Mizzou Central

No. 3 Mizzou Wrestling Bests Air Force to Continue the Winning Season

The Tigers continue to dominate the Big 12 Wrestling Conference after defeating Air Force 38-3 and improving their record 4-0.

Izabelle Cool

Mizzou Athletics

The No. 3-ranked Missouri wrestling team showed out on the mat Sunday, Dec. 17, against the Air Force Academy in a 38-3 win.

The matchup is the third matchup of all time between both teams. The win improves the Tiger's win streak over the Falcons 3-for-0 all-time in dual matches.

No. 10 redshirt junior Noah Surtin (125) started the dual off strong against No. 30 Air Force sophomore Tucker Owens. In the first period, Surtin led 13-1 after several takedowns and near falls. 

In the second period, Surtin secured his win by technical fall 17-1 with 1:09 left in the second period. Surtin is 8-0 for the season. 

Following Surtin, Kade Moore (133), No. 20 Josh Edmond (141) and No. 22 Logan Gioffre (149) defeated their respective opponents 12-3, 11-6 and 11-3. 

Heading into intermission, No. 9 redshirt senior Brock Mauller wrestled Air Force junior Brooks Gable. Mauller entered the first period with a takedown and two near falls that almost led to a cradle and helped him lead 12-0 heading into the second period. 

Mauller clinched the technical fall to defeat Gable 17-0 with 1:25 left in the second period. Mauller has taken the change in fall points and is using it to his advantage against opponents.

After intermission, No. 1 junior Keegan O'Toole (165) defeated No. 17 Giano Petrucelli 24-12 by major decision. 

No. 9 Redshirt senior Peyton Mocco (174) defeated Air Force sophomore Drake Buchanan 18-2 by technical fall. Mocco got this win after an apparent ankle injury in the first period. While Mocco seemed shaken up, he was able to hold onto Buchanan to secure a win that could have been a medical forfeit. 

Following Mocco, No. 7 redshirt freshman Clayton Whiting (184) fell to No. 10 Air Force senior Sam Wolf 4-1 in sudden victory. The loss was Whiting's first of the season and also the highest-ranking match-up of the day.

To close out the win for the Tigers, Colton Hawks (197) and No. 5 Zach Elam (285) defeated their opponents 4-1 and 15-0, respectively. Z. Elam is now 12-0 this season. 

Next, the Tigers will travel to St. Louis for the Braggin' Rights match against Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. CST in the Stifel Theatre. The dual will kick off the Mizzou to the Lou weekend. Fans at home can watch the dual on UFC Fight Pass. 

Results

  • 125: No. 10 Noah Surtin (MIZ) over No. 30 Tucker Owens (AF) by tech fall 17-1
  • 133: Kade Moore (MIZ) over Gavin Caprella (AF) by MD 12-3
  • 141: No. 20 Josh Edmond (MIZ) over Garrett Kuchan (AF) by Dec. 11-6
  • 149: No. 22 Logan Gioffre (MIZ) over Joe Fernau (AF) by MD 11-3
  • 157: No. 9 Brock Mauller (MIZ) over Brooks Gable (AF) by tech fall 17-0
  • 165: No. 1 Keegan O'Toole (MIZ) over No. 17 Giano Petrucelli (AF) by MD 24-12
  • 174: No. 9 Peyton Mocco (MIZ) over Drake Buchanan (AF) by tech fall 18-2
  • 184: No. 10 Sam Wolf (AF) over No. 7 Clayton Whitting (MIZ) by SV-1 4-1
  • 197: Colton Hawks (MIZ) over Calvin Sund (AF) by Dec. 4-1
  • 285: No. 5 Zach Elam (MIZ) over Antonio Ramos (AF) by tech fall 15-0

*Rankings according to FloWrestling

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Izabelle Cool
IZABELLE COOL

Izabelle is a senior at the University of Missouri studying Sports Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. She's from Kansas City, Mo., and has covered wrestling for MizzouCentral since 2023. Previously, she covered wrestling, soccer, and tennis for the student newspaper The Maneater.

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