No. 3 Ranked Missouri Remains Undefeated
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Three Tigers scored bonus points as No. 3 Mizzou Wrestling (18-0, 7-0 MAC) defeated SIU Edwardsville (6-13, 4-3 SoCon) on Wednesday night at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center. Mizzou overcame a 9-0 deficit for the second time in three matches to seal the victory, winning eight consecutive bouts to close the dual.
With the win, Mizzou improves to 18-0 on the season, only the second time in program history Mizzou has started a season with 18 consecutive victories, matching the 2014-15 Tigers who finished the season 24-0.
Mizzou dropped the first two matches of the dual, losing a decision match at 125 pounds and a forfeit loss at 133 pounds. The Tigers responded, however, winning eight straight bouts to win the dual, 30-9. Mizzou first took the lead after a 20-5 technical fall in the first period from redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nev.). The win gave the Tigers an 11-9 lead, and was the first of three Tiger technical falls in the dual, as redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) and redshirt freshman 184-pounder Canten Marriott (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) joined Lavallee with five-point victories.
Lavallee came out firing in the first period, and never let up, as the Tiger senior scored five takedowns and two four-point near-falls in the first period to record a 20-5 technical fall (2:52) over Karsten Van Velsor. The win was the 10th career technical for Lavallee, and his 107th career victory overall. He now ranks tied-for-seventh all-time in program history in career technical falls, and 16th overall in career victories.
Lewis moved into the program top-10 list with his ninth career technical fall, as the Tiger junior continued his perfect season with a 16-0 technical fall (5:49) over Bryce Shewan. The two-time All-American is now 25-0 on the season, and 17-0 in duals, with 22 of his wins coming by bonus points. His nine career technical falls rank tied-for-tenth all-time in program history.
Marriott recorded his fourth technical fall of the season with an 18-3 win (6:26) over Jacob Godinez. The Tiger freshman improves to 22-4 on the season, and 14-3 in duals with the victory.
