In a thrilling duel, No.23 Missouri emerged victorious against No. 20 West Virginia with a final score of 22-16. The meet saw intense battles, comebacks and crucial moments that tilted the balance in Missouri’s favor.

The match began with Gage Walker at 125 pounds losing a tightly 7-6 contested decision to No.7 Jett Strickenberger, resulting in an early lead for the Mountaineers, at 3-0. Missouri quickly turned the tide with Kade Moore at 133 pounds , securing a pin against Tommy Maddox with 1:39 left in the second match, giving the Tigers a 6-3 lead.

At 141 pounds, No. 17 Josh Edmond extended the Tiger’s advantage by defeating Jordan Titus by decision, 5-2. The Mountaineers then lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct, revising the score to 9-2 in favor of Missouri. At 149 pounds, Logan Gioffre staged a remarkable comeback from an 8-2 deficit to edge out West Virginia’s Sam Hillegas, 9-8, furthering the Tiger’s lead to 12-2.

At 157 pounds, James Conway continued Missouri’s control over West Virginia with a major decision victory against Sasha Gavronsky, at 14-4. Despite No.12 Cam Steed losing a back-and-forth contested 10-8 match to No.3 Peyton Hall, Missouri maintained a 16-5 lead.

West Virginia clawed its way back when No.25 Brody Conley at 174 pounds defeated Missouri’s Joel Mylin, 12-2 and at 184 pounds No.20 Dennis Robin overcame Missouri’s Jeremy Jakowitsch, 11-2, narrowing the score to 16-13. At 197 pounds, West Virginia’s Ian Bush defeated Missouri’s Jesse Cassatt, 8-3, tying the team scores at 16-16.

However, in the final match of heavyweight, Michael Wolfgram couldn’t continue, resulting in a win by injury default for Missouri’s Jarrett Stoner. At the end of the meet, Moore won his first ever two-time “Outstanding Wrestler” belt. 

The Tigers look to continue their three-meet winning streak as they travel to Norman, Oklahoma to face No. 22 Oklahoma on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. 

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com 

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com