WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 8, 2017)-- The Central Missouri Mules Wrestling is set to host fifth-ranked McKendree tomorrow (Thursday) in their final home dual of the season. The Mules will look to snap a seven dual losing streak before heading into the MIAA Championships this weekend. Action for tomorrow's dual will get underway at 7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building.

Mat Points
• The Mules are 5-9 overall this season and went 1-4 in MIAA dual competition to finish the season fifth. They enter Thursday's dual with the Bearcats 3-3 at home this season.
• Central Missouri's dual this Thursday will be their final one of the regular season and they get set for a run at the MIAA Championships on Sunday, Feb. 12.
• The Mules competed in seven total tournaments this season, having 21 total placewinners and six champions.
• UCM wrestlers are a combined 155-183 this season and have a dual record of 57-65 entering Thursday's dual
• Four wrestlers are still ranked in Super Region III for the Mules. Jesse Reser and Allan Person both sit seventh at 165 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively, while Bradley Irwin and Cody Carson hold down the eighth spot at 141 pounds and 174 pounds, respectively.
• Reser has the top record for UCM at 23-5 and is 12-1 in duals this season. He also leads the Mules in points scored (52), pins (8), and major decisions (5).
• The Mules will have a short rest period after their dual with McKendree, as they will travel to the MIAA Championships Sunday, Feb. 12, in Kearney, Neb.
• After the MIAA Championships, UCM will compete at the Super Region III Tournament, Feb. 24-25, in Moorhead, Minn.

Series History
Central Missouri vs. McKendree: 4-4-0
The Mules and Bearcats enter Thursday's dual tied at 4-4 all-time. The Bearcats have won the last three meetings in the series, including a 31-19 victory last season in Lebanon, Ill.

Scouting the Competition
#5 McKendree
• The Bearcats are 14-5 this season overall and 4-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) dual competition. They are also nationally ranked at No. 5 in Division II wrestling in the latest D2wrestle.com national poll.
• In the inaugural Preseason Coaches' Poll for the GLVC, the Bearcats were picked to finished second totaling 30 points and one first-place vote. Their 4-2 GLVC record currently has them sitting third behind Maryville at second and Wisconsin-Parkside at first.
• The Bearcats return all three All-Americans from last season in Darren Wynn (141 lbs.), Mech Spraggins (149 lbs.), and NaQuan Hardy (133 lbs.). Hardy is the only one projected to wrestle for the Bearcats against the Mules at 133 pounds.
• Ryan Strope is the top wrestler for the Bearcats at 157 pounds with a record 31-7 overall and a 14-3 dual record. Strope is also ranked third nationally at 157 pounds in the latest D2wrestle.com poll.
• Seven of the remaining nine wrestlers in the Bearcats projected lineup all have above .500 records. Nick Foster (174 lbs.) and NaQuan Hardy (133 lbs.) have the second best marks at 25-13 and 22-14, respectively.
• The Bearcats competed in four tournaments this season. Their best finish came at the Midwest Classic where they finished eighth in the 38 team field.

Probable Lineups
Central Missouri Mules
125: Open
133: John Feeney
141: Daide Agnew
149: Zachary Schridde
157: Steffon Fassett
165: Jesse Reser
174: Cody Carson or Cole Kemna
184: Brady Franklin
197: Grant Sparks
285: Chase Miller

#5 McKendree Bearcats
125: Jarrett Reisenbichler
133: NaQuan Hardy
141: Riley Beard
149: Isaiah Kemper
157: Ryan Strope
165: Brock Ringbermuehle
174: Nick Foster
184: J.J. Filipek
197: Qian'te Wagner
285: Christian Boyles