WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 3, 2017)-- The Central Missouri Mules Wrestling team will kick off the 2017 calendar year on the road at Drury as they compete in their third dual of the season. The Mules will take on the Panthers tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at Weiser Gym.

Series History
Central Missouri vs. Drury: 0-0
The Mules and Panthers will meet for the first time ever as the 2016-17 season is the inaugural season for the Panthers wrestling program at the NCAA Division II level.

Mat Points
• The Mules enter the New Year 2-0 in duals this season. In all, UCM has 14 duals on the schedule this season.
• UCM's dual against Drury is their first of the 2017 calendar year. The Mules already have dual wins over Barton and Wentworth. 
• The Mules enter the 2017 calendar year with their wrestlers having a combined record of 107-96. UCM has had 24 total placewinners in five tournament appearances, including six champions.
• The Mules were preseason ranked No. 11 in Super Region III and were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA this year.
• Cody Carson (174 lbs.) has been the top wrestler for the Mules with a record of 19-5 entering the New Year.
• Jesse Reser (165 lbs.) has the second best record at 12-4, but has not wrestled since the Buena Vista Open on Dec. 3, 2016.
• Six of the Mules projected starters against the Panthers are all in their first season of competition for UCM. 
• The Mules first MIAA dual will be Jan. 6 against Newman, then host Central 
Oklahoma on Jan. 8 in another MIAA dual.
• If the Mules defeat the Panthers it will be Head Coach Justin Ensign's 32nd dual win at UCM.

Scouting the Competition
Drury
• The 2016-17 season is the first season for Drury as a NCAA Division II wrestling program. They are a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). This is also the first season the GLVC is sponsoring wrestling as an official NCAA sport.
• The Panthers are led by Head Coach James Reynolds. Prior to joining Drury, Reynolds served as the Head Assistant Coach at Maryville University in St. Louis for four seasons.
• The Panthers were picked to finish fifth out of seven teams in the GLVC Coaches' Preseason Poll while picking up 14 points.
• The Panthers have competed in five tournaments so far this season with a total of nine place finishers.
• The Panthers 1-1 dual record currently has them sitting fourth in the GLVC standings.
• The Panthers won their first ever dual as an NCAA Division II program on Dec. 10, 2016, against the University of Cumberlands Patriots, 27-17.
• Jared Rennick (197 lbs.) and Lawyer Morgan-Beckum (141 lbs.) have the best individual records for the Panthers entering the dual with marks of 19-4 and 14-6, respectively.
• The Panthers dual against Central Missouri will be their first home dual in program history.

Probable Lineups
Central Missouri Mules
125: Erick Vargas
133: John Feeney
141: Bradley Irwin or Zachary Schridde
149: Zachary Schridde or Bradley Irwin
157: Steffon Fassett
165: Jesse Reser
174: Cody Carson
184: Allan Person
197: Grant Sparks
285: Chase Miller

Drury Panthers
125: Open
133: Jake Byrd
141: Lawyer Morgan-Beckum
149: Ben Stahlman
157: Cory Pych
165: Grant Taylor
174: Quintin Bisbey
185: John Oss
197: Jarred Rennick
285: Ben Melton