Mizzou Links for April 22, 2024.
The greatest Mizzou Tiger ever?
Something happened late last week that was never acknowledged on the site. So I think we should take a moment to do so.
What a moment.
Olympic medalist J’den Cox leaves his shoes on the mat to signify his retirement from wrestling.
@peacock & @USANetwork@USAWrestling | #WrestlingTrials24 pic.twitter.com/VHiS137HAQ
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) April 20, 2024
On Friday at the USA Wrestling Trials, J’Den Cox, one of the best Mizzou athletes of all time, lost in the semi-finals and left his shoes on the mat. It’s an old wrestling tradition, one that signifies you’re leaving the shoes there for good — in retirement.
J’den Cox is arguably the greatest individual athlete in Mizzou history. The wrestling program’s first three-time champion, Cox reached heights never before seen by an individual in black and gold. He was a four-time All-American and conference champion, a two-time World Champion and five-time medalist, and a bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics. Cox won just about everything you can possibly win as a wrestler, one of the most dominant athletes to have ever come out of Columbia.
It’s been a difficult few years for Cox as he prepared for the 2024 Olympics. He was scheduled to compete at the 2020 Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prior to those games, Cox was late to his weigh-in at a Trials meet, meaning he was disqualified from competing. He recovered strong, heading to the World Championships on a hot streak before losing in the semifinals and taking home the bronze medal. From there, Cox seemed to slow a bit before returning to wrestle for one last shot at Olympic gold this summer. After losing his semifinals match to Ohio State alumnus Kollin Moore, Cox decided to take off his shoes for good.
We’ll have more about Cox on the site at a later date, once portal madness has died down. Sufficed to say, Cox wasn’t only one of the most dominant athletes Mizzou ever had… he also was one of the best people to represent the university at the level he did. We may not get to enjoy as much success in any one sport as Cox brought to us in his time as a Tiger, so it’s been a privilege to watch him go out and make a name for himself. That 2016 Olympics run was special. Here’s to hoping his post-wrestling days are filled with joy — there’s no question he’ll have unparalleled success at whatever comes next.
Yesterday at Rock M
- In which a few more updates are made to the football and basketball transfer trackers
- In which Mizzou Baseball doesn’t have quite enough to take a series from LSU
More Links:
- Another Mizzou Tiger on the Chiefs? I can see it.
THREAD: #Chiefs held a pre-draft visit with Mizzou RB Cody Schrader (per @AaronWilson_NFL )
The former Truman State Bulldog has legit one-cut burst, and he reads the flow of defenses well to set it up pic.twitter.com/h8d7cwOeOY
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) April 22, 2024
- Sean East II is chasing a career in pro hoops starting this year, and he’s off to a good start!
The All-Tournament team for the 70th annual PIT #PIT24 pic.twitter.com/a9vUexnIBq
— P.I.T. (@PIT_Basketball) April 21, 2024
#CombineAlum Sean East II @Rise_Shine_55
at Portsmouth Invitational @PIT_Basketball
3 games (2nd place finish)26.0 mpg (off the bench)
20.0ppg
21/37 FG 57%
16/17 FT 95%
4.0rpg
2.0apg
+18 +/- pic.twitter.com/VHu9gLq7ED— Coach Nate (@TheCoachNat) April 21, 2024
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