Stepping into center circle during the two-day event will be nearly 500 wrestlers, 81 of which are ranked in the top 20 at their respective weight class. Three grapplers ranked No. 1 in the nation take to the mats, including Ben Askren (174), Shawn Bunch of Edinboro (133) and Eric Tannenbaum of Michigan (149).
Looking to continue his success at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Askren, a junior, will defend his 2004 title when facing off against the toughest competition he has wrestled against to this point in the season. The 174-pound division includes eight wrestlers ranked in the top 20, Askren is one of two Missouri wrestlers still among the list of unbeaten grapplers, having compiled a 10-0 record to open the campaign. Along the way, Askren, one of three team captains, has pinned nine opponents and earned two tournament titles, the CMSU Open and the Missouri Open.
Unbeaten Matt Pell, ranked No. 5 in the nation at 165 pounds, looks to improve on a 2004 outing in which he finished fifth at 184 pounds. Wrestling two weight classes lower as a junior, Pell enters the tournament as the top-ranked grappler in the 165-pound bracket.
Several other Missouri wrestlers look to make an impact on the national stage, led by sophomore team captain Tyler McCormick at 133 pounds. McCormick enters the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with a 3-1 record, his only loss coming in the championship bout of the Missouri Open, 9-4, to Bunch, the top wrestler in the nation at his weight class.
Competing at 141 pounds, senior Chris McCormick finished seventh at the Invitational in 2004 and hopes to improve on that showing this weekend. Ranked No. 19 in the nation, McCormick has compiled a 13-1 record. Like every Tiger to shake hands in center circle this weekend, McCormick faces a tough bracket that features five grapplers among the top 20.
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