Mizzou signs two-time NCAA qualifier out of transfer portal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou wrestling head coach Brian Smith is bolstering his roster for the 2025-26 season.

Tiger Style scored a veteran wrestler in the transfer portal, signing redshirt senior Evan Bates. The Northwestern transfer has one year of eligibility remaining after spending the last four seasons with the Wildcats.

Bates has earned back-to-back NCAA Championship berths at 197 pounds, tallying a win in his national tournament debut in 2024 and upsetting the No. 25-ranked wrestler in his weight class at NCAA's last season. The Indiana native owns a 69-48 career record and finished the 2024-25 campaign as the No. 20-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds (InterMat), defeating nine ranked opponents and posting five pins, five technical falls and three major decision victories as a redshirt junior.

"Evan is graduating with an engineering degree and has outstanding wrestling accomplishments. His maturity and experience on and off the mat will be valuable to a young team this year," Smith said in a press release. "His leadership will help us do great things."

The former Indiana State Champion is also reuniting with Northwestern teammate Max Mayfield, who also signed with the team this offseason. Mayfield is a three-time NCAA qualifier in the 165-pound weight class with a 62-41 career record.

MU is preparing for a bounce back season after ending an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign with an overall record below the .500-mark for the first time in more than two decades. Despite the regular season struggles, the Tigers still sent six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships that season.