Below are five questions entering the Midlands.
ASU's Zahid Valencia enters the Midlands as the favorite at 174 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Which freshmen will shine?
The Midlands field includes several highly ranked freshmen. Among those ranked in the top 12 in their respective weight classes: Princeton's Matthew Kolodzik (141), Iowa's Michael Kemerer (157), as well as Arizona State's Anthony Valencia (165) and Zahid Valencia (174). Kolodzik, Kemerer and Zahid Valencia are all undefeated, while Anthony Valencia is 12-3 this season. There are several other freshmen looking to take the next step with a strong Midlands performance.
How will three-time Division III champion Riley Lefever fare?
Riley Lefever of Wabash College is a dominant force at the Division III level. He will be looking to capture his fourth NCAA Division III title in March. He has already proven that he can compete with the nation's best regardless of division. Earlier this season he notched a win over Nebraska's Aaron Studebaker, who is ranked No. 8 in Division I, on his way to winning the Harold Nichols Open. He also finished second at the Eastern Michigan Open competing against Division I competition. Lefever enters the Midlands as the No. 2 seed at 197 pounds -- behind Nathan Rotert of South Dakota State. If the seeds hold, Lefever and Studebaker will meet for the second time this season in the semifinals.
Will Jason Tsirtsis return to form?
Tsirtsis, a 2014 NCAA champion and two-time All-American, is coming off the most difficult year of his life. His sister passed away, as did his childhood best friend. He also battled injuries, and failed to reach the All-American podium for the first time in his college wrestling career. Tsirtsis transferred to Arizona State this season after he was put on academic probation and released from Northwestern. He is redshirting this season in Tempe, and competing up a weight class at 157 pounds. He returns to Evanston this week to compete at the Midlands, and is the No. 3 seed. He was a Midlands champion in 2015, and finished runner-up last year.
Ohio State's Myles Martin, a returning NCAA champion, is the No. 2 seed (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Who will win the loaded 184-pound weight class?
The 184-pound weight class is loaded with talent. It includes a dozen ranked wrestlers, including NCAA champion Myles Martin of Ohio State and NCAA runner-up T.J. Dudley of Nebraska. While those two are the top seeds (Dudley No. 1, Martin No. 2), it's far from a given those two will meet in the finals on Friday night. Returning All-Americans Pete Renda of NC State, Sam Brooks of Iowa and Nate Jackson of Indiana are also entered and capable of winning the bracket.
Is Sam Stoll healthy and ready to make an impact?
Iowa heavyweight Sam Stoll is making his season debut after recovering from a knee injury. Last season he looked to be on a track to reach the All-American podium before suffering an injury that hindered his performance greatly. He is currently ranked No. 5 and was given the No. 3 seed at the Midlands. He will look to improve on last year's third place finish at the Midlands. His performance this week should answer some questions on his health and potential impact this season.
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