The Big 12 men’s basketball championship tips off this week in Kansas City, but that’s just one of four sports that are contested in the conference over the winter months.
↵Championships in indoor track and field and swimming a diving were held last weekend, and this weekend wrestling took the center ring. In a bit of a surprise, Missouri walked off with its first Big 12 title in wrestling, edging favorite Oklahoma State by just four points.
↵Only four conference teams compete in wrestling – Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Missouri – and Missouri has the least national recognition and tradition of the four in the sport.
↵The Tigers sent eight of their weight-class entries to the championship round and four won individual titles. Missouri qualified nine of its grapplers for the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 15-17 in St. Louis.