Missouri wrestling heads to the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the Big 12 Wrestling Championships March 5-6. The Tigers return as reigning champions after winning the championship in 2012 before joining the Mid-American Conference the following season.
The Tigers have nine ranked wrestlers heading into the championship weekend, with freshman Keegan O’Toole, 165 pounds, ranking the highest at No. 1. O’Toole looks to stay undefeated after his 17-0 run during the regular season.
Missouri has proven that it can wrestle at a higher level after moving back to the Big 12, and as freshman Trey Crawford, 133 pounds, said at the beginning of the season that the Tigers were excited to be back in the conference.
“It’s going to be tougher and harder, but I think that this team’s ready and looking forward to it,” Crawford said. “We’re excited to get back and be facing the best again in the Big 12.”
However, the Tigers have struggled against higher-ranked conference opponents such as No. 1 Iowa State, No. 3 South Dakota State and No. 5 Oklahoma State. Missouri has faced multiple stalemates, missed opportunities to attack opponents and finished close matches that have come down to one wrestler’s ability to pin their opponent.
The Tigers will be returning from a two-week break with hopes to come back well-rested and with minor injuries healed.
If Missouri wins the title, it will be its 11th straight conference after winning the last nine MAC Wrestling championships.
The 10 Missouri wrestlers will be competing for 10 of the conference’s 58 automatic bids. Depending on who wins their matches, the Big 12 Conference will send no fewer than four wrestlers per weight to the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Detroit, Michigan on March 17-19.
The NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet after all conference tournaments have finished selecting the remaining 43 wrestlers. Those spots will be announced on March 8.
Viewers can watch the matches on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
Edited by Riley Gearhart | rgearhart@themaneater.com
