as the best,” he said after the match.
"Next year I want to dominate the NCAA Finals and win the Hodge Award, be a part of some special and be recognized as the best." -Cox
— #TigerStyle (@MizzouWrestling) March 20, 2016
