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 two-time defending champion. In the 42-year history of Midlands, only two teams--Iowa and Iowa State--have garnered three-straight team titles.
"We look forward to going to Midlands every year because it's one of the premier college tournaments of the season. We're proud to have won it the past two years," Illinois head wrestling coach Mark Johnson said.
Based on W.I.N. Magazine's latest team rankings, this year's Midlands team race could be one of the closest in recent history. No. 3 Iowa, No. 4 Illinois, No. 7 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 13 Northwestern, No. 15 Central Michigan, No. 17 Michigan State and No. 20 Penn all have a legitimate shot at winning the team race.
This year's event features a plethora of talented wrestlers who could compete for national titles at the end of the season.
The 125-pound weight class could be the tournament's deepest weight, with 10 of the nation's top-20 ranked wrestlers expected to compete--including Indiana's Joe Dubuque, the early favorite to win the national title. Also competing is Michigan State's Nick Simmons, ranked No. 5 nationally, who won his first Midlands individual title in 2004.
The 157-pound class should also be strong, with the four of the nation's top five wrestlers expected to compete. Illinois' Alex Tirapelle returns to Midlands after winning the 157-pound title in 2004.
Iowa's third-ranked Mark Perry also returns for a shot to win his second Midlands title, only this year he eyes up the 174-pound title. Last year, Perry won five-straight matches to win the 165-pound weight class as the No. 3 seed.
Perry has his work cut out for him, as he will have to deal with Northwestern's second-ranked Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny). Herbert, a sophomore, took home the 174-pound crown in 2004.
The nation's second- through fifth-ranked wrestlers at 184 lbs. are expected to compete in 2005 as well, setting the stage for exciting competition from the bottom to the top weight classes.
"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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