2000-2009 was a great time for Non-DI talent at the Midlands as we saw some of our best performances from the NAIA, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII & NJCAA at the prestigious tournament.
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| Richard Paulikonis Places 8th at 197 in 2000 |
I wasn't able to find out a whole lot about Richard Paulikonis or his Midlands run in 2000, other than to know that it happened. 2000 was an odd year as record books don't show the consolations, and Pauliknois was defeated early on the championship side of the bracket. What I do know is that he gave Zach Thompson of Iowa State, who had been the NCAA DI runner-up the March before a tough 3-2 match & then later gave Pat Quick of Iowa State who would be the NCAA DI runner-up that season a tough 3-1 match.
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| Pittsburgh Johnstown's Brandon Newill Knocks off DI All American In Route to 7th Place Finish |
When Jody Strittmatter left the Mountain Cat program to continue his collegiate career at the University of Iowa, it left Pittsburgh-Johnstown with a void at 125 lbs. It wasn't a problem for long as Brandon Newill stepped in. The future four time NCAA DII All American who would place 7th, 3rd, 4th, 1st during his illustrious career more than stepped in and stepped up for his team. At the 2001 Midlands he had a spectacular run, earning a 7th place finish. In the blood round he had to defeat future Midlands Champ Tom Noto of Hofstra 3-0. Then for 7th place he had to defeat Michigan State's Chris Williams who had placed 7th at the NCAA championships. He defeated the Spartan 6-2.
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| DIII Wrestler Knocks of Two DI Conference Champs To Place 8th |
Josh Habeck of Wisconsin-LaCrosse accomplished many things during his time as an Eagle. The two time All American, who earned back to back NCAA DIII 3rd place finishes his junior & senior seasons, also put together 125 victories. Some of his most notable victories came at the 2001 Midlands championships, his final year of competition. Through a treacherous consolation bracket, he would knock off future three time ACC champion & two time All American Evan Sola of North Carolina 5-2. He then defeated future two time MAC champion Sam Hiatt of Northern Illinois 13-5 major decision in the blood round. Habeck would finish in 8th place.
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| Pittsburgh-Johnstown With Another Midlands Place-Winner |
Shad Benton originally started off his career at Penn State, competing for the Nittany Lions as a freshman. He then transferred to Pittsburgh-Johnstown where he had an outstanding career for the Mountain Cats. 7th in 2000 as a sophomore, he would place 3rd in 2001 & win a NCAA DII title in 2002. Graduating with a career of 101-9, another highlight of his career was a 5th place finish at the Midlands championships. Among his victories that tournament, a 9-6 decision over Cal State Bakersfield All American Jason Ramstetter.
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| Tyson Thivierge Shows DI The Power of NAIA |
Throughout Non DI Talent at the Midlands I have discussed a numerous amount of wrestlers who defeated DI talent that would go on to notable achievements later in their careers. Tyson Thivierge not only did that, he defeated DI talent that achieved notable achievement THAT season. Having placed 3rd-2nd-3rd thus far at the NAIA championships, he entered the 2001 Midlands having already shown what he was capable of, as he had taken a 4th place finish at CKLV. He opened up with a 3-1 victory over Rutger's Tom Tanis, who would finish in 4th place at the NCAA DI's later that season. He then scored an 8-0 major decision over Blake Kaplan, who would earn All American honors in 2004. In the quarter-finals he knocked off Minnesota's Damion Hahn, who had placed 5th at the previous NCAA DI championships & would again place 5th again that season. Hahn would win back to back NCAA DI titles his final two seasons. In the semi-finals, Thivierge defeated Iowa's Jessman Smith 6-5, who would later take 3rd at the NCAA's that season & 4th the next season. Thivierge would drop a close match to Indiana's Viktor Sveda in the finals. Thivierge finished off his career by later winning the NAIA title.
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| Emmett Wilson's Midlands Performance Earns Him the Only Hodge Trophy Ever Won By NAIA Wrestler |
The Danny Hodge Trophy has been around since 1995 & in the last 27 seasons, it has only been won by two non-DI wrestlers. One of which was Simpson College's Nick Ackerman (An NCAA DIII champion) & the other Emmett Wilson of the NAIA. Wilson was a dominant NAIA figure, winning three national titles for the Northern Lights of Montana State Northern. There's no doubt in my mind that what won him the Hodge Trophy was winning the Midlands title in the 2003-2004 season. It wasn't the only time he shined at the Midlands either.
His sophomore year he placed 6th, with one of his losses being to Lehigh's Jon Trenge, who would famously take NCAA runner-up honors to Cael Sanderson as he won his 159th match and fourth title. Trenge narrowly bested the Northern Light by a 2-1 score.
As a junior Wilson would take 4th at the Midlands. There he stuck future MMA star Stipe Miocic in 1:39, before majoring CAA champion Anthony Reynolds of Sacred Heart 11-3. He dropped a 1-0 loss to Iowa four time DI All American/NCAA champion Lee Fullhart, coming back through the consolations to defeat Michigan two time All American Kyle Smith 8-4. He'd drop his final match the tournament to two time All American Chris Skretkowicz of Hostra, 5-4.
As a senior, Wilson won the Midlands title with wins over NCAA R12 Morgan Horner of Lock Haven 12-5, NCAA DI All American Matt Greenberg 6-1 & multiple time NCAA DI qualifier Matt Monteiro of Cal Poly.
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| From A Wrestler No One Wanted To a Two Time Midlands Place-Winner |
Donald Lockett was a good high school wrestler, but not the type that was going to be sought after with scholarship offers. A three time California High School State qualifier, he had gone 0-2, 0-2 & 1-2 at each tournament. A walk on at San Francisco State, he finished his freshman season with a 5-13 record. Taking a redshirt as a sophomore, he came back the following season to earn a 19-18 record. Going into the 2004 Midlands championships no one expected much out of the Gator. Seeing that he had *1 seed Travis Lee, who had won a NCAA DI title the season before, no one expected much out of him at all. Lockett wrestled the match of his life, pulling off one of the hugest upsets in Midlands history by defeating Lee 6-5. He'd then win his next two matches, which included a 6-4 victory over Central Michigan's Jason Borrelli to make the semi-finals. Lockett would eventually finish in 6th place. Later that season, he made the NCAA Division II finals.
Lockett returned to the Midlands as a senior, this time doing even better than before. This time the Gator would finish in 3rd place, with an impressive 9-4 decision over Illinois All American Casio Pero. He would also finish in 3rd place at the NCAA Division II championships. He may have only won one match in three high school state championships, but he won a lot more than one match in many more tournaments throughout his career.
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| Ryan Allen Earns Back to Back 5th Place Finishes for DIII Eagles |
Ryan Allen had an assortment of accomplishments during his time at UW-La Crosse. The Eagle went 161-14 making the NCAA Division III finals on four occasions, winning the national title three out of those four appearances. His other claim to fame, was taking back to back 5th place finishes at the Midlands in his junior & senior seasons. As a senior, his most notable victory was defeating future NCAA DI champion Dustin Fox of Northwestern 7-3.
Dustin Hinschberger wrestled in high school for Belle Plaine. Belle Plaine was in the South Iowa Cedar League (SICL) which also included my high school Sigourney. Being a few years older than me, I got to witness first hand, just how good Hinschberger was on multiple occasions as we'd dual Belle Plaine & see them at an assortment of tournaments. I knew Hinschberger was going to be good once he got to college, but nevertheless it was still exciting seeing him defeat Iowa's Alex Tsirtsis in the bloodround at Midlands 8-3. To see a guy that I knew, I guy that I used to walk past and shake hands with at the end of our duals, defeat a guy who many claimed to be the best high school wrestler since Cary Kolat, was surreal. Hinschberger went on to place 7th that tournament & then win his third & final NCAA DIII title.
Ironically enough, the 2005 Midlands featured another place-winner that I was very familiar with while growing up. Stockton was from around the Williamsburg area & I competed in many of the same tournaments he did as a kid. Then in high school, he competed for Williamsburg his first couple of seasons & at the time like Belle Plaine, they too were in the SICL conference. I got to watch him battle our John Graham on a few occasions. Stockton of course would always come out the winner, but Graham being one of the best wrestlers of his era to never make the state tournament always gave Stockton a good match. When Stockton transferred to Iowa City West, I kept up with him, watching him win a state title.
When he went to Waldorf, ironically enough, he was on the team for a while with John's brother Adam. Adam accompanied our high school team my senior season, to a University of Nebraska wrestling camp where he roomed with me. He'd tell me all sorts of stories of just how incredibly tough Stockton was. Of how he knew by the end of his career, he'd win a NAIA title. After finishing 2nd-4th-2nd in his first three seasons, indeed Stockton would win the NAIA title in his senior season. Another great accomplishment he had was his run through the 2005 Midlands tournament, which would have been his junior season.
Early on into the tournament he had to face Iowa's Alex Grunder, a state champion for Wilton. It was neat seeing two Iowa legends go head to head, as Stockton won the battle 9-6. He then had to face a future Midlands champ, Mike Grimes of Northern Illinois, as he upended the Husky 3-1. Eventually finishing in 6th place, Stockton also defeated Illinois' Troy Tirapelle 18-2 technical fall.
The Grizzlies of Adams State have quite the history. If you go back & read up on Adams State wrestling, you'll find story after story of the many great things that have happened in Grizzly wrestling. For example, from 2003 through 2007, they put quite a few of their wrestlers on the award stand. Travis Koppenhafer took 8th at 157 in 2003, Evan Copeland 8th in 2004 at 165 & Rob McCabe 8th at 125 in 2004. Jared Deaguero was 6th in 2007, with an impressive 9-8 win over All American Vince Jones of Nebraska. Yet with all of these accomplishments it is the story of Kourtney Lake that sticks out most.
It's not so much the fact that Lake took 7th at the Midlands or that later that season he placed 6th at the NCAA DII nationals, as much as it is what he was up against at the time he was competing. You see Lake had an incurable form of cancer, that would not only keep him from wrestling his senior season, but also tragically cut his life short. To know that while so many would have sat back and let the cancer get the best of them, Lake kept going as long as he could. He took home medals from two of wrestlings toughest tournaments in the process. If that ain't the definition of tenacity, you tell me what is.
Les Sigman is perhaps the greatest NCAA Division II heavyweight of all time & in all of collegiate wrestling a great. One of the rare four time NCAA DII champions, he won a Midlands title his senior season. In route to doing so he defeated Sacred Heart's first & to this day only All American Payam Zarrinpour 17-1 technical fall. In the finals he bested Iowa All American Matt Fields 9-0 major decision. He was also 6th at the Midlands as a junior.
A powerhouse in NCAA DIII wrestling where he earned four All American honors going 6th-3rd-1st-1st, UW-La Crosse's Jason Chelf mixed it up with DI competition at the Midlands in both his junior & senior seasons. At the 2006 Midlands he opened things up by majoring future MMA star Kenny Robertson of Eastern Illinois 11-3. He then took out Michigan State's Rocky Cozart, a three time state champion out of Florida 7-3. Later in the consolation quarter-finals, he defeated Iowa's Chad Beatty 3-1, following it up with a 3-2 victory over Iowa State's David Bertolino. He'd end his day with a 3-1 s.v. over Nebraska future All American Brandon Browne to finish 5th.
The next season, he'd have another notable Midlands run, this time taking out four time NCAA qualifier Nick Hayes of Northwestern 5-3 s.v. Finishing in 4th place, his final win of the tournament was a 10-1 major decision over future All American John Dergo of Illinois.
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| Hinschberger Knocks Off High School Legend To Earn Midlands Medal |
Dustin Hinschberger wrestled in high school for Belle Plaine. Belle Plaine was in the South Iowa Cedar League (SICL) which also included my high school Sigourney. Being a few years older than me, I got to witness first hand, just how good Hinschberger was on multiple occasions as we'd dual Belle Plaine & see them at an assortment of tournaments. I knew Hinschberger was going to be good once he got to college, but nevertheless it was still exciting seeing him defeat Iowa's Alex Tsirtsis in the bloodround at Midlands 8-3. To see a guy that I knew, I guy that I used to walk past and shake hands with at the end of our duals, defeat a guy who many claimed to be the best high school wrestler since Cary Kolat, was surreal. Hinschberger went on to place 7th that tournament & then win his third & final NCAA DIII title.
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| Stockton defeats Multiple DI Opponents To Become Waldorf's First & Only Midlands Place-Winner |
Ironically enough, the 2005 Midlands featured another place-winner that I was very familiar with while growing up. Stockton was from around the Williamsburg area & I competed in many of the same tournaments he did as a kid. Then in high school, he competed for Williamsburg his first couple of seasons & at the time like Belle Plaine, they too were in the SICL conference. I got to watch him battle our John Graham on a few occasions. Stockton of course would always come out the winner, but Graham being one of the best wrestlers of his era to never make the state tournament always gave Stockton a good match. When Stockton transferred to Iowa City West, I kept up with him, watching him win a state title.
When he went to Waldorf, ironically enough, he was on the team for a while with John's brother Adam. Adam accompanied our high school team my senior season, to a University of Nebraska wrestling camp where he roomed with me. He'd tell me all sorts of stories of just how incredibly tough Stockton was. Of how he knew by the end of his career, he'd win a NAIA title. After finishing 2nd-4th-2nd in his first three seasons, indeed Stockton would win the NAIA title in his senior season. Another great accomplishment he had was his run through the 2005 Midlands tournament, which would have been his junior season.
Early on into the tournament he had to face Iowa's Alex Grunder, a state champion for Wilton. It was neat seeing two Iowa legends go head to head, as Stockton won the battle 9-6. He then had to face a future Midlands champ, Mike Grimes of Northern Illinois, as he upended the Husky 3-1. Eventually finishing in 6th place, Stockton also defeated Illinois' Troy Tirapelle 18-2 technical fall.
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| Adams State 5 Year Run At the Midlands |
The Grizzlies of Adams State have quite the history. If you go back & read up on Adams State wrestling, you'll find story after story of the many great things that have happened in Grizzly wrestling. For example, from 2003 through 2007, they put quite a few of their wrestlers on the award stand. Travis Koppenhafer took 8th at 157 in 2003, Evan Copeland 8th in 2004 at 165 & Rob McCabe 8th at 125 in 2004. Jared Deaguero was 6th in 2007, with an impressive 9-8 win over All American Vince Jones of Nebraska. Yet with all of these accomplishments it is the story of Kourtney Lake that sticks out most.
It's not so much the fact that Lake took 7th at the Midlands or that later that season he placed 6th at the NCAA DII nationals, as much as it is what he was up against at the time he was competing. You see Lake had an incurable form of cancer, that would not only keep him from wrestling his senior season, but also tragically cut his life short. To know that while so many would have sat back and let the cancer get the best of them, Lake kept going as long as he could. He took home medals from two of wrestlings toughest tournaments in the process. If that ain't the definition of tenacity, you tell me what is.
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| Sigman Top Midlands HWT in 2005 |
Les Sigman is perhaps the greatest NCAA Division II heavyweight of all time & in all of collegiate wrestling a great. One of the rare four time NCAA DII champions, he won a Midlands title his senior season. In route to doing so he defeated Sacred Heart's first & to this day only All American Payam Zarrinpour 17-1 technical fall. In the finals he bested Iowa All American Matt Fields 9-0 major decision. He was also 6th at the Midlands as a junior.
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| DIII's Jason Chelf Earns Back to Back Top 8 Midlands Finishes |
A powerhouse in NCAA DIII wrestling where he earned four All American honors going 6th-3rd-1st-1st, UW-La Crosse's Jason Chelf mixed it up with DI competition at the Midlands in both his junior & senior seasons. At the 2006 Midlands he opened things up by majoring future MMA star Kenny Robertson of Eastern Illinois 11-3. He then took out Michigan State's Rocky Cozart, a three time state champion out of Florida 7-3. Later in the consolation quarter-finals, he defeated Iowa's Chad Beatty 3-1, following it up with a 3-2 victory over Iowa State's David Bertolino. He'd end his day with a 3-1 s.v. over Nebraska future All American Brandon Browne to finish 5th.
The next season, he'd have another notable Midlands run, this time taking out four time NCAA qualifier Nick Hayes of Northwestern 5-3 s.v. Finishing in 4th place, his final win of the tournament was a 10-1 major decision over future All American John Dergo of Illinois.
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| 1 Time State Qualifier Takes Out Future National Champ to place 5th |
Jason Chelf wasn't the only Eagle of UW-La Crosse to soar at the Midlands in the 2000's. Tim Palmer, a one time state qualifier in high school had a great run at the 2006 Midlands as a junior. The Eagle finished in 5th place, knocking off future NCAA champion Jon Reader of Iowa State 5-3. Palmer would finish 3rd at the NCAA DIII championships that season, placing 5th the next.
The 2006 HWT Midlands bracket featured not only one of the best NCAA DII HWTs, but also one of the best NCAA DIII Heavyweights. Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney came in and completely dominated his way to a Midlands title. The future two time World Bronze Medalist/1 time Olympic Bronze medalist defeated both Payam Zarrinpour of Sacred Heart & Matt Fields of Iowa, before nearly majoring future NCAA DI champion Dustin Fox of Northwestern (who was 3rd at the NCAA's that season) 10-4 in the finals. Gillis, a four time NCAA DIII All American in his own right who would win a national title later that season, also took our the DI competition. Upending Fields 4-3, he took out Bubba Gritter of Central Michigan (who finished 5th at DI's later that season) 7-3.
J.D. Naig of Nebraska-Omaha showed his skills amongst the DI competition, placing 7th in 2006 at 174 lbs. Along the way he had a 7-3 victory over Kenny Robertson of Eastern Illinois, a future star in MMA. He then took out Nick Hayes of Northwestern 6-4 & David Bertolino of Iowa State 3-1.
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NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, NAIA & NJCAA all represented at the Midlands through the 2000's. Thank you for reading Non DI Talent at The Midlands!
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| HWTS of DII & DIII Prove Themselves to Be Among the Best in 2006 |
The 2006 HWT Midlands bracket featured not only one of the best NCAA DII HWTs, but also one of the best NCAA DIII Heavyweights. Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney came in and completely dominated his way to a Midlands title. The future two time World Bronze Medalist/1 time Olympic Bronze medalist defeated both Payam Zarrinpour of Sacred Heart & Matt Fields of Iowa, before nearly majoring future NCAA DI champion Dustin Fox of Northwestern (who was 3rd at the NCAA's that season) 10-4 in the finals. Gillis, a four time NCAA DIII All American in his own right who would win a national title later that season, also took our the DI competition. Upending Fields 4-3, he took out Bubba Gritter of Central Michigan (who finished 5th at DI's later that season) 7-3.
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| Three Time NCAA DII Champ Places 7th in 2006 |
J.D. Naig of Nebraska-Omaha showed his skills amongst the DI competition, placing 7th in 2006 at 174 lbs. Along the way he had a 7-3 victory over Kenny Robertson of Eastern Illinois, a future star in MMA. He then took out Nick Hayes of Northwestern 6-4 & David Bertolino of Iowa State 3-1.
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NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, NAIA & NJCAA all represented at the Midlands through the 2000's. Thank you for reading Non DI Talent at The Midlands!
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