Arkansas Wrestle (All images via lrtrojans.com)
Three Little Rock veterans earned victories Saturday night in a nonconference dual against No. 15 Missouri, but the 14th-ranked Trojans could not keep pace as a team, falling 33-9 at the Jack Stephens Center.
Brennan Van Hoecke, Brock Herman, and Matty Bianchi each scored takedowns in sudden victory for Little Rock, but the visiting Tigers claimed the remaining seven bouts, including one fall, four technical falls, and a major decision.
“We’re all over the place, if I’m being honest,” head coach Neil Erisman said. “We’ve got a group of young guys who are deciding if they’re going to pack it in or stay and fight, and then a group of guys who have to get healthy and are chomping at the bit to get back on the mat.
“Wrestling exposes your mental weaknesses, and that’s what I’m focused on right now. The seasoned guys are finding ways, and I’m happy with how they performed tonight, but I’m disappointed in the effort from the young guys.”
After Missouri captured the first two matches of the evening, Little Rock answered with back-to-back upset wins from Van Hoecke and Herman.
Van Hoecke flipped the script on No. 28 Zeke Seltzer, countering a big move and turning it into a sudden-victory takedown. Herman followed by avenging a November loss to No. 18 Josh Edmond, finishing a takedown early in overtime.
Bianchi remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 16-0 after scoring the decisive takedown in overtime against Missouri’s J. Conway.
Little Rock competed without ranked wrestlers Stephen Little and Jaivon Jones. The Trojans return to action Feb. 6 with a road dual at No. 4 Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
