Oklahoma State at Missouri
  Nov. 21, 2003  Hazelwood Central HS  St. Louis, Mo.
    In the last two years, the Missouri wrestling program has gone from never winning a Big XII dual meet to placing second in the dual standings last year and being incredibly disappointed with its post-season performance. This shows how much the attitudes have changed inside this program in such a short span.    However, the Tigers dealt a blow to themselves when coaches released NCAA runner-up Scott Barker due to conduct detrimental to the team. This puts a huge rift in this team's plans. It can be used as a positive, as now other wrestlers are forced to step their game up and wrestle at as high of a level as possible.    Oklahoma State finally got back in the national driver's seat last season. The Cowboys lost four starters from last season's squad, though. Three of those were All-Americans.    But as is the case almost every year in Stillwater, this team doesn't rebuild, it reloads. Some very talented, young wrestlers are in the lineup and seem poised to help this team make a push at back-to-back national titles. This dual is just one step in the long road back to the top of the NCAA mountain for the Cowboys.    125: Cody Stites (Oklahoma State) vs. Austin DeVoe (Missouri)  Stites is an experienced competitor who has waited a long time for his chance in the starting lineup. He is very good at gameplanning his opponents, which helps him in this matchup. His experience could take over, which is what the Cowboy coaches are hoping for. DeVoe is a talented wrestler with a good offensive attack. But in two losses to Stites last year, he was unable to get any offense going. If he plans to win this match, he must be the aggressor. Playing a defensive game will only play into Stites' hands. There will be some points scored in this match, but the younger DeVoe is ready to show the nation what type of damage he can do this year.  TheMat.com Prediction: DeVoe    133: Johnny Thompson (Oklahoma State) vs. Paul Collum (Missouri)  The Johnny Thompson bandwagon has swung around again, and a lot of wrestling observers are hopping off it. But remember, as Thompson has proven three times, it's not what you do in the regular season, it's what you do in March. He is a three-time NCAA finalist and two-time NCAA champion, and he didn't get there by not knowing how to prepare for big matches. His team may need him in this dual, and he will be there for them. Collum won some big matches against Division I competition last year before winning a Junior College national title. The problem is that he just does not have enough experience against top competition to beat Thompson in a one-match free-for-all. Expect some exciting scrambles and some back points as well, but this is another chance for Thompson to quiet his critics.  TheMat.com Prediction: Thompson    141: Ronnie Delk (Oklahoma State) vs. J.P. Reese (Missouri)  Delk and Reese are both scorers, which should make this a showcase for the fans. Sometimes Delk has a tendency to get ahead of himself, forcing shots that aren't there for him. This is a mistake he needs to correct, but he is young, and has plenty of learning to do. His style is similar to that of Reese two years ago, who was a young unknown before he started pinning some of the top wrestlers in the nation. Reese has developed so much since then. He is a much more patient wrestler. However, he will still look for the pin at any given opportunity. Reese's experience and explosiveness should give him a heavy advantage in this match. This is one weight where Mizzou will be looking for some bonus points.  TheMat.com Prediction: Reese    149: Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) vs. Jeremy Spates (Missouri)  Esposito moved up in weight this year in hopes of being more fresh at the end of the season. However, it also allows him more explosiveness at the start of the season. He may be the quickest wrestler in the country, and wrestling fans everywhere know of his great mat awareness, especially in scrambles. That is part of what will make this an intriguing matchup. Spates is normally a more defensive wrestler, a style that has given Esposito fits in the past. That will surely be his gameplan going into this one as well. If Spates can control the tie-up and keep Esposito out of a fast-paced match, then Spates could easily come out on top of this one. If Esposito is able to shoot at will and get into scrambles, then Spates will not have much of a chance to win this match. This is a pivotal match in the dual meet. If Spates is able to come away with a win, the Tigers have a very good chance at winning this dual.  TheMat.com Prediction: Esposito    157: Kevin Ward (Oklahoma State) vs. Kenny Burleson (Missouri)  It appears as though Ward will get the nod at this point in the season, even though Johnny Hendricks will also weigh-in for the Cowboys. Ward defeated Hendricks in an earlier wrestle-off, and Cowboy coaches feel that Hendricks may still be adjusting to the weight class. However, Ward is a very talented wrestler who many people tend to forget about when looking at the national picture. Technically, he is very skilled and he wrestles a smart match. Burleson is almost exactly the same way, only with more experience as a Division I starter. This is a match that could come down to riding time and/or a late score. Expect a low-scoring bout controlled primarily by defense. Missouri will really need a win at this weight to keep themselves in contention of winning the dual meet. Burleson has been in and won big matches before, and even though not many people know about Ward, this is still a very big match.  TheMat.com Prediction: Burleson    165: Tyrone Lewis (Oklahoma State) vs. Tyron Woodley (Missouri)  Tyrone Lewis is on a mission this year. Not only did he not win a national title last season, but he also placed behind Woodley at the Big XII Tournament, although the two never actually wrestled. Lewis won by major decision over Woodley earlier last year, and the same could be in store again in this early-season battle. Both wrestlers are very offensive, but Lewis is much quicker and a much better defensive wrestler. Lewis has developed an entire offensive arsenal that Woodley will have a lot of trouble defending. Woodley's athleticism may help him to get by here. If he can avoid letting Lewis score on him early in the match, that usually bodes well for opponents. Lewis loves to come out of the gate scoring, but usually slows down if he isn't able to get what he wants early. Look for a lot of points in this matchup, but more in favor of Lewis.  TheMat.com Prediction: Lewis    174: Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) vs. Ben Askren (Missouri)    This is where the Cowboys either break open the dual meet or where Missouri keeps a tight grip on an upset. Pendleton may be the best pound-for-pound wrestler on this team right now. He is one of the most electrifying wrestlers in the nation as well. Pendleton is a great scorer from his feet, and even though Askren has all the talent in the world, he may not be ready for what Pendleton could bring at him. Askren will be a very good wrestler someday. He has the ability and the confidence (insert "Hardware" briefcase joke here) to dominate at the collegiate level and maybe beyond. Last season, he defeated the eventual national champion Robbie Waller, who is now his coach. Pendleton is a leader and he is hungry, and these are the types of matches he really gets up for. Askren is also still very pron