DETROIT – Freshmen Keegan O’Toole became the University of Missouri wrestling program’s ninth individual national champion Saturday night inside Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, defeating returning champion Shane Griffith in a tight 6-5 final at 165 pounds.
The Tigers closed the 2021-22 season with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, concluding the tournament in the top-10 for the seventh consecutive season. Below is how the leaderboard finished.
For the tenth consecutive season, Mizzou picked up multiple All-American honors. In addition to O’Toole, freshman Rocky Elam also took home his second consecutive All-American award, finishing fourth at 197 pounds.
Missouri received points from seven of its nine qualifiers. Redshirt freshman Noah Surtin and redshirt sophomores Zach Elam and Peyton Mocco all finished with three wins, bowing out of the tournament in the All-American round. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Kent picked up two wins and junior Allan Hart contributed with a first-round win.
Hear from Coach Smith
“This is what Keegan was born to do,” head coach Brian Smith said. “He was able to make adjustments mid-match and to do that at such a high level speaks to how intelligent he is as a wrestler. It’s just a testament to the work ethic and dedication he puts in on and off the mat every single day.”
“I’m so proud of our team and the fight they showed in every single match of the tournament. Seven straight seasons finishing in the top-10 isn’t an easy thing. We still have a lot of room to grow and I’m so excited for next year and the future of Tiger Style.”
Hear from Keegan O’Toole
“I was ready to throw down, no matter what the circumstances were,” O’Toole said. “I knew that going into the match, it didn’t matter how I was feeling; I had to find a way. I have amazing people around me and that’s why I’m here. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person that I am.”
On comparing his Junior World Championship to NCAA Championship
“Worlds is pretty cool, but this is the pinnacle of Folkstyle wrestling in America. To be able to accomplish it on my second try is unbelievable.”
On his teammates
“Everyone on the team that lets me drill; those are the people that you don’t see that are the ones that deserve this award.”
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).
RESULTS
125 | Noah Surtin (18 seed) | 3-2
No. 15 Brody Teske over No. 18 Noah Surtin by 5-3 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 31 Antonio Lorenzo by 2-1 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 17 Anthony Noto (LHU) by fall (6:40)
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 23 Dylan Shawver (RUT) by 8-4
No. 11 Brandon Kayler (ORST) over No. 18 Noah Surtin by fall (5:31)
141 | Allan Hart (9 seed) | 1-2
No. 9 Allan Hart over No. 24 Stevan Micic (MICH) by 7-3 dec.
No. 8 Grant Willits (ORST) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 3-1 TB-1
No. 7 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 7-5 dec.
149 | Josh Edmond (26 seed) | 0-2
No. 7 Joshua Heil (CAMP) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 8-0 MD
No. 23 Jaden Abas (STAN) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 9-3 dec.
157 | Jarrett Jacques (25 seed) | 0-2
No. 8 Will Lewan (MICH) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 4-2 SV-2
No. 24 Doug Zapf (PENN) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 2-1 SV-1
165 | Keegan O’Toole (2 seed) | 5-0 | CHAMPION
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 31 Caleb Fish (MSU) by fall (0:52)
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 18 Anthony Valencia (ASU) by 7-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 7 Carson Kharchla (OHST) by 2-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 6 Cameron Amine (MICH) by 4-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 5 Shane Griffith (STAN) by 6-5 dec.
174 | Peyton Mocco (11 seed) | 3-2
No. 22 Mason Kauffman (NIU) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 3-1 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 27 Sal Perrine (OHIO) by 15-6 MD
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 12 Cade DeVos (SDSU) by 6-2 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 13 Matt Finesilver (DUKE) by 2-1 dec.
No. 10 Clay Lautt (UNC) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 6-3 dec.
184 | Jeremiah Kent (17 seed) | 2-2
No. 16 Dakota Geer (OKST) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by fall (6:26)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 32 Colin McCracken (KENT) by fall (0:42)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 15 Hunter Bolen (VT) by 4-2 dec.
No. 10 Taylor Venz (NEB) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by 3-2 dec.
197 | Rocky Elam (7 seed) | 5-2 | 4th PLACE
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 26 Michial Foy (MINN) by 4-2 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 10 Yonger Bastida (ISU) by 1-0 dec.
No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) over No. 7 Rocky Elam by 4-0 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) by 6-1 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) by 3-2 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 21 Gavin Hoffman (OHST) by 3-2 dec.
No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) over No. 7 Rocky Elam by 1-0 dec.
285 | Zach Elam (16 seed) | 3-2
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 17 Trent Hillger (WIS) by 5-4 dec.
No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 23-8 TF
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 16 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) by fall (5:58)
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 8 Matt Stencel (CMU) by fall (0:32)
No. 3 Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 4-0 dec.
The Tigers closed the 2021-22 season with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, concluding the tournament in the top-10 for the seventh consecutive season. Below is how the leaderboard finished.
- Penn State — 131.5
- Michigan — 95.0
- Iowa — 74.0
- Arizona State — 66.5
- Nebraska — 59.5
- Northwestern — 57.5
- Cornell — 54.5
- Virginia Tech — 52.5
- Missouri — 49.5
- North Carolina State — 49.0
For the tenth consecutive season, Mizzou picked up multiple All-American honors. In addition to O’Toole, freshman Rocky Elam also took home his second consecutive All-American award, finishing fourth at 197 pounds.
Missouri received points from seven of its nine qualifiers. Redshirt freshman Noah Surtin and redshirt sophomores Zach Elam and Peyton Mocco all finished with three wins, bowing out of the tournament in the All-American round. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Kent picked up two wins and junior Allan Hart contributed with a first-round win.
Hear from Coach Smith
“This is what Keegan was born to do,” head coach Brian Smith said. “He was able to make adjustments mid-match and to do that at such a high level speaks to how intelligent he is as a wrestler. It’s just a testament to the work ethic and dedication he puts in on and off the mat every single day.”
“I’m so proud of our team and the fight they showed in every single match of the tournament. Seven straight seasons finishing in the top-10 isn’t an easy thing. We still have a lot of room to grow and I’m so excited for next year and the future of Tiger Style.”
Hear from Keegan O’Toole
“I was ready to throw down, no matter what the circumstances were,” O’Toole said. “I knew that going into the match, it didn’t matter how I was feeling; I had to find a way. I have amazing people around me and that’s why I’m here. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person that I am.”
On comparing his Junior World Championship to NCAA Championship
“Worlds is pretty cool, but this is the pinnacle of Folkstyle wrestling in America. To be able to accomplish it on my second try is unbelievable.”
On his teammates
“Everyone on the team that lets me drill; those are the people that you don’t see that are the ones that deserve this award.”
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).
RESULTS
125 | Noah Surtin (18 seed) | 3-2
No. 15 Brody Teske over No. 18 Noah Surtin by 5-3 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 31 Antonio Lorenzo by 2-1 dec.
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 17 Anthony Noto (LHU) by fall (6:40)
No. 18 Noah Surtin over No. 23 Dylan Shawver (RUT) by 8-4
No. 11 Brandon Kayler (ORST) over No. 18 Noah Surtin by fall (5:31)
141 | Allan Hart (9 seed) | 1-2
No. 9 Allan Hart over No. 24 Stevan Micic (MICH) by 7-3 dec.
No. 8 Grant Willits (ORST) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 3-1 TB-1
No. 7 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over No. 9 Allan Hart by 7-5 dec.
149 | Josh Edmond (26 seed) | 0-2
No. 7 Joshua Heil (CAMP) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 8-0 MD
No. 23 Jaden Abas (STAN) over No. 26 Josh Edmond by 9-3 dec.
157 | Jarrett Jacques (25 seed) | 0-2
No. 8 Will Lewan (MICH) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 4-2 SV-2
No. 24 Doug Zapf (PENN) over No. 25 Jarrett Jacques by 2-1 SV-1
165 | Keegan O’Toole (2 seed) | 5-0 | CHAMPION
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 31 Caleb Fish (MSU) by fall (0:52)
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 18 Anthony Valencia (ASU) by 7-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 7 Carson Kharchla (OHST) by 2-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 6 Cameron Amine (MICH) by 4-0 dec.
No. 2 Keegan O’Toole over No. 5 Shane Griffith (STAN) by 6-5 dec.
174 | Peyton Mocco (11 seed) | 3-2
No. 22 Mason Kauffman (NIU) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 3-1 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 27 Sal Perrine (OHIO) by 15-6 MD
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 12 Cade DeVos (SDSU) by 6-2 dec.
No. 11 Peyton Mocco over No. 13 Matt Finesilver (DUKE) by 2-1 dec.
No. 10 Clay Lautt (UNC) over No. 11 Peyton Mocco by 6-3 dec.
184 | Jeremiah Kent (17 seed) | 2-2
No. 16 Dakota Geer (OKST) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by fall (6:26)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 32 Colin McCracken (KENT) by fall (0:42)
No. 17 Jeremiah Kent over No. 15 Hunter Bolen (VT) by 4-2 dec.
No. 10 Taylor Venz (NEB) over No. 17 Jeremiah Kent by 3-2 dec.
197 | Rocky Elam (7 seed) | 5-2 | 4th PLACE
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 26 Michial Foy (MINN) by 4-2 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 10 Yonger Bastida (ISU) by 1-0 dec.
No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) over No. 7 Rocky Elam by 4-0 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) by 6-1 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) by 3-2 dec.
No. 7 Rocky Elam over No. 21 Gavin Hoffman (OHST) by 3-2 dec.
No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) over No. 7 Rocky Elam by 1-0 dec.
285 | Zach Elam (16 seed) | 3-2
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 17 Trent Hillger (WIS) by 5-4 dec.
No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 23-8 TF
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 16 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) by fall (5:58)
No. 16 Zach Elam over No. 8 Matt Stencel (CMU) by fall (0:32)
No. 3 Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) over No. 16 Zach Elam by 4-0 dec.
