Mizzou Wrestling’s slide continues in loss to Cornell

Both sides had five starters out as the Tigers’ worst start in over 20 years continues

Facing mounting injuries, Mizzou Wrestling dropped its home opener to 12th-ranked Cornell 26-12. The Tigers’ seven losses this season are the most since the 2019-20 season.

Here’s the breakdown of the action on the mat at Beauty and the Beast.

All rankings are according to InterMat.

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125lbs: #30 Gage Walker (MIZ) over NR Marcello Milani (COR), Victory by Fall

The first two periods were filled with lots of hand fighting and not much else, outside of an escape by Milani to start the second period. Walker quickly tied it up with an escape to start the final frame.

Walker got in the first, and only, big shot of the match. He went with a single leg, nearly getting behind for a takedown before switching up tactics and going with a big move to score the three points. The freshman didn’t stop there, slowly working for the pin and securing a massive victory by fall to open up the dual for the Tigers.

Walker is fighting to prove he’s the future at 125lbs with the medical retirement of longtime starter Noah Surtin and has improved throughout the year. This was a statement match for him.

Mizzou: 6 – Cornell: 0

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133lbs: NR Tyler Ferrara (COR) over NR Kade Moore (MIZ), 3-2 Decision

Kade Moore picked up the first point of the match with an escape to begin the second period following another opening frame with limited action. Ferrara quickly turned the tables, getting at Moore’s right ankle and forcing him to hop around and defend the trip. He scrambled well, forcing a stall and taking a one point lead into the final two minutes.

Starting from neutral, Ferrara won a scramble with less than a minute left to take the lead. Moore escaped with 30 seconds remaining but looked gassed as he couldn’t mount a comeback attempt, dropping this match by one.

Moore remains winless in dual matches this season and has not displayed the lightning fast offense and unique athleticism we saw a year ago.

Mizzou: 6 – Cornell: 3

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141lbs: #32 Josh Saunders (COR) over #14 Josh Edmond (MIZ), 12-4 Major Decision

Edmond struck first in this match with a big double leg in the first 45 seconds, riding for over 30 seconds before an escape by Saunders. The action slowed down before Saunders took the lead late with a single leg, getting around for his first takedown.

He added to his lead in the second period, 5-3, with an escape before another slowdown. Edmond went to bottom to start period three, scoring an escape after 10 seconds when the two wrestlers fell out of bounds.

He then went on the offense, attempting a few double legs before trying to throw Saunders to the mat. The move was a massive backfire, leading to a takedown and four point nearfall for Saunders. He rode out the period, taking a major decision and putting the Big Red ahead after three matches.

Mizzou: 6 – Cornell: 7

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149lbs: NR Zeke Seltzer (MIZ) over NR Mark Botello (COR), 5-1 Decision

Botello escaped after 47 seconds in the second period to take the lead after a scoreless first period, and he remained ahead by one entering the third after lots of hand fighting and no real shots in the middle frame.

Seltzer tied it up on an escape from bottom, setting up another pivotal third period. The Tigers benefited from the big move this time as Seltzer ducked under Botello and secured a takedown off a single leg shot before riding out the period for an extra point with riding time.

Seltzer has, for now, taken over as the starter at 149lbs for Logan Gioffre. This was a much needed win for Tiger Style and a strong showing for the redshirt sophomore.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 7

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157lbs: #2 Meyer Shapiro (COR) over #32 Jay Conway (MIZ), 17-2 Tech Fall

Shapiro got a start fast when Conway went for a double leg shot which backfired, giving Cornell’s title contender the takedown. He rode for over a minute before letting Conway up off a restart, quickly scoring another takedown off a single leg shot. A second Conway escape led to a third Shapiro takedown, who rode out the first period for over two minutes in riding time.

Shapiro added another two minutes of riding time in the middle frame, riding the full period for 4:04 of riding time and a nine point lead entering period three. After a quick escape by Shapiro, Conway got in on a low single leg, his best offensive opportunity of the match. But Shapiro defended well and won the scramble, scoring his final takedown. Stalling calls on Conway, combined with Shapiro’s extra point for riding time, gave the Cornell wrestler the tech fall.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 12

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165lbs: #5 Julian Ramirez (COR) over NR Joel Mylin (MIZ), 9-2 Decision

Ramirez came out on the attack, getting in on a single leg shot and eventually winning the scramble for the takedown after some nice defense by Mylin. He rode out the period for 1:37 in riding time.

Mylin erased most of that riding time at the start of the second period before going for a mat return which Ramirez used to escape and get around for a reversal. He then rode out the period, taking point lead into the final period.

Ramirez went right back on the attack after a quick escape by Mylin, grabbing at his ankle. Mylin jumped over Ramirez to try and defend, and it was ruled a dangerous position to force a restart. Mylin went for a single leg shot late but Ramirez defended it easily, taking advantage to get around for a takedown.

But Mylin had the last laugh, getting an escape in the final seconds to prevent Ramirez from securing a major decision. With Cam Steed’s continued absence from the lineup, Mylin’s fight and ability to ride were promising flashes. But the drop off between the two wrestlers is clear and one of the big drawbacks to the lineup right now.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 15

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174lbs: #13 Simon Ruiz (COR) over NR Jake Stoffel (MIZ), 17-3 Major Decision

Jake Stoffel got the nod at 174lbs for his first career dual meet start after the team announced yesterday Keegan O’Toole would miss the month of January. The freshman’s inexperience showed against a top wrestler in Ruiz, surrendering two takedowns in the first period.

Ruiz added his third takedown 30 seconds into period two before letting him up, trying to work towards a tech fall. He worked his way around Stoffel with less than a minute to go for another takedown, riding the period and drawing a stall call on Stoffel for another point.

Ruiz gave Stoffel the escape to start the third, getting close to his fifth takedown. He added a few more points on stall calls in the final minute, but Stoffel avoided giving up the tech fall by the narrowest of margins. The freshman starts his career with plenty of promise but lots to learn.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 19

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184lbs: #8 Chris Foca (COR) over #9 Colton Hawks (MIZ), 9-1 Major Decision

The only top-10 match in this dual was a must-win for the Tigers to keep their hopes of a win alive. Foca came out aggressive, bringing Hawks to the mat with a double leg. But Hawks displayed some impressive defensive scrambling, getting out of the situation without giving up any points.

The action cooled off until the second period, when Hawks went to bottom. He was unable to get the escape, an issue for the team at times this season, and Foca rode the entire two minutes before going to bottom to start period three.

He scored a quick reversal off the start for a 2-0 lead before an escape by Hawks made it a one point match. Hawks took a few shots before trying to use his strength to get around Foca, a move which proved disastrous as Foca took the upper hand and scored a takedown with four nearfall points. Hawks’ loss sealed the team’s loss in the dual.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 23

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197lbs: NR Aiden Hanning (COR) over NR Jesse Cassatt (MIZ), 2-0 Decision

Cassatt’s match was mostly uneventful, scoreless into the third period after Hanning rode out period two. Hanning escaped 20 seconds into period three and took the 2-0 decision with the extra point for riding time after neither wrestler was able to score points on their feet.

The more interesting part of this match was who did not wrestle for Mizzou. Aeoden Sinclair, the freshman phenom who recently took second wrestling unattached at the Soldier Salute with a win over All-American Isaiah Salazar, has been starting in place of Rocky Elam so far in the hopes that Elam would return midseason.

But with Elam ruled out for the year and Sinclair approaching the point where his redshirt would be burned, the Tigers have a decision to make. For now, it looks like the coaching staff will try to protect that redshirt. Sinclair has a bright future ahead of him at Mizzou and the move may prove to be in the best long-term interest for the team. Not having him in the lineup is another big drop off, though, and the Tigers likely don’t have a nationals-caliber wrestler at the weight class without him.

Mizzou: 9 – Cornell: 26

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285lbs: NR Jarrett Stoner (MIZ) over NR Aiden Compton (COR), 5-0 Decision

The first two periods of the heavyweight bout were similar to the matchup at 197lbs, with a scoreless first period before Stoner rode for the full two minutes of the middle frame. Compton nearly escaped in the final seconds but Stoner held on just long enough to avoid giving up the escape.

Stoner got on the board first with an early escape in the first period. After a stoppage for blood, Compton got in on a single leg shot and made it behind Stoner, nearly scoring a takedown.

But Stoner was impressively able to win the scramble, adding three points to his tally with a last-second takedown and securing the 5-0 decision with a bonus point for riding time. The redshirt freshman might not be able to compete with the top wrestlers at 285lbs, but he provides solid depth behind the injured Seth Nitzel and has proven himself capable of stepping up when his name gets called.

Mizzou: 12 – Cornell: 26

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Even when factoring in Mizzou’s injuries, this was a rough outing for Tiger Style with both Josh Edmond and Colton Hawks, starters who the team will need wins from to have a shot against Big 12 competition, losing their matches. Freshman Gage Walker’s star continues to shine brighter as he grows into the starting role at 125lbs, but the match progressively shifted towards Cornell after the big pin to kick off the action.

There’s still ample time to return key starters from injury, including national title favorite Keegan O’Toole, which could completely change the outlook of this squad. But if the Tigers are unable to return closer to full health, the rest of this season could prove bumpier than its beginning.