Last season Missouri just missed a top 10 team finish at the NCAA Tournament with an 11th place finish. This years team looks to fare a bit better with 7 wrestlers ranked in the top 20. Lead by 2x NCAA Champion Keegan O’ Toole and #4 Rocky Elam this team has all the potential to contend for a team trophy.
125-Noah Surtin
Missouri will be just fine at the 125 with Noah Surtin, a 4X National Qualifier returning for his senior year. 62-26 career record along with a 30-7 dual record. He has shown continual progress but needs more consistency in the later tournaments, showing a 0-2 record at the NCAA’s in 2024. Losing to No. 11 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) and No.18 Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado) and only placing 6th at the Big Ten Championships in 2023. He has the ability to make the podium ranking as high as No. 3 last season with a 9-0 start, capable of competing in the top 10 knocking off No. 4 Jore Volk.
133-Kade Moore
Out of the five 133’s listed, Kade Moore is likely to fill the roll. Finished his first year as the starter last year with an 11-7 overall and a 6-2 dual record with a highlight win against. No.5 Sam Latona of Virginia Tech. A lot like Noah Surtin, he needs to display consistency going 0-2 In the NCAA Tournament losing to No. 5 Nasir Bailey and No.10 Aaron Nagao. Missouri fans shouldn’t be worried, barely losing 10-9 to 2X N NCAA champion Vito Arujau shows he has skill, just needs the follow through.
141-Josh Edmond
Finishing 3rd at the Big 12 Championships with a 4-1 record, gave Josh Edmond an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament making that his second visit. Going 18-10 with a 6-6 dual record, several of his losses were in overtime, he will more than likely take the starting position in 2024-2025. In last years tournament he was one win away from the podium going 3-2. Winning against No. 25 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech) and losing to No.19 Vance Vombaur (Minnesota). His performance has gone back and forth since his freshman year, going 10-0, the next 17-11, then 5-2, last year 18-10, hopefully this is a breakout year to separate himself from the past.
149- Logan Gioffre
Logan Gioffre didn’t have a particularly good season on paper in 2023-2024 going 8-9, but looks are deceiving as he put up notable wins against No. 21 Alek Martin (SDSU) No. 16 Willie McDougald (Oklahoma) and No. 11 Jaden Abas (Stanford). While barely losing to National Champ Caleb Henson 6-4 by decision. Possibly still struggling from a mid season injury, missing all of February took 0-2 in the NCAA’s. Tough losses against No. 5 Ty Waters (West Virginia) and No. 25 Ethan Miller (Maryland). Entering in to a redshirt year, Missouri will probably give some experience to Joel Myline. A sophomore that went 12-6, is ready for some of the bigger tournaments this year.
157-Cam Steed
Between Cam Steed and James Conway, Steed takes the position on stats. 23-5 record overall, he will see dual action this year. Although he did take out some bigger names in the southern scuffle two years ago, National Qualifier Cael Carlson and All American Hunter Garvin. He will have to face Hunter Garvin again in January, along with 5 other top 10 preseason ranked opponents. Big shoes to fill this year.
165-James Conway
Little bit of a gap here, where they could bring Cam Steed up, will probably move James Conway. O’Toole moving to the 174 certainly stretches the Tigers, Conway could fill the position for now. Missouri Valley Champion last year, but struggling in dual action, having some losses against tough opponents Cody Chittum (Iowa State) and Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) he has some experience. He needs to have a breakout year to hold the position.
174-Keegan O’Toole
Their most solidified wrestler in Keegan O’Toole, 2X National Champion and 4X All-American moves to the 174 to replace former All American Peyton Mocco, if Carter Starocci moves to the 184 this weight is wide open for O’Toole. He’ll still have to answer to Levi Haines if he doesn’t move to the 184, who shut him out 6-0 in the World Team Trails. He’s also looking at facing off against returning runner up Rocco Welsh, he’s probably just relieved to not think about Messenbrink who will probably take the title at 165. We do have an insight to O’Toole at the 174 when he moved up last season to face Edmond Ruth (Illinois) winning 12-7 by decision. Can he keep the same luster at the 174 and grab his 3rd National title?
184-Colton Hawks
This spot is owned by Colton Hawks, 2X National Qualifier who also could use a breakout year, went 19-8 last year placing 5th at the Big 12 Championships. Despite losing on day 2 of the NCAA’s, it was his 2nd year in a row beating out Gavin Kane in the first round of the tournament. He had some impressive wins last season against Caleb Hopkins (Campbell University) and No. 15 Aaron Ayzerov (Colombia University). The Tigers will need to see a lot more from him, at least a blood round finish this year.
197- Rocky Elam
Rocky has been a staple for the Tigers over the last four year, capturing four All-American Honors and has continually shown progress in the NCAA’s moving from 5th to 3rd place from 2021-2023 seasons. A slight blunder placing 6th in 2024 will not keep him out of the title contention conversation this year. 70-17 record overall he’s ready to add a title to the achievements list.
285- Seth Nitzel
Seth has a clear shot at making the top 20 this year, being that the 285 is kind of light. 32-13 overall he had a good 2023 going 13-3, winning the Missouri Valley Open and Bongo Bayly Open. Grabbing a couple of notable wins against Coltan McKiernan (SIUE) Christian Carroll (Oklahoma State) and Bradley Hill (Iowa) he is capable of competing at a higher level.
With Keegan O’Toole and Rocky Elam to carry the team points this year, they will need significant finishes in the lighter weights. If Noah Surtin and Kade Moore contend in the top 5 of the tournament, it would certainly make up for some of their gaps at the heavier weight.This team has the potential for a lethal top 5 finish if individuals can do just that, finish.