Founded by Northwestern's Ken Kraft, the Midlands Championships are held every December in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The tournament has historically brought together the very best in amateur wrestling, and has provided the springboard for 81 Olympic wrestlers.
In the Midlands team race, Illinois enters as the three-time defending champion. In the 43-year history of the Midlands, only Iowa has won four-straight titles. Illinois will be hard pressed to reach that coveted fourth-straight championship. Many top-ranked teams including No. 5 Iowa, No. 6 Iowa State, No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Northwestern and No. 12 Central Michigan appear to be especially strong challengers for the title.
Last year's team race was the closest in 19 years. Illinois finished three points ahead of Central Michigan and in 1986 North Carolina edged the Sunkist Kids by 1.75 points. It is very possible the last match in this year's tournament could determine the title as several other ranked teams could make an impact in No. 19 Indiana, No. 22 Harvard and No. 24 West Virginia.
The Midlands continues to feature many wrestlers who will compete for national titles at the end of the season.
The 2006 Championships could also produce new members in the "20 in four club", where admission is accomplished by consistent performance starting at an early age and continuing through the wrester's first four Midlands. A competitor must win at least 20 matches in his four years to become a "20 in Four" man. This year could produce the 20th member in the 44-year history of the Midlands. Eighteen have made it with the latest being Cliff Moore who reached it in 2005. Those to watch include No. 3 Nick Simmons of Michigan State at 125 lbs. and Matt Lebe of West Virginia at 157 lbs.
Each year, two or three weight classes can be described as "Glamour Weights" at the Midlands. With six of the top eight wrestlers expected to enter, 141 lbs. certainly fits this category. No. 1 Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward) wrestles for host Northwestern and right behind him are Michigan State's No. 2 Andy Simmons, No. 3 Brandon Rader of West Virginia and fourth-ranked Alex Tsirtsis of Iowa. The other two in the top-eight are seventh-ranked Don Fisch of Rutgers and Northern Iowa's eighth-ranked C.J. Ettelson.
With four out of the top-eight looking to capture this year's title, 157 and 165 lbs. will be weights to watch in 2006. Iowa State's Trent Paulson, ranked second in the nation and Indiana's Brandon Becker, ranked third, highlight the field at 157 lbs. while Michigan's Eric Tannenbaum and Iowa's Mark Perry, the 2004 champion, will test Nick Balma of Northern Iowa, defending Midlands champion.
All weights will be highly competitive, but only ten individuals will be crowned "Midlands Champion", a noted accomplishment.
"Midlands is one of the best events in college wrestling," Northwestern head wrestling coach Tim Cysewski said. "A Midlands championship, a Big Ten championship and an NCAA championship, that's the triple crown of college wrestling."
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