CFFC Match Day recap: Keegan O'Toole nets win No. 100, but Iowa State edges out Missouri, 21-18
Cyclones open strong, survive furious Tigers rally, to close out Big 12 season on UFC FIGHT PASS.
COLUMBIA, Missouri – Senior Day inside the Hearnes Center had plenty of highlights for the University of Missouri faithful, but ultimately it was the visiting Iowa State University Cyclones who left the building with a victory in the final CFFC Match Day event of the 2024-25 season.
The No. 12-ranked Cyclones took home six wins in 10 matches to earn a 21-18 result in the NCAA Division I wrestling dual, which streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Iowa State set the tone early, with sophomores Ethan Perryman and Garrett Grice each stepping into the lineup to replace ranked teammates but delivering with early points for the Cyclones. Perryman's decision win over No. 32 Gage Walker at 125 pounds gave Iowa State an early 3-0 lead, and Grice followed at 133 with a stunning pin of two-time Outstanding Wrestler belt winner Kade Moore, giving the Cyclones an unexpected nine-point lead after just two matches.
Sophomores Jacob Frost and Paniro Johnson added another pair of decision wins for Iowa State, and the lead pushed to 15-0 after four.
Heading into halftime, Missouri needed a spark, and they got one from unranked sophomore James Conway at 157 pounds, taking out the No. 11-ranked Cody Chittum with an incredibly impressive decision win, moving his CFFC Match Day record to 3-0 on the season and clawing back a few points for the Tigers heading into the break.
Missouri came alive following that initial dagger, with sophomore Cam Steed opening up the second half of the dual with an emphatic second-period pin over an overmatched Aiden Riggins.
Then, it was Missouri legend Keegan O'Toole's time to shine.
The two-time NCAA Division I National Champion and four-time All-American closed out his final home appearance as a Tiger in spectacular fashion, scoring a second straight fall for the team and earning his 100th career collegiate win, against just four losses.
It was an amazing individual moment, especially on Keegan O’Toole Bobblehead Night, and it also brought his team back into a 15-15 tie with three matches to go.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, Iowa State's Evan Bockman and Nate Schon then registered two straight decision wins for the Cyclones, giving them a 21-15 lead going into the 10th and final match of the day.
Missouri's Seth Nitzel ended the day on a positive note for the Tigers, securing an 8-3 decision win, but the Cyclones walked away with a hard-fought 21-18 victory, and Grice was awarded the night's Outstanding Wrestler belt for his early heroics.
The dual served as the regular season finale for both teams, who will now move on to the Big 12 Championship in two weeks' time. It was also the final CFFC Match Day event of the season, closing out the second year for the series on UFC FIGHT PASS.
COMPLETE MISSOURI VS. IOWA STATE RESULTS INCLUDE:
• 125: Ethan Perryman (ISU) def. Gage Walker (MIZZ) via decision (7-4)
• 133: Garrett Grice (ISU) def. Kade Moore (MIZZ) via fall (4:22)
• 141: Jacob Frost (ISU) def. Josh Edmond (MIZZ) via decision (9-8)
• 149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) def. Logan Gioffre (MIZZ) via decision (4-1)
• 157: James Conway (MIZZ) def. Cody Chittum (ISU) via decision (9-3)
• 165: Cam Steed (MIZZ) def. Aiden Riggins (ISU) via fall (3:31)
• 174: Keegan O'Toole (MIZZ) def. Cade Schmidt (ISU) via fall (6:24)
• 184: Evan Bockman (ISU) def. Colton Hawks (MIZZ) via decision (1-0)
• 197: Nate Schon (ISU) def. Jesse Cassatt (MIZZ) via decision (4-2)
• 285: Seth Nitzel (MIZZ) def. Daniel Herrera (ISU) via decision (9-3)
