On the surface, virtually everything looked great for the Missouri Tigers during the past month. 

They followed up a Tiger Style Invite title with three dominating dual performances that netted 24 individual match wins. Their veterans have been churning out bonus-point victories, and their lineup has been bolstered by the return of All-American 197-pounder Rocky Elam. 

But Missouri coach Brian Smith sees areas where the Tigers can — and need to — improve. 

“Just the little things as a program that we're kind of taking for granted,” Smith said last week prior to the Tigers’ 40-6 win against Wyoming. “Things that we're doing as a program that we have to improve at for everybody — from coaches to athletes — that we're not gonna be a national championship team if we kind of try to coast through things or whatever it may be. I just called the whole program out on it. There's some things we have to get better at because we won't be great if we choose to do it the easier way, but overall, we're healthy and preparing for future competitors.”

Tougher tests are on the horizon. The Tigers battle Air Force and Illinois before the holiday break and then return home Jan. 8 to take on #10 Virginia Tech. In the month after that, Mizzou will tangle with #3 Cornell and #9 Oklahoma State. 

Now’s the time for the Tigers to put money in the bank, according to two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole. 

“A little bit more work here and there,” he said. “Whether that's going into stretch, hitting the cold tub, getting an extra lift in, extra practice, extra drill, getting weight off, going in with a guy who needs to get weight off and don't just be there for moral support. I think that actions speak a lot louder than words, but also being honest with your team, being honest with yourself is super important and not being afraid to have those uncomfortable conversations. If you look at any amazing players, teams, all of them keep each other accountable. So that's what, that's all I try to do.”

The New Guys 

The core of Missouri’s starting lineup has been together for almost four seasons now and Smith has been able to bank on high-level production from that group. 

But Missouri’s lineup has gotten an early-season boost from a couple of new starters. 

Junior 149-pounder Logan Gioffre notched a 4-1 overtime win against #25 Willie McDougald of Oklahoma during the Tigers’ 30-12 dual victory against the Sooners. 

“This is his first year starting and he doesn't have an easy schedule,” Smith said. “He's had a lot of tough guys. … He's had a lot of tough competition now, of course, in the room, above him (157-pounder Brock Mauller is) an All-American and (141-pound NCAA qualifier Josh) Edmond below him. He's wrestling with toughness. But he's a hard-nosed kid. We're loving him in the lineup. He's doing good things.” 

It’s no surprise to those who have seen Gioffre in the Mizzou practice room. 

“That man is probably one of the most driven people I have ever met,” O’Toole said.

Gioffre posted a 15-6 record two years ago at 149 pounds and went 13-6 last year at 157. Back down at 149 again, the Cal Poly transfer’s confidence is growing. 

“I'm feeling pretty good, I definitely feel a lot faster, a little bit lighter being down 149,” he said. “It is a little bit of an adjustment, but just like anything there's a little bit of a learning curve to it. But (I’m) making the right adjustments and now I feel good.”

“I feel like every match and every dual meet environment that I get, I gain more experience, I gain more knowledge, I get more confidence. The more reps I get in the better and better I'm gonna get. I think I'm on the right path and I believe in myself. We have probably one of the toughest rooms in the country and the deepest rooms in the country.”

Near the back end of the Mizzou lineup, freshman Clayton Whiting is off to a 7-0 start at 184 with five bonus-point victories. His only two regular decisions came against teammates Colton Hawks and Sean Harman. 

Whiting has outscored his last three opponents by a combined 47-11 count. 

“Whiting is wrestling lights out right now,” Smith said. “He's just attacking people, and he did it the last few matches too. He's a freshman that has confidence. He's rolling like that with the three-point takedowns, the way he's shooting his high-crotch right now, It's hard to stop that lefty high-crotch. When he has to ride he does, but he's just scoring. But you know, he's got to improve. He's going to have to ride more in tight matches.”

Whiting said his wrestling has taken a big jump since his first year on campus in Columbia. 

“The physicality of just hand fighting and the pace is just so much different,” he said. “Just staying after practice extra and doing little things I feel like has helped me make the biggest jump for my wrestling career so far.”