NU to Compete in Midlands

The two-day, four-session event at Welsh-Ryan Arena begins Saturday

Dec. 27, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill.-- Ninth-ranked Northwestern will take a break from its dual meet schedule where it owns a three-match win streak to participate in the 45th annual Midlands Championships on Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday Dec. 30, at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Last year, three Northwestern wrestlers finished atop their brackets to win the 44th Midlands and put their titles on the line this year.

A weight-by-weight preview of Midlands "45" follows:

125 lbs.--Defending champion Angel Escobedo (Indiana) appears to be the favorite in a weight class where seven of the 2006 place winners are expected to return. Three of those seven, however, have moved up to 133 lbs. this year. Challenging Escobedo are a trio of Big Ten opponents in Charlie Falck, Iowa; Brandon Precin, Northwestern and Gabe Flores, Illinois. Others in the mix are: Tanner Gardner, Stanford; Javier Maldanado, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Luke Smith, Central Michigan; Brandon Kinney, Columbia and Mark Kist, Iowa State.

133 lbs.--Nick Simmons of Michigan State seeks his fourth straight title (dependant on entry), an accomplishment only reached by seven individuals in Midlands history. Other than Simmons, the top four contenders in this class are: Jimmy Kennedy, Illinois; Franklin Gomez, Michigan State; Andrae Hernandez, Indiana and Nick Fanthorpe, Iowa State. Other entrants are: Eric Metzler, Northwestern; Pat Castillo, Northern Illinois; Joe Slaton, Iowa; Steve Hromada, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Connor Beebe, Central Michigan.

141 lbs.--This weight class is very evenly matched with defending champ Ryan Lang (Northwestern) moving up to 149 lbs. this year. Vying for the title are: Alex Tsirtsis, Iowa; C.J. Ettleson, Northern Iowa; Don Fisch, Rider, along with: Drew Headlee, Pitt and Nick Gallick, Iowa State. Also looking for their first titles are contenders: Sal Tirico, Columbia; Eric Kruger, Central Michigan; Corey Jantzen (2006 133lbs. Midlands placewinner as a high school student), Harvard; Troy Tirapelle, Illinois and Carter Downing, Wyoming.

149 lbs.--Weight movement plays a major impact in the 149-lbs. weight class, with defending 141-lbs. champion Ryan Lang moving up in weight along with Mitch Mueller of Iowa State. Two more participants who placed in the 2006 Midlands are back, and will also be considered as top contenders for the championship, as J.P. O'Connor of Harvard and Jake Patacsil of Purdue are both highly ranked nationally. Others competing are: Brent Metcalf, Iowa; Ryan Hurley, Cleveland State; Joey Knox, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Matt Dunn, Columbia.

157 lbs.--Mike Poeta (Illinois) returns to the weight class to defend his 2006 title at Midlands "45." Two of last year's top four 157 lb. contenders have now moved up to 165 lbs., leaving the challenge to: Matt Kocher, Pitt; Josh Zupancic, Stanford; Brandon Becker, Indiana; Ryan Morningstar, Iowa; Cyler Sanderson, Iowa State; Jake Murphy, Purdue and Seth Garvin, Tennesee-Chattanooga.

165 lbs.--Three-time finalist Mark Perry of Iowa is a favorite to win his second Midlands title at 165 lbs., however, he will be tested by a strong field coming from: Matt Coughlin, Indiana; Andrew Flanagan, Harvard; Moza Fay, Northern Iowa; Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois; Jon Reader, Iowa State; Mike Cannon, American; Justin Fraga, Purdue; Trevor Stewart, Central Michigan and Dominic Marella, Northwestern.

174 lbs.--This group is possibly the most evenly matched weight class, with a number of newcomers entering their names into the 2007 pool. Keith Gavin of Pitt is ranked No. 1 at his weight and appears to be the favorite at this point, though he will wrestle strong competition in: Brandon Sinnott, Central Michigan (third place in 2006); Nick Hayes, Northwestern; John Dergo, Illinois; Duke Burk, Northern Illinois; Jay Borschel, Iowa; Lloyd Rogers, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Alex Dolly, Northern Iowa and Trevor Perry, Indiana.

184 lbs.--Despite not having wrestled all year for Northwestern, sitting out with an Olympic redshirt, Jake Herbert leads the 184-lbs. weight class as a two-time Midlands champion. Herbert won the 2007 NCAA title could set up an NCAA finals rematch against Jake Varner of Iowa State. Others in contention are: Louis Caputo, Harvard; Christian Sinnott, Central Michigan; Marc Bennett, Indiana; Phil Keddy, Iowa; Doug Umbehauer, Rider; David Sullivan, Pitt; A.J. Kissel, Purdue.

197 lbs.--Defending champion Mike Tamillow of Northwestern will be challenged by a strong field, led by 2007 NCAA Champion Josh Glenn of American, who finished third at the 2006 Midlands. The 2005 Midlands champion, Wynn Michalak of Central Michigan is also in the mix along with: Matt Koz, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Patrick Bond, Illinois and Joe Williams, Michigan State. Also competing for champion are T.J. Morrison, Rider; Andy Anderson, Northern Iowa and David Bertolino, Iowa State.

285 lbs.--Both finalists from the 2006 Midlands return to wrestle this year in Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska- Kearney and Dustin Fox of Northwestern. Dlagnev won the Midlands crown and went on to win the NCAA Division II title, while Fox finished in third place at the Division I NCAA Championships at 285 lbs. Others in contention: Bubba Gritter, Central Michigan; Matt Fields, Iowa; David Zabriskie, Iowa State; Rashard Goff, Cleveland State; John Wise, Illinois; Chris Kasten, Purdue and Zach Shaeffer, Pitt.