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Can Mizzou Wrestling make noise at the Big XII Tournament?

By Matthew Smith

Northern Iowa's Drew Bennett wrestles Missouri's Allan Hart during a University of Northern Iowa vs. University of Missouri match on Jan. 17, 2020 at Hilton Coliseum. Missouri beat Northern Iowa 34-6, then the Cyclones at 31-7.
Northern Iowa's Drew Bennett wrestles Missouri's Allan Hart during a University of Northern Iowa vs. University of Missouri match on Jan. 17, 2020 at Hilton Coliseum. Missouri beat Northern Iowa 34-6, then the Cyclones at 31-7. /
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Iowa State’s Gannon Gremmel (right) wrestles Missouri’s Zach Elam during an Iowa State vs. University of Missouri match on Jan. 17, 2020 at Hilton Coliseum. Missouri beat Northern Iowa 34-6, then the Cyclones at 31-7.
Iowa State’s Gannon Gremmel (right) wrestles Missouri’s Zach Elam during an Iowa State vs. University of Missouri match on Jan. 17, 2020 at Hilton Coliseum. Missouri beat Northern Iowa 34-6, then the Cyclones at 31-7. /

Jeremiah Kent (15 – 6): Sophomore

Weight Class: 184 lbs. – Bids: 4 – At-Large: 4 – Pre-Seed: 6th

Kent comes in with an impressive 9-2 conference record and a recent upset over the 2nd seeded Marcus Coleman (ISU) in their final dual of the season. Jeremiah’s two conference losses came from 4th seed Dakota Greer (OSU) and 5th seed Cade King (SDSU); both by two point decisions. Kent is another wrestler with no room for error on Mizzou’s lineup needing to come in and pull off upsets in a couple matches.

Rocky Elam (14 – 4): Freshman

Weight Class: 197 lbs. – Bids: 7 – At-Large: 4 – Pre-Seed: 5th

Rocky Elam enters the Big XII Championship with an 8-3 conference record with losses to the 1st seed Stephen Buchanan (WYO), 2nd seed Tanner Sloan (SDSU), and 4th seed Yonger Bastida (ISU). He has defeated the 3rd seeded wrestler, Jake Woodley (OU), by a 4-1 decision. Elam is part of a very top heavy conference wrestling bracket. Rocky will be looking to get his second bid in as many years working towards another All-American season for the Tigers.

Zach Elam (11 – 4): Sophomore

Weight Class: 285 lbs. – Bids: 6 – At-Large: 5 – Pre-Seed: 2nd

Rounding out the lineup for Mizzou, Zach Elam comes in with the second best seed on the Tiger team. Elam steps into the Big XII Championship with a 9-1 conference record with his single loss coming to 4th seed AJ Nevills (SDSU) on a point decision. Having yet to meet up with the top seed Wyatt Hendrickson (AF), Elam has knocked off the 3rd seed Sam Schuyler (ISU), 6th seed Brandon Metz (NDSU), 7th seed Luke Surber (OSU), and 8th seed Josh Heindselman (OU) in prior matches this season.

Summary

The Missouri Wrestling team will have a good chance to put themselves in team trophy consideration. All wrestlers must wrestle to their seed and some will have to out wrestle their seed. Top wrestlers such as Keegan O’Toole and Zach Elam will need to help put up bonus points along the way with others on the team picking up where possible.

There is no doubt that Mizzou can make it out of the Big XII with a majority of its team qualifying without needing an at-large bid to get in. Going through the 2021-22 season with a competitive schedule wrestling against some of the top programs in the nation, this team is more than ready to bring some hardware back to Columbia!

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