No. 3 Wrestling Hosts Air Force Sunday, Dec. 17

COLUMBIA Mo. – No. 3 Missouri wrestling continues its homestand with Air Force coming to Columbia for a Military Appreciation dual on Sunday, Dec. 17. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Missouri defeated Wyoming 40-6 and extended its all-time record against the Cowboys to 9-2. Additionally, the Tigers extended their winstreak to eight straight over the Big 12 foe. 
• Mizzou tallied three falls, a technical fall and two major decisions in the dual and has outsocred Wyoming 68-16 over the past two meetings. 
• Redshirt sophomore Nate Pulliam upset No. 23 Gabe Willochell at 149 pounds in his first start in a Missouri singlet. 
• Meanwhile, redshirt senior Zach Elam earned his fourth consecutive pin and seventh total fall of the season in  41 seconds. 

ALL-TIME VS. AIR FORCE

• The dual between Mizzou and Air Force will be the third meeting between the programs, with the Tigers holding a 2-0 record in the series. 
• Additionally, Missouri has outscored the Falcons 75-12 in team points in the previous two meetings. 

LAST TIME VS. THE FALCONS

• In Missouri’s first trip to the U.S. Air Force Academy, it defeated Air Force 36-9 on Jan. 13, 2023.
• The Tigers totaled seven bonus-point victories including three major decisions, three technical falls and a pin. 

MOST WINS (ACTIVE, 50+)

• Brock Mauller (108), Zach Elam (88), Peyton Mocco (86), Keegan O’Toole (70), Rocky Elam (61) and Noah Surtin (54). 

NEW FACES, SAME FOCUS

• Mizzou has had some new faces in the starting lineup this season, and seen great success from those stepping into the role. 
• Redshirt junior Logan Gioffre began the season at 149 pounds and upset No. 22 Willie McDougald of Oklahoma, Dec. 1, in SV-1 (4-1). Gioffre is now ranked No. 22 at 149 pounds by FloWrestling. 
• Against Wyoming, Dec. 8, redshirt sophomore Nate Pulliam filled in at the 149 spot for Gioffre and defeated No. 23 Gabe Willochell 21-10. 
• Additionally, redshirt freshman Kade Moore earned his first dual win against the Cowboys by defeating Cooper Birdwell 8-3. 

NOT TOOLIN’ AROUND

• Junior Keegan O’Toole is not messing around this season, holding a 7-0 record and a 100 percent bonus rate. 
• O’Toole earned the fastest pin of his career (0:35) over Brett McIntosh of Wyoming on Dec. 8. 

BROCK O’CLOCK

• Redshirt senior Brock Mauller has taken the three-point takedown rule change and ran with it, totaling four technical falls and a major decision in his first seven matches of the 2023-24 season. 
• During his freshman season (2018-19), Mauller earned 11 bonus-point victories over his 33 matches (.33). The redshirt senior holds a .714 bonus-point rate this season. 
• The Columbia, Mo. native tops the team with his four techs and 28 takedowns. 
• Additionally, Mauller picked up his 108th win against Cooper Voorhees of Wyoming on Dec. 8, moving him up the all-time wins list to 18th and needs three more to pass Tyron Woodley (110). 

WON’T ZACH DOWN

• Last season, Zach Elam totaled four falls, one tech fall, and two major decisions, while this season, he is off to a 11-0 start and has nine bonus-point wins, seven of which are pins. 
• Elam’s double-digit win total and .636 fall rate leads the team in 2023-24, and his .818 bonus rate is second on the squad. 
• Furthermore, the Kansas City native is one of six Big 12 wrestlers to have totaled seven or more pins and is tied for fifth in the country with seven total falls. 

MIZZOU TO THE LOU

• Mizzou wrestling will take part in the Mizzou to the Lou series in partnership with the St. Louis Sports Commission to bring multiple sporting events to the St. Louis area throughout the 2023-24 season. 
• The wrestling team will take on Illinois in a Braggin’ Rights dual at the Stifel Theater on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. CT. 
• The partnership is an opportunity to bring Mizzou Athletics to fans in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. Additionally, Mizzou looks to strengthen the sports landscape in the region and grow its partnership with the St. Louis Sports Commission.

UP NEXT

• Mizzou will head to St. Louis for a Braggin’ Rights match against Illinois as part of the Mizzou to the Lou series on Thursday, Dec. 21. The action inside the Stifel Theater will start at 7 p.m. CT and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass.