The Eastern wrestlers continue their tour of some of the best wrestlers in the country when they travel to compete in the Missouri Open.

The all day tournament at Columbia, Mo., includes Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Iowa State, Illinois, Arizona State and Indiana.

This meet will be different from the previous two meets Eastern has been in because it will split into a freshman/sophomore group and an upperclassmen group.

“This is kind of nice because it changes the focus a little bit,” Eastern coach Ralph McCausland said. “There will be six mats going on one side and six going on the other side.”

The Panthers have had luck in both the Michigan State and Central Missouri Opens, and the success has been from both the experienced and inexperienced wrestlers.

Upperclassmen Pat Dowty, Matt Veach, Clay French and Pete Ziminski have all done their parts this year, but younger wrestlers like Ken Robertson have also emerged.

Robertson has placed in both tournaments thus far with a 4th place finish last weekend and has done well in his first collegiate season.

McCausland said there are others on their way.

“We’ve got freshmen who are 3-2 in some of the tournaments and that’s kind of exciting,” McCausland said. “We are pleased with our progress and development. It’s just nice because these guys are working so hard.”

Freshmen Jason Sherko (197) and Adam Beeler (149) both finished one match away from placing at Central Missouri while McCausland said many others have also been doing well.

Dowty finished in second last weekend with a 4-1 record at 133, improving on his seventh place finish at Michigan State.

Dowty, a two-time NCAA qualifier, has wrestled well against some of the toughest competition with one of his victories coming against the sixth-ranked wrestler in the country in the 133-pound weight class.

“Dowty is in the rankings already, and we hope to have others follow,” McCausland said.

McCausland also has liked the way his team has come together and supported each other in these first couple of weeks.

“When one guy is wrestling, there are five or six in the corner watching,” McCausland said. “That’s a reflection of the success they have had already.”