No. 7 Virginia Tech defeated No. 8 Missouri wrestling 23-10 in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Tigers went into the dual with ten ranked wrestlers by InterMat and eight starters in the top 24 rankings by FloWrestling.
The critical matches were expected to be at the lightweight weight classes on Friday night. Last season, Kade Moore pinned Sam Latona (VT), which led to the momentum in Missouri’s win that year 22-17 in the Hearnes Center. However, Latona has bumped up to the 149-pound weight class this season and wrestled No. 12 Josh Edmond on Friday night.
Despite the assumption that the lightweights would push Missouri through the night, the heavyweights put Missouri back on the board after quick match drops by the lightweights to keep Missouri in possible contention for the dual win.
No. 14 Cam Steed came out energetic for Missouri after intermission with a three-point takedown over Mac Church (VT). Steed continued to hold onto the offensive position over Church to hold onto his lead heading into the second period. Steed held onto the defensive position over Church despite the two wrestlers receiving stalemate warnings. Steed secured another three-point takedown with 2 seconds left in the third period and defeated Church 8-1 by decision.
Advertisement
In an anticipated top 10 match, No. 1 Keegan O’Toole faced No. 4 Lenny Wolak (VT) to continue his move through the 174-pound bracket for O’Toole’s first time at the weight class for the Tigers.
O’Toole got a shot early to keep the match moving as he attacked Wolak’s legs. The two wrestlers tweaked their knees and hips at one point but kept going and maintained aggression against each other. O’Toole attempted to get multiple falls but was unable to finish through and only received takedowns. At the last second, O’Toole got a point to secure the major decision for Missouri 13-5.
— The NIL Store for Virginia Tech Athletes (@HokiesNILStore) November 16, 2024
No. 12 Colton Hawks seamlessly moved from defense to offense early over No. 5 TJ Stewart Jr. Hawks secured a three-point takedown early in the first period, followed by an almost near fall that was declined after a challenge by Missouri head coach Brian Smith.
Advertisement
Hawks stayed on top throughout the rest of the second period to win 4-1 and got a three-point attack early in the third period as Stewart Jr. attempted to spin out of Hawks’ grip. Hawks won the match 8-2.
In a valiant effort at the end of his match against No. 13 Andy Smith (VT), freshman Aeoden Sinclair secured two takedowns and almost a third as he dropped the match 9-12 to avoid a major decision win for Smith. Smith was able to hold onto that lead over Sinclair with escape points. Sinclair is the one to watch for Missouri at 197 pounds as No. 4 Rocky Elam continues his break from dual meets.
In the final dual match, No. 20 Seth Nitzel wrestled No. 15 Jimmy Mullen from Virginia Tech. Mullen quickly attacked Nitzel’s legs, securing a three-point takedown early in the bout. Although Nitzel managed to earn a point for riding time, it wasn’t sufficient to claim victory, and he ultimately lost the match with a score of 2-4.
At 125 pounds, Missouri was missing Noah Surtin again, and Gage Walker stepped on the mat for the Tigers against No. 13 Eddie Ventresca (VT). Walker started the match with a solid start to get the early three-point takedown. However, Walker’s continuous fight to hold the lead was lost to Ventreca’s riding time point to defeat Walker by a decision 6-5.
No. 10 Connor McGonagle (VT) bests No. 29 Kade Moore 3-0 to extend Virginia Tech’s lead 6-0 heading into the 141-pound match. Following Moore, Edmond dropped his match against No. 18 Sam Latona (VT), 4-2. Edmond made a late attempt to get the takedown and win the match but could not finish through in time.
Advertisement
No. 24 Logan Gioffre hit the mat to wrestle No. 1 Caleb Henson (VT), the defending NCAA Champion at 149 pounds. After the first period, the two were scoreless, but in the second period, Gioffre began to struggle to get on top in the offensive stance, leading Henson to a four-point near fall. Henson won the match by a major decision, 9-0.
Missouri continued to struggle to get on the board as No. 32 James Conway fell to No. 25 Rafael Hipolito Jr. (VT) 11-3, a major decision. Conway tried to fight back in the match, but Hipolito Jr. was able to hold off Conway’s advances.
The Tigers will travel to No. 16 Illinois on Thursday, November 21, at 7 p.m. C.T., at Huff Hall in Champaign, Illinois.
Children in the Jefferson City area received custom-built playhouses Saturday during River City Habitat for Humanity’s first Playhouse Build event at Capital Mall.
Local businesses, volunteers and community organizations spent the day assembling and decorating the playhouses. Each playhouse was designed around a child’s favorite colors, hobbies and interests.
The children and their families were presented with the finished playhouses at the end of the event.
Advertisement
River City Habitat for Humanity said the event was created to give children a special place to imagine and play while bringing the community together in support of the organization’s mission.
“A playhouse may seem like a simple structure, but to a child it’s a castle, a clubhouse, a fort, or a place where their imagination can come to life,” Susan Cook, the executive director of River City Habitat for Humanity, said in a news release. “We hope this becomes a tradition that our community looks forward to each year.”
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Advertisement
Nine teams participated in the inaugural event, including Hitachi, Samco Business Products, Jefferson City Medical Group, the Home Builders Association, Capital City Business Builders BNI, Jefferson City Parks, Habitat Women Build and community volunteer teams.
Hitachi served as the event’s presenting sponsor.
“Our team was super excited about sponsoring it because we are giving back to the community and we are giving back to little people,” Leanna Ritter, a Hitachi Energy employee, said. “What’s better than little people?”
Advertisement
Scruggs Lumber donated the plywood used to build the playhouses, and Sherwin-Williams donated the paint.
River City Habitat for Humanity has partnered with local families, volunteers, businesses and community organizations since 1993. The nonprofit says it has helped build more than 138 affordable homes in the Jefferson City area.
This Missouri lake is among the cleanest in America
A new study tracking data from 2020 to 2025 says Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is the fourth cleanest lake in the country.
One of Missouri’s largest lakes is among the cleanest in the nation, according to a new report.
A study conducted by Lake.com, a vacation rental platform for properties near or on water, focused on the 100 largest lakes in the United States and their chemical data from Jan. 1, 2020, to July 15, 2025.
Advertisement
The lakes were tested for eight of the most commonly measured characteristics that can suggest their cleanliness, including pH, ammonia and lead.
What’s the cleanest lake in Missouri?
Lake.com rated the Lake of the Ozarks as the fourth-cleanest lake in the country.
The lake earned a 1.85 out of 10 in its pollution score, bolstered primarily by its low pH and sulfate levels, as well as its lack of lead and ammonia.
The report listed the following measurements for the lake:
Advertisement
Dissolved oxygen: 7.5 mg/L
Phosphorus: 0.01 mg/L
Sulfate: 1.66 mg/L
Turbidity: 2.3 NTU
Difference from pH7: 2.3 pH
Pollution score: 1.85/10
What did Lakes.com have to say about Lake of the Ozarks?
“With 54,000 surface acres and 1,150 miles of shoreline, more coastline than the entire state of California, it is the largest non-flood-control man-made lake in the United States. The lake’s distinctive serpentine shape, stretching 92 miles from Bagnell Dam to the lake’s western reach, earned it the nickname “The Magic Dragon.” The lake extends across four Missouri counties, Camden, Morgan, Miller, and Benton, with the city of Osage Beach at the busy southeastern junction of the main channel and the Grand Glaize arm serving as the region’s commercial hub.”
What are the cleanest lakes in the nation?
Lake.com lists these lakes as the cleanest in the nation:
Lake Superior (Michigan/Minnesota/Wisconsin/Ontario)
Lake Chelan (Washington)
Lake Hartwell (Georgia/South Carolina)
Lake of the Ozarks (Missouri)
Lake Pend Oreille (Idaho)
Lake Winnibigoshish (Minnesota)
Kentucky Lake (Kentucky/Tennessee)
Lake Norman (North Carolina)
Lake Mead (Arizona/Nevada)
Flathead Lake (Montana)
Spending time outdoors in Missouri? Watch out for these 13 critters
What are the dirtiest lakes in the nation?
Lake.com lists the following lakes as the dirtiest lakes in the nation:
Phoenix’s Stage 1 fire restrictions could limit where people can use fireworks ahead of Fourth of July celebrations. Phoenix leaders say professional fireworks shows are still planned, but they’re urging residents to leave the fireworks to the pros. Under the city’s updated rules, fireworks are banned on city property and within one mile of mountain preserves, desert parks and wilderness areas. Pop-up fireworks tents are appearing across the city, but police are already checking for vendors selling without permits. Anyone caught setting off fireworks illegally could face a $2,500 fine, possible jail time and even bigger costs if they start a fire.
