For the third straight year, Missouri grappler Ben Askren will wrestle in the NCAA championship match at 174 pounds. This time, the Tiger junior expects to win. In each of the last two years, Askren lost the title match to Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State. Pendleton graduated after last year’s championship run, and Askren hasn’t lost since. He improved to 44-0 on the year with a 21-6 win over Mike Patrovich of Hofstra in last night’s semifinal round. Askren, ranked No. 1 in the country, will face No. 2 Jake Herbert of Northwestern in tonight’s title match. With a win, Askren will become Missouri’s first individual wrestling national champion.
