Mizzou Wrestling Defeats Oklahoma in First 2023-24 Season Big 12 Conference Dual-Meet

The No. 3 Tigers dominated 30-12 against the visiting No. 18 Sooners.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — In a heated matchup between Big 12 Wrestling rivals, Missouri wrestling defeated the Sooners 30-12 despite Missouri ending on a forfeited match at 197 pounds, Friday evening.

The win improves the Tigers record against the Sooners to 16-41-0 all-time in dual matches.

No. 5 redshirt senior Zach Elam (185) opened the match with a 2-1 win against No. 14 Oklahoma redshirt senior Josh Heindselman with 1:54 in riding time. 

Following Z. Elam, redshirt junior Noah Surtin (125) got Tiger fans on their feet in a dominating win. He defeated Oklahoma freshman Conrad Hendriksen by major decision 10-1.

After No. 31 redshirt freshman Zeke Seltzer (133) fell to Oklahoma redshirt senior Jace Koelzer by decision 1-4, No. 16 redshirt sophomore Josh Edmond (141) picked up the pace. He was quick to attack following his teammate's slower-paced matches. 

Despite his determination, Edmond fell to No. 14 Oklahoma senior Mosha Schwartz by decision, 4-11, after two play challenges, point reductions and missed calls. Tiger fans were loud and rowdy for this loss. 

Redshirt junior Logan Gioffre left fans on a positive note heading into intermission after upsetting No. 22 Oklahoma redshirt junior Willie McDougald 4-1 in sudden victory. This is Gioffre's first-ranked win of the season.

Following intermission, No. 7 Brock Mauller (157), No. 1 Keegan O'Toole (165), No. 7 Peyton Mocco (174), and No. 8 Clayton Whiting (184) led the charge to victory for the Tigers. 

184 | (8) Clayton Whiting dominates (30) Giuseppe Hoose, winning in a 19-4 technical fall!

MIZ 30, OU 6#MIZ🐯 #TigerStyle pic.twitter.com/sWtvbtVYfZ

— Mizzou Wrestling (@MizzouWrestling) December 2, 2023

"We have a very tough schedule this year, so every match is going to be competitive," head coach Brian Smith said. "Our guys [will] get used to that grind, step up to it, and get more comfortable with it. When I say that, they're going to get better and better. There's a lot of belief on this team in what we can do."

Missouri will travel to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Dec. 2, for the Cougar Clash. Four of Missouri's ranked wrestlers are slated to compete.

Matches are set to begin at 10 a.m. at First Community Arena. The brackets will not be announced until Saturday morning. Fans at home can watch on ESPN+.

The Tigers will return to the Hearnes Center against Wyoming on Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. CT.

Results

125 | (17) Noah Surtin (MIZ) over Conrad Hendriksen (OU) by MD 10-1
133 | Jace Joelzer (OU) over (31) Zeke Seltzer (MIZ) by dec. 4-1
141 | (14) Mosha Schwartz (OU) over (16) Josh Edmond (MIZ) in by dec. in SV 11-4

149 | Logan Gioffre (MIZ) over (22) Willie McDougald (OU) in by dec. in SV 4-1
157 | (7) Brock Mauller (MIZ) over John Wiley (OU) by MD 12-4
165 | (1) Keegan O'Toole (MIZ) over (13) Cael Carlson (OU) by fall (time not recorded)
174 | (7) Peyton Mocco (MIZ) over (19) Tate Picklo (OU) by TF 16-1
184 | (8) Clayton Whiting (MIZ) over (30) Giuseppe Hoose (OU) by TF 19-4
197 | No. 3 Stephen Buchanan (OU) over Jesse Cassatt (MIZ) by forfeit
285 | (5) Zach Elam over (14) Josh Heindselman dec. 2-1

*Rankings according to FloWrestling

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