Nathan McCormick wrestles at Nationals. (photo courtesy Mizzou Athletics)
The University of Missouri wrestling program had to overcome many obstacles after the school announced it was leaving the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference, which did not sponsor wrestling. However, behind the leadership of head coach Brian Smith, the program persevered by finding a new home in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and finished with rankings in the top 10.
Missouri capped off 2013 with a seventh-place finish at Nationals after accumulating 56.5 team points. Alan Waters, Nathan McCormick, Drake Houdashelt, Mike Larson, and Dom Bradley received medals this year at the 2013 NCAA Championships. The five total All-Americans ties the program’s mark set in 2009 in St. Louis.
Smith was also named the 2013 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, just one season after being named Coach of the Year last year in the Big 12.
Plus, it was just announced today that McCormick was nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award, which is a $15,000 scholarship. McCormick, Mizzou’s Male McWhorter nominee, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Management in December 2012 and is currently working toward a Master of Business Administration degree.
Coach Smith joins me on this Google Hangout to discuss the past several months on and off the mats, plus we look ahead to what the future holds not just for Mizzou wrestling, but the sport as a whole. Follow me on Google +, sign up for an account and you can join me on a future Google Hangout.