OUTLOOK: Returning for his third season as Missouri's starter at 157 pounds is junior Michael Chandler. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Chandler is ranked as high as ninth in the nation (W.I.N. Magazine). The 2007-08 campaign marks Chandler's first year as a team captain.

"Michael is a great leader," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "He has a work ethic that is second to none. Over the past two seasons, Michael has fallen short of his goals of an NCAA title. He's not going to let that happen again. He worked hard in the off-season to prepare for this year and both the staff and Michael are expecting big things from him."

2006-07: Earning a 6-5 win by decision over Oklahoma's Will Rowe in the third-place match of the Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo., Chandler received his first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Chandler went 3-2 on the National stage, taking a round one win over Kurt Gross of Kent State, 7-5. After suffering a loss to Bubba Jenkins of Penn State, Chandler quickly rebounded with a win by fall over Tyler Sherfey of Boise State in 2:23. Continuing through the wrestle-backs, Chandler topped ninth-seeded Chris Oliver of Nebraska 11-2, an opponent he had fallen to twice during regular season competition. Chandler's run at a top-eight finish came to an end at the hands of Ryan Hluschak of Drexel, when he lost, 10-5. Finishing the Big 12 Championships with a 2-1 record, Chandler suffered an opening round loss to Oliver, 3-2, but won back-to-back victories against Oklahoma State's Newly McSpadden (7-2) and Rowe of Oklahoma. Competing at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Cliff Keen National Duals, Jan. 14, Chandler helped Missouri to a 27-9 victory over then No. 3 Oklahoma State. Wrestling McSpadden, Chandler won the decision, 4-2. Chandler finished sixth at the 25th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, helping Missouri to its first Vegas Invitational title in program history. Additionally, Chandler took fourth at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C., and second at the Missouri Open.

2005-06: The first Missouri redshirt freshman in two years (Ben Askren, 2004) to qualify for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Chandler fell short of All-American honors after going 1-2 against three of the top-six wrestlers in the nation. Opening against fourth-ranked Matt Lebe of West Virginia, unseeded Chandler locked up a 3-2 victory to advance in the championship bracket. Battling with eventual 2006 NCAA Champion Ben Cherrington of Boise State, Chandler lost an 8-1 decision to fall to the consolation bracket, where he was eliminated by sixth-ranked Brandon Becker of Indiana, 10-4. Chandler made his first NCAA appearance after earning one of eight wild card bids from the Big 12 coaches. Finishing fourth at the Big 12 Championships, March 4, in Ames, Iowa, Chandler proved to be one of the hottest wrestlers at 157 pounds and owned 18 wins heading into the NCAA Championships. In tournament action, Chandler finished second at the Missouri Open Nov. 20. A consistent starter at 157 pounds, Chandler collected four wins over Big 12 opponents, including a fall over then-No. 17 Chris Oliver of Nebraska in 2:15 at the Big 12 Championships.

2004-05: Chandler pinned his first collegiate opponent in the second match of the Lindenwood Open Nov. 4, defeating Luke Purne of Meramec in 47 seconds. Chandler recorded three falls and two technical falls on the season. A member of the 157-pound weight class, Chandler placed in the top six of three tournaments, including a second-place finish at the Oklahoma Open on Nov. 27, and compiled a 20-14 record for the year.

HIGH SCHOOL: A member of the Northwest High School Class of 2004, Chandler finished second at the Missouri State High School Championships his senior year (2004) at 152 pounds. Chandler was named the Most Valuable Player in 2004 and was selected to the All-St. Louis Team for his skills on the mat. Coached by Bob and Ron Wilhelm, Chandler was a member of the Lion honor roll and played three years of football, earning four letters before graduation.

PERSONAL: Michael Chandler is the son of Michael and Betty Chandler and has two brothers, Matthew (17) and Eric (19) and one sister, Danielle (30). Chandler was born April 24, 1986, in High Ridge, Mo., and is majoring in personal finance management services with a minor in real estate.