OUTLOOK: Luke Cherep will rely on the tournament experience he gained last season to help further adjust to the faster paced level of collegiate wrestling. "Luke truly enjoys the sport of wrestling," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "He puts in a lot of time on the mat and will battle to see time behind All-American Tyler McCormick at 133 pounds." 2006-07: Redshirting his first year with the Tigers, Cherep finished fourth at the Missouri Valley Open, Feb. 3. After dropping his opening round bout, 9-0, Cherep rebounded with a win by technical fall, 16-0, over Jake Lehman of Central Missouri State University in 5:40 followed by a 1-0 win by decision over Brice Wasserman of Oklahoma Central. Cherep opened his season with a win by fall in 2:56 over Clayton Wise of Missouri Baptist at the Lindenwood Open. Three of Cherep's eight wins on the season were by fall, the fastest clocked at 51 seconds over Matt Korinek of Buena Vista at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Open, Dec. 3.

HIGH SCHOOL: Wrestling at Naperville Central High in Naperville Ill., Cherup wrestled at 125 pounds. He earned the school's Red and White Award as a top athlete in the school and lettered in both wrestling and football during his time as a Redhawk.

PERSONAL: Luke was born on Oct. 13, 1987, to Terry and Barbara Cherup. He is the oldest of three children, with one sister, Leah (16) and one brother, Kirk (13). While at Mizzou is studying engineering.