Upsets and Dropped Matches: Missouri Wrestling in Third After Day 1 of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship

The Tigers will have to work harder and smarter during Day 2 to overcome their point differential between ISU and OSU.

TULSA — Despite an evening of upsets over the Missouri wrestlers, the team is still in third with 85.5 points heading into Day 2 of the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. The Tigers will have to score big tomorrow and secure all of their final podium spots to continue moving up in the rankings.

No. 1 junior Keegan O'Toole (165) and No. 3 Rocky Elam (197) will wrestle in the finals tomorrow, with seven Tigers continuing in the consolation brackets. 

Semifinals: 

In the 165 semifinals, No. 1 junior Keegan O'Toole (165) faced No. 4 Oklahoma State redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik. O'Toole tried to do his signature cradle, but Olejnik pushed out of bounds early in the first period. After a review, O'Toole was awarded a takedown for successfully getting Olejnik to the mat. In the third period, O'Toole stopped Olejnik from getting takedowns over him and won 8-1. The win puts O'Toole in the finals against No. 2 Iowa State University senior David Carr. This match-up always excites viewers as both have battled back and forth for first in their weight classes and championship titles. 

No. 3 junior Rocky Elam (197) upset No. 2 Oklahoma senior Stephen Buchanan 5-4. R. Elam won with two escapes and a takedown despite getting a few stall calls on him once his lead was secured. R. Elam will face No. 1 South Dakota State senior Tanner Sloan at 197 pounds.

No. 1 redshirt junior Noah Surtin competed against No. 5 Wyoming sophomore Jore Volk in the 125-pound semifinals. Surtin got a quick three-point takedown to get the lead over Volk, but there was a lack of points on the board in the second period besides an escape for Surtin. By the third period, both wrestlers received escape points, putting Surtin up 5-3 over Volk. With 10 seconds left in the third period, Volk got a takedown to secure the upset win over Surtin, 6-5. It looked like Surtin was expecting a call in his favor as he lay on the mat for the last 10 seconds, but it never came. 

No. 1 SDSU senior Cade DeVos (174) defeated No. 4 redshirt senior Peyton Mocco 2-0. Mocco was unable to attack DeVos and get the takedown in the third period to advance to the finals. 

No. 1 Northern Iowa redshirt junior Parker Keckeisen (184) defeated No. 4 redshirt sophomore Colton Hawks 10-3 with multiple third-period takedowns.

No. 2 ISU senior Yonger Bastida (285) overpowered No. 3 redshirt senior Zach Elam, winning 11-3. Z. Elam struggled against Bastida, similar to a few weeks ago in Missouri's ISU dual. Z. Elam received multiple stall calls and could not keep up with Bastida's tendency to strike efficiently and continuously. 

Consolation Round 2: 

No. 6 redshirt sophomore Josh Edmond (141) came onto the mat ready to wrestle and got a quick takedown to begin the match against Cal Baptist sophomore Darren Green. Edmond got the pin with 1:32 left in the second period to advance through the consolation bracket.

No. 8 redshirt junior Logan Gioffre (149) defeated Utah Valley University redshirt sophomore James Emmer 5-1. 

No. 5 redshirt senior Brock Mauller (157) went up against CBU senior Chaz Hallmark. Hallmark came out strong against Mauller with two takedowns to get the lead 6-2 heading into the second. In the second period, Mauller seemed to sense the urgency in the win to stay alive in the championship and got a takedown and near fall. In typical fashion, Mauller scored high and defeated Hallmark 17-8. 

After dropping his quarterfinal match, No. 6 redshirt freshman Kade Moore (133) began his journey through the consolation brackets against UVU redshirt sophomore Kase Mauger. Moore was able to get the takedown, followed by an escape by Mauger, but shortly afterward, Mauger pinned Moore with 53 seconds left in the first period. The upset put Moore out of contention for getting on the podium tomorrow night. 

Consolation Round 3:

In consolation round 3 at 141 pounds, No. 6 Edmond wrestled No. 7 redshirt sophomore Haiden Drury. Josh got the escape and takedown, leading 4-0 in the second period. Edmond secured the win, 7-4. 

No. 8 Gioffre (149) wrestled No. 5 SDSU sophomore Alek Martin in hopes of getting to the semifinals tomorrow. Gioffre held on through sudden victory two with riding time and defeated Martin in an upset win, 2-1.

No. 5 Mauller (157) also had an upset over No. 1 University of Colorado redshirt sophomore Vincent Zerban, 4-1, in sudden victory one.

Seven Tigers will appear in tomorrow's consolation semifinals for the chance to wrestle for third place. 

Of Note: 

• Edmond's pin over Green was his first career pin with the Tigers. 
• Z. Elam secured his 100th career win in his match during Session I.
• Gioffre punched his ticket to his first NCAA Wrestling Championship.
• Mauller also qualified for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship. 

Standings:

1. Iowa State - 129.5
2. OSU - 119.5
3. Missouri - 96
4. South Dakota State -92.5
5. Northern Iowa - 85
6. West Virginia - 73
7. Wyoming - 55.5
8. Oklahoma - 53.5
9. Air Force - 38.5
10. North Dakota State - 28

Up Next:

The Tigers will appear on day two of the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. Session II will begin at noon CT and include the consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches. Viewers at home can watch Session III on ESPN+. The finals will take place at 7:30 p.m. CT and air on ESPNU.