No. 12 Mizzou Wrestling Opens 2021 Season Sunday, Travels to North Dakota State Quadrangular

COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a 10-plus month layoff following a shortened 2019-20 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, No. 12 Mizzou Wrestling finally returns to the mat Sunday (Jan. 3) at the North Dakota State Quadrangular.

The Tigers will be joined by South Dakota State, host North Dakota State and Oregon State inside the Scheels Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Mizzou will compete against the Jackrabbits, Bison and Beavers at 10 a.m. CT, noon CT and 2 p.m. CT, respectively.

Mizzou and North Dakota State’s matchup will broadcast live via NDSU All-Access. Fans can also tune-in via FloWrestling all Sunday afternoon. Live results and updates will be available via TrackWrestling.com and Twitter (@MizzouWrestling).

#ShowMe Mizzou Dual Notes

Series Snapshot vs. South Dakota State

• Mizzou leads the all-time series, 3-2.
• The Tigers and Jackrabbits last met seven years ago (Dec. 19, 2014) in a tri-dual inside Mizzou Arena. Mizzou claimed a dominant 31-6 dual triumph, winning nine of 10 bouts (only loss via forfeit).

Series Snapshot vs. North Dakota State

• Mizzou leads the all-time series, 3-0.
• The Tigers and Bison last met eight seasons ago (Nov. 1, 2013) in a head-to-head dual in Fargo. Mizzou walked away with a 23-9 overall victory, claiming wins in seven of 10 individual matchups.
• Mizzou and North Dakota State’s three historical matchups all happened in a consecutive three-season span (2011-12 at Virginia Duals, 2012-13 in Columbia, 2013-14 at Fargo).

Series Snapshot vs. Oregon State

• Mizzou leads the all-time series, 5-1.
• The Tigers and Beavers last squared off 10 years ago (Nov. 25, 2011) in a dual inside the Hearnes Center. Both programs were nationally ranked with No. 13 Mizzou earning a 21-18 victory over No. 17 Oregon State.

Quick Hits on the Tigers

• A season ago (Feb. 22, 2019), the Tigers competed in their last dual with a dominant 27-6 victory over Iowa State in Mid-Missouri. A few weeks later (March 7-8, 2019), Mizzou secured its eighth consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship and ninth straight conference title overall. The Tigers were then primed to have eight wrestlers compete at the 2020 NCAA Championships, but the pandemic instantly changed the world and abruptly ended the collegiate wrestling season.
• Head Coach Brian Smith begins his 23rd year at the helm of Mizzou Wrestling and is only five victories away from 300 for his legendary Tiger career. Under Smith, Mizzou has produced double-digit dual triumphs in 10 consecutive seasons. In MAC action, the Tigers have recorded three straight undefeated conference slates and are riding a 22-match winning streak in conference play.
• Junior Brock Mauller headlines a deep and talented 2021 Mizzou roster, as he’s the defending 149-pound MAC Champion and is ranked No. 3 in the nation in his respective weight class entering the season.
• Redshirt Juniors Connor Brown and Matt Schmitt bring a talented transfer duo to CoMo, as Brown originally competed at Wisconsin and Schmitt joins the Tigers from West Virginia. The respective 125 and 133 pound Tigers both garner top 20 national rankings heading into the 2021 season.
• The 2021 Mizzou freshmen class was widely regarded as a top 5 class in the nation, headlined by Keegan O’Toole (No. 2), Rocky Elam (No. 11), Colton Hawks (No. 45) and Josh Edmond (No. 48). All four Tiger newcomers were tabbed as top 50 recruits per FloWrestling.

Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Wrestling. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Mizzou Wrestling) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouWrestling).