Midwest Classic Preview 125 lbs (12/18-19/2021)

 

If you are a NCAA Division II wrestling fan, Indianapolis, Indiana is THE place to be this weekend.  Held at Nicoson Hall, the same venue that held the 1987 Pan-American championships, the Midwest Classic will be a who's who among NCAA Division II.  We are talking 17 of the top 25 teams. 

#1 Central Oklahoma
#5 Ashland
#6 Lindenwood
#7 Gannon
#8 McKendree
#9 Upper Iowa 
#10 UW-Parkside
#11 Findlay
#12 Mercyhurst
#13 Indianapolis
#14 Adams State 
#15 Colorado Mines
#18 UNC-Pembroke
#20 King
T-#22 Colorado Mesa, Newberry, Western Colorado 

We're talking 111 of the wrestlers that will be competing this weekend, ranked in the #16 by NCAA Division II wrestling aficionado Bryce Villa.  The Midwest Classic is almost like having a pre-NCAA DII tournament. 

Here is a look at 125 lbs....

Holy Cow what a tough bracket!! 7, yes 7 returning NCAA DII All Americans in this bracket! SON.OF.A GUN.  Last year's NCAA DII 3rd placer, Joe Arroyo of UW-Parkside has placed at the Midwest Classic twice thus far in his career with an 3rd place finish in 2019 and an 8th place finish in 2020.  He'll have plenty of challenge as two time All American & NCAA DII runner-up Nick Daggett of UNC-Pembroke has also placed twice at the Midwest Classic, including a runner-up finish in 2019.  Arroyo barely squeaked by Ashland's Christian Wellman (NCAA DII 4th last season) in a 4-3 & had another close one with Christian Mejia of McKendree (NCAA DII 5th last season) 3-1.  Daggett also had a close one with Mejia 6-5.  I would consider Central Oklahoma's Paxton Rose (NCAA DII 6th last season) to be another title contender. The Campbell transfer has yet to face Arroyo or Daggett, but owns a 7-2 decision over Wellman as well as losing a heartbreaker 4-3 tiebreaker to the Eagle.  Which if we're gonna call Rose a title contender here, we might as well call Mejia one as well.  Mejia has split with Rose winning 7-6 & losing 4-0 and every bit as interesting is the fact that he has giving both Arroyo and Daggett some very close calls.  

Look for Adams State's De La Cerda & Queens' Melvin Rubio to contend for top 8 place-winner status and a guy to keep an eye on here for an upset or two is Cody Fatzinger of Western Colorado.  Despite having not qualified for the NCAA DII tournament yet, Fatzinger does own a 9-5 decision over De La Cerda who placed 7th last season.