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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri wrestling team is set to face off with its first conference opponent of the season against West Virginia Friday, Dec. 2. The dual is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. CT inside the Hearnes Center.
— REIGNING, DEFENDING, UNDISPUTED — Defending national champion sophomore Keegan O’Toole defeated No. 19-ranked Tony Negron by technical fall (17-1) of Arizona State, Nov. 17. The win extended his streak to 34 consecutive bouts dating back to the 2021 NCAA Championships. O’Toole is the top-ranked 165-pounder by all major publications and is ranked sixth by FloWrestling on the pound-for-pound list.
— THANK YOU, JACQUES — Senior Jarrett Jacques continues to shine, jumping out to a 6-0 start this season. Jacques’ six wins lead all starters for Mizzou and with only one decision, he holds an 83.3 percent bonus rate to start the season. Additionally, the senior is tied for the team lead with 91 career wins.
— ALL-STAR CLASSIC — Both sophomores Keegan O’Toole and Rocky Elam competed in exhibition bouts as a part of the 2022 NWCA All-Star Classic Tuesday, Nov. 22. The Classic took place in Austin, Texas and paired O’Toole against the No. 5 165-pounder Dean Hamiti Jr. and Elam versus the No. 2-ranked 197-pound Jacob Warner of Iowa.
Elam was the fourth bout on the card and defeated the higher-ranked opposition with a takedown in the first sudden-victory period. O’Toole had a dominant performance in his later matchup, taking down Hamiti Jr. in a 7-1 decision.
— PREVIOUSLY — The battle of No. 3 vs. No. 5 in Tempe, Ariz. ended in a 19-17 win for the No. 5-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils, Nov. 17. After dropping close decisions in the first four matchups, senior Jarrett Jacques got the Mizzou bench to its feet with a dominant 25-9 technical fall at 157 pounds. Sophomore Keegan O’Toole followed suit, earning a technical fall of his own at 165 pounds (17-1). Redshirt junior Peyton Mocco‘s 14-4 major decision at 174 gave the Tigers their first lead of the night, 14-12, before the Sun Devils took it back in the 184 bout.
Winning his season debut and giving Missouri a two-point lead heading into the final bout, sophomore Rocky Elam earned an 8-2 decision. In the final matchup of the night, redshirt junior Zach Elam was unable to get the upset over No. 1 Cohlton Schultz at 285, as the Tigers fell on the road 19-17.
— ALL-TIME vs. WVU — The Tigers are 2-0-0 all-time against West Virginia. Mizzou first challenged the Mountaineers Jan. 4, 2004, best them 22-15 in Tempe, Ariz. as a part of the Sun Devil Duals. The Black and Gold then traveled to Morgantown, W.Va. the following year and defeated WVU 29-16, Dec. 20, 2005.
— MILESTONE WATCH — At 91 career wins, both senior Jarrett Jacques and redshirt junior Brock Mauller have the chance to enter the exclusive 100-Win Club. The two veterans would be the 29th and 30th members to join.
— TUNE IN — The matchup between the No. 3 Tigers and the Mountaineers can be streamed on FloWrestling.com. A link to the showdown can be found on the wrestling schedule page of MUTigers.com.
— UP NEXT — The Tigers will splits up next weekend, sending a group to the UNI Open Saturday, Dec. 10 in Cedar Falls, Iowa and taking on No. 11 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Sunday, Dec. 11. The dual against the Hokies will start at 3:30 p.m. CT.
