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Mizzou Wrestling’s winning streak snapped by Oklahoma

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Missouri and West Virginia compete in a wrestling meet on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2024, at the Hearnes Center. (Cal Tobias/Rock M)

The Tigers lost the first of two dual meets this weekend in the Sooner State

Mizzou Wrestling fell for the first time since early January in a 23-13 defeat to 22nd-ranked Oklahoma Saturday night. The Sooners won the toss up matches and got a big pin from DJ Parker at 184lbs.

Let’s break down the action.

All rankings are according to InterMat.

125lbs: #28 Antonio Lorenzo (OU) over #31 Gage Walker (MIZ), 3-1 Decision

Lorenzo took the opening lead when he overpowered Walker in the final minute of the first period for a takedown. Walker rose to his feet in the final 15 seconds but was returned as Lorenzo rode out the period.

Walker again struggled to get out from bottom in the second period, escaping 45 seconds into the frame. He searched for an opening in the final 1:15 of the period but Lorenzo shut him down with solid defense.

Lorenzo came out on the attack starting from neutral in the third, getting in on a high single leg shot before nice scrambling by Walker forced a stalemate. The Mizzou freshman took a few shots but couldn’t generate any effective offense, another narrow loss to a ranked opponent in his first season as a starter.

Mizzou: 0 – Oklahoma: 3

133lbs: #23 Cleveland Belton (OU) over NR Kade Moore (MIZ), 11-5 Decision

Moore got on the board first in this match, scoring a takedown off an ankle pick in the opening period. Belton escaped quickly and had a double leg shot late in the frame, but Moore held him off until the buzzer and headed to bottom leading by two.

Working from top position, Belton got Moore on his back and came close to scoring nearfall points but couldn’t hold him in position long enough – a call upheld upon review after Moore escaped. Moore then went for a double leg shot, caught by Belton who nearly countered before Moore broke loose.

Heading to bottom to start period three, Belton got up quickly but was returned quickly and came close to being placed in pin position by Moore. But Moore couldn’t quite lock in the pin and got too high up on Belton while trying to ride, leading to a reversal and a four point nearfall for the OU wrestler. Moore escaped with 40 seconds left and went for a takedown, but it was Belton who got the last second score.

Mizzou: 0 – Oklahoma: 6

141lbs: #18 Mosha Schwartz (OU) over #14 Josh Edmond (MIZ), 6-4 Decision

Edmond missed a golden opportunity early in the first period, tripping Schwartz to the mat and getting him on his back for a possible pin before they went out of bounds. He got on the board soon after, though, shooting a double and winning the scramble after Schwartz briefly brought him to the mat. Schwartz escaped before the period’s end.

Schwartz started on bottom in period two and escaped off a restart. Edmond went for his signature blast double, caught by Schwartz, which was the only big shot of the period as Edmond led entering the third.

He scored the quick escape, going up 4-2, and immediately went on the defensive. He was warned and then penalized for stalling, bringing the score within two. Schwartz kept pushing and came up with a clutch last second takedown, getting around Edmond to barely beat the buzzer.

This is a problem that continues to plague Edmond, taking a lead and wrestling well early on before trying to hang on by moving backwards and taking stall calls in the final period. The move has backfired multiple times in the last two seasons and was the cause of the loss tonight. I’ll be interested to see if he changes strategy moving forward and continues to wrestle aggressively to the end.

Mizzou: 0 – Oklahoma: 9

149lbs: #16 Willie McDougald (OU) over NR Logan Gioffre (MIZ), 5-2 Decision (SV-1)

McDougald was cautioned twice early in the third period as he struggled to escape, getting to his feet but going out of bounds several times with Gioffre’s help. He finally got out off a restart near the minute mark, scoring a reversal to take the lead. The action was initially ruled as an escape and takedown before the call was changed upon review.

Gioffre was returned twice by McDougald but eventually escaped to tie the score, and the wrestlers headed to overtime. After slipping away from an ankle pick earlier in the overtime frame, Gioffre was unable to avoid a high single leg shot by McDougald. The experienced Sooner won the ensuing scramble and scored the takedown for a sudden victory.

Mizzou: 0 – Oklahoma: 12

157lbs: NR James Conway (MIZ) over NR Landon Sommer (OU), 8-2 Decision

Sommer escaped with less than a minute remaining in period one, going for a nice single which stalemated after solid defense by Conway. Sommer went back to bottom to begin period two, scoring a quick escape this time. It was the only point in a period with far less action than the first.

Sommer rode for roughly 50 seconds to start the final period before Conway escaped. Conway got in solid position for a takedown with a high single leg, but the action was near the edge and they went out. Conway comfortably held on for the decision and has looked much better the past few weeks than he did at times earlier in the season. Continuing this streak of strong performances could put him in a more comfortable position to make the NCAA Championships.

Mizzou: 3 – Oklahoma: 12

165lbs: #15 Cam Steed (MIZ) over #30 Tate Picklo (OU), 13-3 Major Decision

Steed tried to build up a solid lead in the first period, a strategy which was worked well his last two matches, and took an early shot. The move backfired this time, though, as Picklo countered near the edge, dragging him back to center and tripping him for a takedown. Picklo rode out the period, leading by three as Steed headed to bottom.

Steed quickly flipped the match on its head, scoring a fast escape and striking for a takedown to seize the lead. He went to work on top, adding a three point nearfall, and rode out the remainder of the middle frame.

Starting from neutral in the third, Steed won a scramble to cement his advantage with a takedown and then a two point nearfall. He again rode out the period, securing an impressive major decision after falling behind early. Steed continues to stand out as arguably Mizzou’s top wrestler with O’Toole and Hawks out due to injury.

Mizzou: 7 – Oklahoma: 12

174lbs: #15 Gaven Sax (OU) over NR Joel Mylin (MIZ), Victory by Fall (2:18)

Sax dominated this match from the start, scoring a takedown in the opening 20 seconds and easily turning Mylin onto his back while working from top position for two four point nearfalls. Leading 11-0, Sax began to deliberately work his way into position for a possible pin. He accomplished his mission quickly, getting Mylin in a cradle for the victory by fall.

Mizzou: 7 – Oklahoma: 18

184lbs: #20 DJ Parker (OU) over NR Jeremy Jakowitsch (MIZ), 23-4 Tech Fall

Parker also established the upper hand quickly, attacking with a single leg shot right off the whistle and getting around Jakowitsch for the takedown. Jakowitsch escaped after being returned to the mat once, but Parker added another takedown off a restart with a double leg shot. Jakowitsch scored a late escape, trailing 6-2 entering the second period.

Parker added another takedown with less than a minute left in period two after starting from neutral, riding out the frame for a seven point advantage. Jakowitsch escaped from bottom after roughly :25 to open the third period, then tried to muscle past Parker for his first takedown.

The move backfired, allowing Parker to get behind for another takedown before letting Jakowitsch up to go after a tech fall. He secured that outcome with a high single leg shot, slamming Jakowitsch to the mat for a takedown and adding a four point nearfall.

Mizzou: 7 – Oklahoma: 23

197lbs: NR Jesse Cassatt (MIZ) over NR Seth Seago (OU), 4-1 Decision (SV-1)

This match featured minimal action during regulation, with Seago escaping from bottom in the second period and Cassatt escaping in the third. The first real shots of the came in overtime, where Seago went for a high single leg shot and got Cassatt’s leg, coming close to a takedown before the two wrestlers went out of bounds.

Cassatt made the most of his second chance, going for a double and getting around for a match-winning takedown. Cassatt’s gone up against a lot of top wrestlers this year and taken some tough losses for the Tigers with Rocky Elam out for the season and the staff preserving Aeoden Sinclair’s redshirt, but he came up with the big move to get a sudden victory.

Mizzou: 10 – Oklahoma: 23

285lbs: NR Seth Nitzel (MIZ) over #25 Juan Mora (OU), 8-1 Decision

The action in this match’s opening period starting slow before building in intensity, with a scramble in the second minute nearly leading to a Mora takedown. But Nitzel’s hand was out of bounds, preventing the score – a ruling upheld after Oklahoma challenged the call.

Nitzel came out aggressive after the pause in the action, shooting a single leg and getting behind Mora for the takedown. He had some nice work on top to ride out the period. The second period featured far less action, with neither wrestler scoring as they began from neutral.

Nitzel was let up from bottom by Mora to begin the third period, and the OU wrestler went on the offensive with an ankle pick. Nitzel quickly won the scramble, though, securing his second takedown.

Mora escaped for his first point of the match and went for a high single, but the action stalemated after some nice scrambling by Nitzel. Nitzel, who’s been in and out of the lineup with Jarrett Stoner, added a bonus point for riding time for a strong decision against a ranked opponent.

Stoner has wrestled well in Nitzel’s absence and is ranked by some outlets (including InterMat), but it wouldn’t surprise me if the coaching staff went back to Nitzel as the regular starter at heavyweight following tonight’s performance.

Mizzou: 13 – Oklahoma: 23

Tiger Style drops to 5-8 and 4-2 in Big 12 play after the loss tonight. The road ahead isn’t any easier, either, as Mizzou will travel to Stillwater for a dual with Oklahoma State tomorrow. The Tigers will take on the Cowboys in Gallagher-Iba Arena at 2 p.m., and the dual will be streamed on ESPN+.