This article provides a comprehensive overview of Rocky Elam's wrestling career, highlighting his achievements and statistics. Elam, a senior at Missouri, has established himself as a prominent figure in collegiate wrestling. Let's delve into his journey and accomplishments.
Early Career and Achievements
In the summer of 2021, Rocky Elam qualified for the UWW Junior World Championships at 92 kg and became the 92 kg champion in his freshman year. He achieved significant success early in his career, setting the stage for his collegiate accomplishments.
Collegiate Career at Missouri
Rocky Elam was one of the most impressive wrestlers to watch this season for the Tigers. He has been a consistent performer for the Missouri Tigers, contributing significantly to the team's success. Missouri finished the 2023-24 season 10-4 with a 6-3 record in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers placed fourth at the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship, snapping their 12-straight conference win streak, and 11th at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
As of the 2024-25 season, No. 13 Missouri is 1-1. The team stays in thirteenth place in the InterMat rankings after falling to Virginia Tech 23-10 on Nov. 15. Many of the Tiger's starting 10 are new faces for fans, some new to the team and others just becoming starters. InterMat also updated individual wrestling rankings after duals finished for the week on Sunday, and nine Tigers were ranked in their respective weight classes.
Season Records and Statistics
While he finished the season with the lowest match total of his collegiate career, Rocky was still able to showcase his talents on the mat. Standing in for seventeen total bouts, Rocky outpaced his opponents only allowing three takedowns while collecting thirty-six of his own.
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Key statistics from past seasons include:
- 2022-23 Record: 15-2
NCAA Performances
Elam has consistently performed well at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, earning All-American honors multiple times. He entered the NCAA Championships as a top contender inside his weight bracket looking to cap his season on top. Reaching the semifinals bout, he was faced with a Big 12 finals rematch against Tanner Sloan (SDSU) but this time the results weren’t as favorable. After being bounced to the consolations, Tigers fans witnessed the grit and mentality it takes to rebound from heartbreak. He capped off his season run with a third-place finish and became a 3x All-American.
His NCAA Championship finishes include:
- 2021: 5th place
- 2022: 4th place
- 2023: 3rd place
- 2024: 6th place
Rocky has now slowly worked his way up the charts when reaching the NCAA Championships with a 5th in 2021, 4th in 2022, and now a 3rd in 2023. All that’s left to do is reach the finals stage, bypass that second-place medal, and win the whole damn thing!
Big 12 Conference
Elam has also excelled in the Big 12 Conference, securing titles and high placements. He finished the 2023-24 season 14-6 and placed second at the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. In 2021, he was the MAC Champion at 197 pounds; in 2023, he was the Big 12 Champion at 197 pounds.
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NWCA All-Star Classic
Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam will meet in the 197-pound match at the NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen on November 22 in Austin, Texas. Both Warner and Elam are two of the top wrestlers in the country at their weight class and are two of the favorites to contend for an NCAA title this year.
Quick Stats Comparison
Before we dive into this bout, take a look at a snapshot of both Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam’s college careers. Below you'll see their college records, finishes at NCAAs, and a hitlist of their wins over past All-Americans.
| Wrestler | College Record | NCAA Finishes | Key Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Warner, Iowa | 76-19 | 2nd (2022), 4th (2021), 7th (2019) | Stephen Buchanan (2X), Eric Schultz (3X), Gavin Hoffman (2X) |
| Rocky Elam, Missouri | 41-9 | 4th (2022), 5th (2021) | Gavin Hoffman, Eric Schultz (2X), Nino Bonaccorsi |
What To Expect At The All-Star
Despite being two of the top 197-pound wrestlers in the country for the past two years, Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam have never met in their college careers. Looking at some common opponents reveals how evenly matched they are “on paper”. Warner has defeated Stephen Buchanan twice - an opponent who defeated Elam three times. However, Elam has wins over Eric Schultz, Younger Bastida, and Jake Woodley - all opponents who have past wins over Warner. So who has the edge?
Jacob Warner closed out his season last year with an outstanding NCAA tournament when he took out Eric Schultz and Stephen Buchanan to make the NCAA finals. Though he fell just short against Max Dean in the finals match, Warner should be considered the slight favorite in this matchup against Elam. Warner showed great ability on top in the NCAA tournament last year riding Schultz out for the entire second period and even turning Buchanan in the semis. That top ability could prove to be the difference in the match against Elam.
Despite Warner outperforming Elam at the NCAA tournament last year, Elam is absolutely capable of taking out Warner at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Elam is a big, athletic 197-pounder who is able to get to the legs of almost any opponent. Elam will absolutely create opportunities to score with his leg attacks - the key against Warner will be finishing quickly and getting out from bottom.
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Current Status and Future Prospects
As of November 2024, Rocky Elam has not competed this season as he continues to recover from a previous injury. According to head coach Brian Smith, Elam is drilling again but hasn't gone live yet, indicating a gradual return to full activity. The focus is on ensuring he is healthy and ready for the end of the year.
With his proven track record and continuous improvement, Elam has the potential to achieve even greater success in his remaining collegiate years. All that’s left to do is reach the finals stage, bypass that second-place medal, and win the whole damn thing!
The Tigers will head to No. 16 Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 21.