Weekly UCM Data:
Overall Dual Record - 3-0 | MIAA - 0-0
Last time out for Mules wrestling:
It's been two weeks since the Mules were last in action, competing in the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. In the two day event December 15-16 the Mules placed 16th out of 26 teams and had two place-finishers.
Nick Viterisi finished runner-up at 149 pounds, going an impressive 4-1, while
Tim Tuaquoi posted a seventh place finish at 285 pounds, posting a 5-2 record.
The week ahead:
The Mules return to action Sunday, January 6th and Tuesday, January 8th when they host the UCM Duals at the Multipurpose Building, with four of six matches against ranked opponents. Sunday the Mules open-up the duals facing top-ranked and defending National Champion Nebraska-Kearney at noon then face Newman at 2:30 before closing out day one with a dual against second-ranked Newberry at 4. In the final day of the duals Tuesday, UCM will host tenth ranked Ouachita Baptist before facing No. 19 Fort Hays State in an MIAA match. The Mules will conclude the duals with a match against 18th ranked Ashland.
Series history:
Newberry College: The dual against No. 2 Newberry will mark the fourth meeting all-time. The Wolves hold a 3-0-0 advantage in the series against the Mules. UCM fell to the Wolves last season 43-6.
Newman University: The dual against Newman will mark the ninth meeting all-time with the Mules holding a 6-2-0 advantage over the Jets. The Mules faced the Jets twice last season, falling in Warrensburg 26-23 and winning in Wichita 25-20.
University of Nebraska at Kearney: The dual against top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney will mark the 26th meeting all-time. The Lopers hold a commanding 18-7-0 in the series. The Mules last faced the Lopers in the 2010-11 season, taking a 22-18 victory in Warrensburg.
Ouachita Baptist University: The dual against No. 10 Ouachita Baptist marks the fourth all-time meeting. The Tigers currently lead the series 2-1-0. The Mules faced the Tigers twice last season falling in both matches 40-10 and 38-11.
Fort Hays State University: The dual against No. 19 Fort Hays State marks the 50th meeting all-time. The series is tied 24-24-1. Last season the Tigers defeated the Mules in Kirksville, Mo. at the MIAA Duals 40-6.
Ashland University: The dual against No. 18 Ashland will mark the third meeting all-time. The Eagles hold a 2-0-0 advantage in the series. The last time the Mules faced Ashland was the 2002-2003 season.
Mules by weight class in their last competition:
125 pounds: Laramie Allembaugh wrestled in the 125 pound weight class at the Midwest Classic, going 2-2.
133 pounds: Hunter Neighbors competed at 133 for the Mules at the Midwest Classic, going 1-2.
141 pounds: Eric Mateo wrestled at 141 pounds at the Midwest Classic and went 1-2.
149 pounds: Nick Viterisi wrestled at 149 pounds for the Cardinal & Black at the Midwest Classic, finishing runner-up in the championship bracket. He posted an impressive 4-1 record.
Viterisi began his runner-up performance by taking a 13-4 major decision over David Schlieper of West Liberty in the first round before knocking off Ohio Northern's Kyle Brezovec in round two via a 10-2 major decision to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. The Bloomington, Indiana native faced Mt. St. Joe's Joseph Conrad and came away with a 6-1 decision to advance to the semis. Viterisi took on Maryville's Keenan Hagerty and punched his ticket to the title match with a hard fought 5-4 decision. He faced Deral Brown of Newberry and came up just short, falling by a 3-2 decision to finish second.
157 pounds: Michael Boyd wrestled at 157 for the Mules at the Midwest Classic, going 0-2.
165 pounds: Ty Loethen competed at 165 pounds for UCM at the Midwest Classic, posting a 1-2 record.
174 pounds: Joshua Ploof wrested at 174 pounds for Central Missouri at the Midwest Classic, posting a 2-2 record.
184 pounds: No Mules competed at 184 at the Midwest Classic.
197 pounds: No Mules competed at 197 at the Midwest Classic.
285 pounds: Tim Tuaquoi wrested at 285 pounds for the Mules at the Midwest Classic, going 5-2 and placing seventh.
Tuaquoi pinned (5:00) Jeremy Brazil in round one of the heavyweight bracket to advance to round two where he fell to Cody Lovejoy of Ohio Northern via a 5-0 decision to drop into the consolation bracket. He bounced back in the consolation bracket, winning three straight matches before falling to Lovejoy again in the consolation fifth round, dropping him into the seventh-place match. The Yahanna, Ohio native claimed victory in the match over Newberry's Chase Gamble on a 17-4 major decision to finish seventh.
