Sports
Walters Tops Mizzou’s Butler
By: Abbey Carnivale
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Earlier this season, Mizzou’s Blaise Butler beat Ohio’s redshirt senior Cody Walters twice. Butler got in the way of Walters’ fourth conference title, and Walters was going to make sure Butler did not get in his way on the national stage.
Walters sat in his hotel room, watching his most recent loss, only two weeks ago, Blaise over and over again. He was visualizing a win and an All-American title.
It worked.
The first period flew by with neither wrestler scoring any points. It looked liked another close contest, but Walters got on the board first with an escape. One point isn’t a comfortable lead in any contest though, and it was short lived. Butler answered with a takedown and pulled ahead 2-1. Walters fired back with another escape, and the match was back to even at two.
The third period expired, sending the match into overtime. With around thirty seconds left in sudden victory overtime, Walters was able to deal with a Butler clutching to his leg, going through the back door and getting a takedown.
Walters looked in the stands across the arena, pointed to his parents. He was a two-time All-American.
“The goal is third now. I lost, but I can come back and get the next best thing,” said Walters. “Next is top six, then I’ll go from there.”
Next up for Walters is Penn’s Casey Kent.