Brett Rojo/For The Big 12 Conference
Missouri Wrestling Finishes Fourth in the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship
TULSA —Iowa State wrestling broke Missouri wrestling's 12 consecutive conference championship win streak and back-to-back Big 12 titles. Both Iowa State and Oklahoma State dominated the Big 12 Conference this season, with Iowa State being the ultimate team winner of the championship with 148.5 points. The win is Iowa State's first Big 12 Championship win since 2009.
Missouri head coach Brian Smith addressed ISU's and OSU's dominance during the Tigers' media day before traveling to Tulsa: "The tournament is going to be very tough. There's no doubt about it. It's one of the toughest years of the Big 12."
Missouri sent two wrestlers to the finals at 165 pounds and 197 pounds.
No. 1 Keegan O'Toole (165) faced off against ISU senior David Carr in the highly anticipated match of the night. These two wrestling powerhouses have a history in the Big 12 and NCAA Championships, with Carr claiming victory in 2023 and O'Toole in 2022. O'Toole has been the NCAA champion at 165 pounds for the past two years.
In a fast-paced match-up, O'Toole and Carr showcased their strength and ability to attack each other. O'Toole’s two takedowns in the second and third periods secured his win over Carr. O'Toole won the title at 165 pounds, scoring 8-2.
In his post-match interview, O'Toole discussed the 'rivalry' between him and Carr, emphasizing that it's built on mutual respect. He attributed this respect to their shared love for the Lord, which fuels their competitive spirit and pushes them to excel every time they face each other.
In another rematch from last year, junior Rocky Elam faced South Dakota State senior Tanner Sloan. The two wrestlers were evenly matched and scoreless leading up to the third period.
In the third period, Sloan was able to escape and hold R. Elam to defeat him 1-0. R. Elam placed second with the loss. The championship final was Sloan's fourth appearance and first time winning the title.
Despite the team loss, the Tigers placed in nine of the ten weight classes this weekend. One was No. 4 redshirt sophomore Colton Hawks (184), who placed fifth in his weight class. Before the Tigers left for the Big 12 Championship, Smith had to decide who to place at 184 pounds: Hawks or redshirt freshman Clayton Whiting. Smith's decision came down to significant wins in the season.
"It's never easy when you have two kids that are that close," Smith said. But there has to be a decision made, and somebody's going to have to sit, and somebody's going to have to go. Hawks had had two top-10 wins and another top-21 [win.]"
Hawks' win at fifth secured him a spot at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship.
Missouri Weight Titles
- Noah Surtin - Sixth place at 125 pounds
- Josh Edmond - Third place at 141 pounds
- Logan Gioffre - Sixth place at 149 pounds
- Brock Mauller - Fifth place at 157 pounds
- Keegan O'Toole - First place at 165 pounds
- Peyton Mocco - Sixth place at 174 pounds
- Colton Hawks - Fifth place at 184 pounds
- Rocky Elam - Second place at 197 pounds
- Zach Elam - Third place at 285 pounds
All nine wrestlers above have qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championship. Redshirt freshman Kade Moore did not place at 133 pounds and would need to receive an at-large bid to go to the NCAA Championship in two weeks. The NCAA gives each conference a certain amount of bids.
Smith is optimistic about Tiger Style's future, as many of his starting seniors are set to graduate and compete for the last time at the end of March. Despite the challenges faced by the young wrestlers at the end of Missouri's season, Smith admires their resilience and will to work.
"[The young wrestlers] were challenged in a big way [at those duals]," Smith said. "They walked off the mat disappointed, but also [saying,] 'Here's what I got to do,' and that's what I love about it.'"
Missouri now focuses on preparing for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship upon their return to Columbia, Mo.
Smith said his approach to improvement is meticulous. He believes that when his wrestlers finish anything, they should go back and note, "How can we improve? How can we do something a little bit better? I'll (Smith) be writing notes coming home from the Big 12 Championship."
The Tigers and the Kansas City Sports Commission are set to host this year's championship. The event, scheduled for March 21-23, 2024, will occur in Kansas City, Mo., at the T-Mobile Center.
Final Standings
- Iowa State - 148.5
- Oklahoma State - 141.5
- South Dakota State - 118
- Missouri - 115.5
- West Virginia - 97.5
- Northern Iowa - 95
- Oklahoma - 68.5
- Wyoming - 68.5
- Air Force - 45
- Northern Colorado - 33.5
