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| Ryan L'Amoreaux Michigan State |
Staying healthy is such an overlooked, yet key variable in a wrestler's overall success. Battles with staying healthy is what I would argue kept former Spartan Ryan L'Amoreaux from having the success he should have. Nevertheless, an NCAA qualifier as a junior in 2003, his most shining moment happened at the Midlands his sophomore season during the 2001-2002 season. In the match to place, he knocked off Arizona State All American David Douglas who had been 7th at the NCAA's with a 3-2 tiebreaker. Then in the 3rd place match, L'Amoreaux earned the bronze with a 6-2 victory over future All American Jeff Ratliff of Ohio State. Douglas would go on to earn All American honor #2 with a 5th place finish later that season.
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| Karl Nadolsky Michigan State |
Another Spartan who exemplifies what I'm talking about here is Karl Nadolsky of Michigan State. He had many moments throughout his career where he shined & honestly it's hard to come to terms with the fact that he never did make All American. Nevertheless, he didn't, but of the many things he did do during his career, having an outstanding showing at the Midlands his junior season (01'-02') was one of them.
Taking home a 3rd place finish, he soared through some top talent in both the consolation semi-finals & in the consolation finals. He took out Iowa State's Billy Maldonado who would place 6th at the NCAA's later that season 8-5. He then took out Air Force's Scott Frohardt, who would place 7th at the NCAA's later that season 7-4.
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| Gerald Harris Cleveland State |
Before he became a superstar in the world of UFC/MMA, Gerald Harris was first a wrestler for Cleveland State. While there he had a very successful career, which included garnering enough wins, to where to this day, he still has the most victories of any Viking wrestler. While he never did earn an All American medal, what he did do in his senior season (02'-03') was have an outstanding Midlands tournament. A big & strong wrestler, Harris used his power to pull off a huge upset in the quarterfinals, as he handed NCAA runner-up Greg Parker of Princeton a 4-3 loss. He then defeated Penn State's Mark Becks 4-3 in the consolation finals. Parker would go on to place 8th that season, as Becks placed 7th at the NCAA's. Harris for the record was also 8th at the Midlands his junior season & post college, he entered the Midlands as a post-grad, once again taking 8th in 2006.
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| Derek Phillips Central Michigan/Minnesota |
The collegiate career of Derek Phillips was quite a challenging one. Transferring from Central Michigan to Minnesota second semester his senior season, it was at the Midlands tournament the former Chippewa about to become a Golden Gopher got to make a name for himself. Aaron Holker was the returning NCAA champion at 141 lbs. He entered the Midlands the #1 seed looking to win the tournament, until an unknown Derek Phillips handed him a 10-6 loss. It was the highlight of Phillips' career, as he also defeated future All American Jeff Ratliff of Ohio State in route to a 5th place finish.
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| Nick Passolano Iowa State |
He never had his moment at the NCAA's, but he did have his moments elsewhere. A hero on the mat as well as off the mat in so many ways, I'd argue that Nick Passolano had many shining moments throughout his career as a Cyclone. A true sportsman, who always showed a tremendous amount of class win or lose, he even bumped up to 174 to make room for another teammate, even though he may have fared better at 165. One of his crowning moments was when he scored a fall to end Iowa State's losing streak to Iowa, finally giving the Cyclones a victory over the Hawkeyes. Passolano's other shining moments were at the Midlands. Placing 7th-3rd-5th in his final three seasons, he had wins over All Americans in each of his showings. A 6-3 victory over Doc Vecchio of Penn State, a 6-4 victory over Joe Mazzurco of Cornell & a 3-0 victory over Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan.
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| Ralph Everett Hofstra |
Two years straight, Ralph Everett lost back to back heartbreaking matches in the NCAA R12. As a junior it was a 6-5 match to Arizona State's Curtis Owen & then as a senior it was a 3-2 tiebreaker to Nebraska's Jacob Klein. What Everett is probably most remembered for is handing three time NCAA champion Greg Jones of West Virginia one of the only losses of his career with a 3-2 tiebreaker. It was far from the only highlight in his career. Also a two time CAA champion, I'd argue that Everett's best moments may have been at the Midlands. He earned a 6th place finish as a junior, which included an 8-7 victory over three time All American Pete Freidle for Illinois & he was a runner-up his senior season.
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| Grant Nakamura Iowa State |
The Cabanbans and the Terukinas aren't the only Cyclone lightweights from the islands of aloha. Grant Nakamura was another standout 125 lbs'er for Iowa State back in the day. Coach Bobby Douglas was once quoted that the only thing that kept Nakamura off of the NCAA award stand was an inability to stay healthy. Fighting injuries throughout most of his career, his moment of glory came at the 2004 Midlands where he earned runner-up honors. There he defeated Efren Ceballos of Cal State Bakersfield 9-7 in the semi-finals. Ceballos would take 5th at the NCAA's.
In my personal opinion had the 118 lbs weight class still existed when Luke Smith was wrestling in college, he not only would have been an All American, he would have probably contended for a national title as well. "Lightning" never did strike at the NCAA's, but it did strike for him many times in many other places. One of those places was the Midlands. 5th-3rd-4th in his final three seasons, among the many notable victories he pulled off, a 3-2 victory over Northwestern three time All American Brandon Precin sticks out most. Although my personal records only go back to the 08'-09' season, I want to say Smith won a Reno title during his career as well.
Jeff Harrison is an interesting guy. At one time he ran a successful amateur wrestling media outlet. Provided great coverage of our sport & did so in an energetic, enthusiastic way. Whatever happened to that, I do not know. Harrison was also at one time an inspiring actor. Even starred in the film Seven Minutes. As a wrestler he earned a seed at the NCAA's a time or two, but never did make the award stand. What he did do though, is have an outstanding showing at the Midlands his senior season (04'-05').
In what I would call the best tournament of his collegiate career, Harrison took a very impressive 3rd place, which included a 7-4 decision over Ben Cherrington of Boise State who would win the NCAA title the following season.
If there is a poster child for why I make the arguments I do, then Nick Baima has to be it. He never did earn All American honors during his illustrious career at Northern Iowa, but "More Than 3 days" is exactly the terminology you use to describe the former Panther. Not only was he a three time Midlands place-winner, he won the tournament & he was voted the most outstanding wrestler his junior season. Here's how that tournament unfolded.
In round three he defeated Iowa two time All American Eric Luedke 9-4. Then in the semi-finals he knocked off former NCAA runner-up Jared Frayer who had competed for Oklahoma. In the finals he knocked off two time NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois.
As a senior Baima had another standout Midlands appearance, this time capturing a third place finish. In route, a 9-1 major decision over three time All American Michael Cannon of American. For the record, Baima was 6th at the Midlands as a sophomore.
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| Luke Smith Central Michigan |
In my personal opinion had the 118 lbs weight class still existed when Luke Smith was wrestling in college, he not only would have been an All American, he would have probably contended for a national title as well. "Lightning" never did strike at the NCAA's, but it did strike for him many times in many other places. One of those places was the Midlands. 5th-3rd-4th in his final three seasons, among the many notable victories he pulled off, a 3-2 victory over Northwestern three time All American Brandon Precin sticks out most. Although my personal records only go back to the 08'-09' season, I want to say Smith won a Reno title during his career as well.
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| Jeff Harrison Northern Iowa |
Jeff Harrison is an interesting guy. At one time he ran a successful amateur wrestling media outlet. Provided great coverage of our sport & did so in an energetic, enthusiastic way. Whatever happened to that, I do not know. Harrison was also at one time an inspiring actor. Even starred in the film Seven Minutes. As a wrestler he earned a seed at the NCAA's a time or two, but never did make the award stand. What he did do though, is have an outstanding showing at the Midlands his senior season (04'-05').
In what I would call the best tournament of his collegiate career, Harrison took a very impressive 3rd place, which included a 7-4 decision over Ben Cherrington of Boise State who would win the NCAA title the following season.
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| Nick Baima Northern Iowa |
If there is a poster child for why I make the arguments I do, then Nick Baima has to be it. He never did earn All American honors during his illustrious career at Northern Iowa, but "More Than 3 days" is exactly the terminology you use to describe the former Panther. Not only was he a three time Midlands place-winner, he won the tournament & he was voted the most outstanding wrestler his junior season. Here's how that tournament unfolded.
In round three he defeated Iowa two time All American Eric Luedke 9-4. Then in the semi-finals he knocked off former NCAA runner-up Jared Frayer who had competed for Oklahoma. In the finals he knocked off two time NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois.
As a senior Baima had another standout Midlands appearance, this time capturing a third place finish. In route, a 9-1 major decision over three time All American Michael Cannon of American. For the record, Baima was 6th at the Midlands as a sophomore.
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