Missouri's Grant Leeth defeated Max Thomsen 4-3 at 149 pounds (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- No. 3 Mizzou Wrestling (19-0, 7-0 MAC) closed the regular season portion of its schedule with a 23-9 road win over No. 13 Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon at the West Gymnasium in Cedar Falls, Iowa. With the win, Mizzou finishes the regular season with a perfect 19-0 mark in duals, the second time in program history the Tigers have finished a season with a perfect record. Mizzou also posted a perfect season in 2014-15, when the Tigers went 24-0 en route to a NWCA National Duals title.
Mizzou's win over the No. 13-ranked Panthers marked its eighth win over a ranked opponent this season, the most since the Tigers defeated nine ranked opponents in 2014-15.
Four Tigers closed the season with a perfect record in dual competition. Redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) went 18-0 and redshirt senior 157-pounder Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nev.) went 17-0, while redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth (Kearney, MO.) each went 16-0.
DUAL RECAP
After dropping the opening bout, Mizzou responded once again, winning six straight matches to open a 20-3 lead over the Panthers. Two Tigers - redshirt junior 133-pounder John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo.) and Lavallee - won matches by bonus points during the six-match win streak. Wrestling in his home state, redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa) closed out the winning for Mizzou, as the two-time All-American defeated No. 14-ranked Jacob Holschlag, 8-4.
NOTABLE TIGERS
Erneste provided perhaps the most impressive victory of the day, as the Tiger junior upended No. 9-ranked Josh Alber by a 10-1 major decision. With the win, Erneste improves to 8-2 against ranked opponents and 19-2 overall with nine wins coming by bonus points.
Perhaps equally as impressive, Leeth scored a takedown with four seconds remaining in the match to beat No. 8-ranked Max Thomsen, 4-3. The victory was Leeth's 13 consecutive win, and his seventh over a ranked opponent this season. Overall, Leeth improves to 19-2 on the season and 16-0 in duals.
At 157 pounds, Lavallee recorded his seventh major decision this season with a 10-1 win over Logan Ryan. The Tiger senior had a narrow 3-0 lead after two periods, but two sets of back-points swipes heled him secure the major decision. With the win, Lavallee improves to 25-1 on the season, with 18 wins coming by bonus points (seven major decisions, six technical falls and five falls). The major decision was Lavallee's 25th career major decision, which ranks tied-for-seventh all-time in program history.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Brian Smith
On the perfect season…
"It never gets old. Proud of each and every one of our guys. A look at guys like Willie (Miklus) and Joey (Lavallee), who have now been a part of two perfect seasons. They helped set a standard where we expect to win every match and every dual. We competed in a lot of tough environments this season, today included, and to go through a season with many injuries and sickness, it has not been easy. But these guys accomplished that perfect season, and I couldn't be more proud of them."
UP NEXT
Next, Mizzou defends its conference championship at the MAC Championships, March 4-5, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Tigers, who already secured the 2018 MAC Dual title, have won six consecutive conference tournament championships dating back to 2012 (Big 12 in 2012, MAC in 2013-17).
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
Results:
125: No. 19 Jay Schwarm (UNI) dec. No. 29 Barlow McGhee (MIZ) | MIZ 0, UNI 3
133: No. 8 John Erneste major dec. Jack Wagner (UNI): 13-3 | MIZ 4, UNI 3
141: No. 3 Jaydin Eierman dec. No. 9 Josh Alber (UNI): 12-6 | MIZ 7, UNI 3
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. No. 8 Max Thomsen (UNI): 4-3 | MIZ 10, UNI 3
157: No. 4 Joey Lavallee (MIZ) major dec. Logan Ryan: 10-1 | MIZ 14, UNI 3
165: No. 24 Connor Flynn (MIZ) dec. Isaiah Patton (UNI): 8-4 | MIZ 17, UNI 3
174: No. 4 Daniel Lewis (MIZ) dec. No. 7 Taylor Lujan (UNI): 13-10 | MIZ 20, UNI 3
184: No. 10 Drew Foster (UNI) dec. No. 16 Canten Marriott (MIZ): 6-3 | MIZ 20, UNI 6
197: No. 7 Willie Miklus (MIZ) dec. No. 14 Jacob Holschlag (UNI): 8-4 | MIZ 23, UNI 6
HWT: Carter Isley (UNI) dec. Wyatt Koelling (MIZ): 8-3 | MIZ 23, UNI 9
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