The Open Mat

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Photo: Mizzou Athletics

Missouri takes down Illinois, O'Toole defeats Ruth up a weight

Dec 21

ST. LOUIS -- The No. 2-ranked University of Missouri wrestling team defeated Illinois in its Mizzou to the Lou match in Stifel Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 21. The Tigers move to 5-0, 3-0 in the Big 12, while the Illini are 3-3 overall.

Redshirt junior Noah Surtin earned a 6-1 decision at 125 pounds to get the dual started. Redshirt freshman Kade Moore earned his second consecutive major decision, winning 17-8 at 133 pounds. The Tigers kept it going as No. 20-ranked redshirt sophomore Josh Edmond followed at 141 pounds, defeating No. 18 Danny Pucino by a 10-5 decision. Just before the break, redshirt senior Brock Mauller secured a 14-5 major decision at 157 pounds, giving Mizzou a 14-3 lead.

Coming out of intermission, redshirt sophomore James Conway wrestled at 165 pounds, as junior Keegan O'Toole went up to 174 to take on No. 5 Edmond Ruth. O'Toole went to work and defeated Ruth 12-7. Redshirt freshman Clayton Whiting kept the crowd on their feet, getting the fall against Cooper Wettig. Missouri finished strong with decisions from junior Rocky Elam (197) and redshirt senior Zach Elam (285), giving the Tigers a 29-6 win.

MATCH NOTES

  • Mizzou earned the 29-6 win in front of 2967 fans in the Stifel Theatre and is now 13-21 all-time against Illinois.
  • Surtin, an Edwardsville, Illinois native, collected his ninth win of the season in front of the soldout crowd in St. Louis.
  • Moore earned his second consecutive major decision at 133 pounds and his seventh win of the season.
  • No. 20 Edmond upset No. 18-ranked Danny Pucino to collect his eighth win of the season.
  • Collecting his seventh bonus-point victory and eighth win of the season, Mauller won by major decision at 157.
  • Conway made his first dual-start of his career, wrestling at 165 pounds.
  • O'Toole bumped up to 174 for the first time, defeating No. 5 Edmond Ruth.
  • Whiting collected his first fall of the season and sixth win.


    UP NEXT

    The Tigers will break for 2023 before returning to the mat on Tuesday, Jan. 2, against No. 11 Virginia Tech. The matchup will be at Hearnes Center in Columbia and start at 5:30 p.m. CT on FloWrestling.

    Results:
    125 | (11) Noah Surtin over Justin Cardani by dec. 6-1
    133 | Kade Moore over Kole Bower by MD 17-8
    141 | (20) Josh Edmond over (18) Danny Pucino by dec. 10-5
    149 | (19) Kannon Webster over (22) Logan Gioffre by dec. SV-1 4-1
    157 | (9) Brock Mauller over (30) Joe Roberts by MD 14-5
    165 | Chris Moore over James Conway by dec. 5-4
    174 | Keegan O'Toole over (5) Edmond Ruth by decision 12-7
    184 | (8) Clayton Whiting over Cooper Wettig by fall
    197 | (7) Rocky Elam over Isiah Pettigrew by dec. 5-2
    285 | (6) Zach Elam (9) over Luke Luffman by dec. 1-0