TURNING POINT
With Illinois still in striking distance with the score at 7-3 in the dual's fourth bout, redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) upset No. 17-ranked Eric Barone, 6-2, to extend Mizzou's lead to 10-3. The win was the third of four straight wins for Mizzou, who had a 13-3 win heading into the halftime intermission. In his third year in the program, Leeth made his long-awaited Mizzou debut in the match. The Tiger junior missed all of the last two seasons due to injuries, but made the most of his first chance on the mat.
NOTABLE TIGERS
Eierman was one of two Tigers to score bonus point victories, as he beat Mike Carr by way of a major decision, 20-11. The Tiger sophomore thought he had fall recorded in the third period, but a video review reversed the original call and the two wrestlers returned to action. Carr then scored an escape, takedown and two-point near fall to pull the score close at 16-11, but Eierman responded with an escape and a takedown to clinch the major decision. Riding time made the score, 20-11, in favor of Eierman.
Lewis was tough once against No. 20-ranked Xavier Montalvo, recording a 14-2 major decision. The only points the two-time NCAA All-American gave up was a takedown in the third period when the score was already out-of-reach, as Lewis amassed 3:12 of riding time in his season-opening victory. In 58 career wins, Lewis has now recorded bonus point wins in 67.2% of his matches (39-of-58).
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Brian Smith
"I loved the atmosphere today. It was really cool and I really enjoyed it. The dual was like I thought it was going to be, a really close dual. Our kids competed at a good level, but not the level we want. I could go through every match and what we need to improve on, but we have to remember it is still November."
On Grant Leeth
"He's been through a lot. Going to Duke and getting injured, then we told him to come home and then he hurts himself again. It's just been a long process. He's been wrestling since he was five years old and has been successful at every level, then he can't do it for two years. To get back in there, and get a good win against a ranked wrestler, I'm really happy for him."
UP NEXT
Mizzou will next wrestle three duals in one day on Nov. 12, as the Tigers will host Central Missouri, Truman State and Missouri Valley at the Hearnes Center. The quad-dual will begin at Noon (CT), and will be broadcast on Mizzou Network.
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. 15 Travis Piotrowski (ILL) dec. No. 19 Barlow McGhee (MIZ): 3-1 | MIZ 0, ILL 3
133: No. 9 John Erneste (MIZ) dec. No. 15 Dylan Duncan (ILL): 5-4 | MIZ 3, ILL 3
141: No. 4 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ) maj. dec. Mike Carr (ILL): 20-11 | MIZ 7, ILL 3
149: Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. No. 17 Eric Barone (ILL): 6-2 | MIZ 10, ILL 3
157: No. 2 Joey Lavallee (MIZ) dec. No. 16 Kyle Langenderfer (ILL): 9-3 | MIZ 13, ILL 3
165: No. 2 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) tech. fall Connor Flynn (MIZ): 24-8 | MIZ 13, ILL 8
174: No. 5 Daniel Lewis (MIZ) maj. dec. No. 20 Xavier Montalvo (ILL): 14-2 | MIZ 17, ILL 8
184: No. 6 Emery Parker (ILL) dec. Canten Marriott (MIZ): 6-2 | MIZ 17, ILL 11
197: No. 3 Willie Miklus (MIZ) dec. Andre Lee (ILL): 3-1 | MIZ 20, ILL 11
HWT: Decue Rachal (ILL) fall No. 22 Austin Myers (MIZ): 2:13 | MIZ 20, ILL 17
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