Tiger Style Turns the Tide with Late-Lineup Surge to Top No. 16 West Virginia, 26-13
Don’t let the final score fool you - this one was a grind until Mizzou’s big men took over.
No. 19 Missouri wrestling picked up its third straight dual win with a 26-13 victory over No.
16 West Virginia, improving to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 action. And while the final tally looks comfortable, the Tigers had to claw their way back after trailing early through the lightweight bouts.
Once again, head coach Brian Smith’s upper-weight gauntlet - from 174 through 197 - proved to be the difference.
Let’s break it down, weight by weight.
125 lbs - No. 22 Mack Mauger (R-FR) falls to No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (GR), 4-1 decision
Mauger went toe-to-toe with a top-10 veteran and held his own. The redshirt freshman showed off his offensive toolbox, but Strickenberger's savvy and mat awareness made the difference.
A well-timed crackdown takedown was the deciding move, and Mauger couldn’t crack his opponent’s defense down the stretch. Still, this was one of Mauger’s sharper outings of the season - a promising sign for the Tigers long-term.
133 lbs - No. 24 Gage Walker (SO) edged by No. 19 Gunner Andrick, 4-2 decision
This one felt like a chess match. Neither wrestler took many risks early, but Andrick turned up the heat late and capitalized with a slick underhook for the go-ahead takedown.
Walker controlled riding time in the second, but couldn’t finish on his feet. Like Mauger’s bout, this was a toss-up that just didn’t fall Mizzou’s way.
141 lbs - Easton Hilton (R-JR) drops close decision to Jordan Titus (R-SR), 4-2
The 141 spot continues to be a revolving door for the Tigers, and Hilton got the nod here. After a scoreless first period, he escaped to take a brief lead, but Titus turned defense into offense with a crafty counter for the decisive takedown.
Hilton pushed the pace late, but couldn’t get through Titus’ grip once he latched onto a leg. This weight class remains one to watch as the postseason nears.
149 lbs - Seth Mendoza (FR) dominates TJ Langley (R-FR), tech fall 18-3
Mendoza didn’t just win - he exploded. After a modest 3-0 lead through one, the freshman hit another gear in the second with three takedowns, including one in the waning seconds.
He reversed position to start the third, then sealed the tech fall with a smooth double-leg. Mendoza’s balance and mat instincts are elite for a freshman.
If he keeps this up, he could be this year’s breakout star in Columbia.
157 lbs - Watters shuts out Travis
This one was all Watters. The hand-fighting was heavy, but Watters picked his spots and executed cleanly.
Travis has the technical chops, but against ranked competition, he’s struggled to finish. Injuries dating back to his Oklahoma State days may still be limiting his explosiveness.
165 lbs - J Conway (R-JR) wins via injury default over Shawn Taylor (R-FR)
Down 12-5 heading into the upper weights, Mizzou needed a spark - and got one, albeit in unfortunate fashion. Conway landed a big takedown early, and Taylor’s head hit the mat hard.
He entered concussion protocol and had to default. That six-point swing was crucial, cutting the deficit to just two and flipping the momentum in Mizzou’s favor.
174 lbs - No. 9 Cam Steed (R-JR) pins No. 13 Brody Conley (R-JR) in 24 seconds
Talk about a momentum shift. Steed wasted no time - 24 seconds in, he caught an underhook and drove Conley straight to his back for the fall.
That’s a top-15 opponent, and Steed made it look easy. He’s starting to heat up at just the right time, much like he did last season.
184 lbs - No. 3 Aeoden Sinclair (R-FR) edges No. 20 Ian Bush (R-JR), 2-1 decision
This was a grinder. Sinclair didn’t light up the scoreboard, but his control was the difference.
He rode Bush out in the second and earned his own escape in the third, using riding time to avoid overtime. Bush’s defense was stout, but Sinclair stayed composed and found a way - the mark of a top-tier wrestler.
197 lbs - No. 9 Evan Bates (R-SR) beats No. 14 Rune Lawrence (R-FR), 7-4 decision
Bates came out firing and never looked back. Two first-period takedowns gave him the cushion he needed, and his defense held up late. Lawrence picked up points from escapes and stalling calls, but Bates stayed in control and sealed the dual for Mizzou with a statement win over a rising freshman.
285 lbs - No. 29 Jarrett Stoner (R-SO) tops Brock Kehler (FR), 10-4 decision
Stoner followed the same blueprint as Bates: build a lead early, then manage the match. He scored two takedowns in the first and added another in the third, while also escaping from bottom in the second. Kehler battled hard after falling behind, but Stoner was able to turn his opponent’s aggression into scoring opportunities.
Final Takeaway
This dual was a tale of two halves. West Virginia controlled the early weights, but once the Tigers hit 165, the tide turned fast. From Conway’s injury default to Steed’s lightning-quick pin, Sinclair’s clutch mat work, and Bates’ veteran savvy, Mizzou’s upper weights were the backbone once again.
Coach Brian Smith has built a lineup that can weather early deficits and close strong - and that’s exactly what they did here. With three straight dual wins and the postseason approaching, Tiger Style is building serious momentum.