Midlands Preview (Fri Dec 29th-Sat Dec 30th) = 197 lbs

 

R.S.
Zac Braunagel
Illinois

I tell you what interest me most about 197 lbs.  I think there is a very good possibility that we could see a final, where both finalist are currently redshirting.  I have good reason to believe that Zac Braunagel will be fighting for a Midlands title  For one, he won last year's Midlands (he also owns a 4th place finish to his name) & he owns both a 4-3 as well as a 2-1 tiebreaker over Braxton Amos.  Not to mention a 4-3 victory over Luke Stout. 

R.S.
Braxton Amos
Wisconsin

Here's the other redshirt that I think is likely to be in the opposite corner of the finals.  Braxton Amos, last year's Midlands runner-up.  The Badger has more than proved himself against the field.  A 3-1 s.v. over Stout,he owns both a 5-2 & an 8-2 win over Sam Mitchell.  A 2:56 fall as well as a 24-7 tech over Ryan Yarnell & both a 9-1 major as well as an 18-3 tech over Cole Urbas. 

#11
Luke Stout
Princeton

If anyone is going to spoil my plans for an all Redshirt final, it is Luke Stout of Princeton. The Tiger placed 5th here last year & could easily turn those super close losses to both Braunagel & Amos into wins.  He also owns an 8-2 win over Ben Smith & he's defeated Cole Urbas 13-9, 20-4 tech & 3:31 fall. 

U.R.
Evan Bates
Northwestern

When I look at Braunagel, Amos & Stout, I'm fairly confident I have our gold, silver & bronze here at the Midlands. Not as confident in the order that they'll finish in, but I am confident they will be our top three place-winners.  As to 4th through 8th? Now that's a little more up in the air.  I think Northwestern's very own Evan Bates is a candidate for 4th place.  8th at last year's Midlands competing at 184, he owns a 12-2 major decision over Ben Smith. 

U.R.
Ben Smith
Cleveland State

  I think another great candidate for a top 8 finish is Cleveland State's Ben Smith.  Owns both a 5-2 as well as a 14-3 victory over Mitchell.  Also owns an 8-7 decision over Austin Cooley & a 5-1 win over Ryan Yarnell.  As I said previously, the Vikings are in a position to really shine here at the Midlands & Smith should be one of them that does. 

U.R.
Martin Cosgrove
Pennsylvania

The Quakers have surprised me this season with their recruiting.  At various weights they have good young freshmen that have taken the spots away from talented upperclassmen.  Martin Cosgrove is one of them.  Owns a 7-4 official victory over teammate Cole Urbas. 

U.R.
Cole Urbas
Pennsylvania

Speaking of teammate Cole Urbas, he was 7th at last year's Midlands & I would suspect he have a couple of different goals for this tournament.  One, to once again earn a top 8 finish.  Two, to earn back his varsity position.  I consider Urbas to be one of the most dangerous wrestlers in this bracket.  If an opponent hasn't done his home work & coaches aren't well scouted on Urbas, that could spell disaster for whoever wrestles him.  Urbas leaves much to be desired when wrestling in the neutral position, but he's an absolute monster on top.  If you get a couple of takedowns against him, you are not being wise by choosing down when it becomes your choice for position.  I've seen other wrestlers make that mistake against Urbas and pay for it dearly.  He pinned Ryan Yarnell in exactly 1 minute. 

U.R.
Austin Cooley
West Virginia

Among the candidates for a top 8 finish here in Chicago, you can count Austin Cooley.  The Mountaineer will fight to be on the award stand. 

U.R.
Sam Mitchell
Buffalo

I believe that Sam Mitchell will be the Buffalos best hope for a top 8 finish this tournament.  Thus far he owns three victories over last year's 8th place finisher Ryan Yarnell.  All decisions by scores of 7-4, 3-1 & 4-2. 

U.R. 
Ryan Yarnell
SIUE

8th at last year's Midlands championships, Ryan Yarnell will go for another top 8 finish this year.  The Cougar owns a 10-5 win over Mitchell. 

U.R.
Shane Liegel
Wisconsin

I don't have any non-DI wrestlers I think are in contention for top 8 honors here at 197, but I do have the next best thing.  Shane Liegel a transfer from Loras who was 1st-4th-2nd in NCAA Division III competing for the Duhawks.  Now he's DI competing for the Badgers & looking for his first big accomplishment in the ranks of Division I.  A top 8 finish here at the Midlands would be it. 

Midlands Preview (Fri Dec 29th-Sat Dec 30th) = 184 lbs

 

#15
Layne Malczewski
Michigan State

Layne Malczewski gives the Spartans a Midlands champion hopeful here at 184 lbs.  Again, not a shoe-in but could very well go into the championships the *1 seed based on his ranking.  Owns a 7-2 victory over Anthony Carman, a 2-0 win over Dylan Connell & a 3-0 win over Zayne Lehman. 

#20
Dennis Robin 
West Virginia 

Another threat to the Midlands title this tournament is West Virginia's Dennis Robin.  The Mountaineer owns both a 7-4 victory over Lehman & a 6-1 win over Carman. 

U.R.
Dylan Connell
Illinois

5th at last year's Midlands championships, Dylan Connell hopes to have just as good or better of a showing this tournament.  The Illini pinned Anthony Carman in thirty seconds to capture that 5th place finish. 

U.R.
Anthony Carman 
West Virginia

There's good reason to think that the Mountaineers could very well put two on the award stand here in Chicago.  Anthony Carman took 6th place honors last season & he has both a 6-5 win over Lehman as well as a 6:59 fall over James Conway. 

U.R.
James Conway
Franklin & Marshall

There haven't been many Diplomats who have earned top 8 finishes at the Midlands over the years, but there is good reason to think that James Conway could make that list at least one person longer this year.  Owns an impressive 8-3 win over Lehman & he is also undefeated against Max Hale.  4-1 s.v., 7-1, 9-4 & 6-1 victories. 

U.R.
Zayne Lehman
Ohio 

The Bobcat is temperamental on the mat.  Sometimes extremely fierce with the ability to defeat just about anyone. If we see him in that mood here at the Midlands, I can almost guarantee he'll be standing somewhere on the award stand when it's all said & done Saturday night.  Owns a 12-6 win over Tony Negron, a 10-3 win over Carman, a 5-3 win over Connell & both a 6-2 as well as a 5-2 win over Matt Zuber. 

U.R.
Tony Negron
Arizona State

Tony Negron has thus far really stepped it up in his final year of competition. He ended last year with a disappointing losing record & already this year he's picked up a few notable victories.  To place top 8 here at the Midlands would really help his momentum as we head into second semester.  Easier said than done among the talent field, but a doable task for the Sun Devil. 

U.R.
Matt Zuber
Northern Illinois

Here's another guy that's made some vast improvements from last year to this year.  Matt Zuber ended last season with a 11-15 record. This year he's already 11-3.  Much like Negron, he's in a similar boat to where a top 8 finish here at the Midlands would really help out his season as we head into second semester.  Owns a 4-1 s.v. over Troy Fisher. 

U.R.
Troy Fisher
Northwestern

Things aren't going as well at 184 lbs as what they did at 174 lbs for the Wildcat. Nevertheless despite the tough beginning, Troy Fisher is still a two time NCAA qualifier & competing at home. On his home mats, he'll still be a threat to a top 8 finish here at the Midlands. 

U.R.
Max Hale
Pennsylvania

The Quakers have a hope for a top 8 finish here at 184 lbs in Max Hale. 

#5 in NCAA DIII
Niall Schoenfelder
UW-Eau Claire

Any Non-DI wrestlers with a shot at a top 8 finish here in Hoffman Estates? I think if anyone does, it's Niall Schoenfelder.  It's hard to believe but as good as the Blugold is & as many quality wins as he has, he still has yet to make the NCAA D3 tournament.  Now wouldn't that be a story?  A guy who hasn't even qualified for D3's yet & he ends up top 8 at one of the most recognized DI in-season tournaments of the year?  It's a stretch, but again, if we see a non-DI wrestler do really well in this bracket, my $$ is on Schoenfelder. 












 

Midlands Preview (Fri Dec 29th-Sat Dec 30th) = 174 lbs

 

#3
Edmond Ruth
Illinois

I personally feel out of all of the weight classes at the Midlands tournament, 174 lbs will be the most deep.  Seven NCAA DI ranked wrestlers & seven returning place-winners, six from last year.  This is going to be the most competitive weight class & the one toughest to win as well as toughest to place in.  Edmond Ruth returns as champion, looking to earn another title.   He owns both a 4-1 as well as a 4-3 decision over last year's Midlands runner-up Nick Incontrera.  A 3-1 s.v. over Brody Conley, he owns a 14-4 major over Philip Conigliaro & a 23-6 tech over Alex Cramer. 

#7
Justin McCoy
Illinois

A four time NCAA qualifier, Justin McCoy is one of the best wrestlers in his final year of competition yet to All American.  He was 5th at last year's Midlands championships down a weight class & as the leader of a team that is other wise very young, he plans to lead by example.  He'll be a challenger to Ruth's title.  Owns both a 10-4 as well as a 10-5 win over David Ferrante. 

R.S.
Danny Braunagel
Illinois

Danny Braunagel is currently redshirting with the plans of coming back better than ever for the '24-'25 season.  What better time to give us a glimpse of the improvements he's been making than now?  A two time Midlands place-winner with finishes of 4th & 3rd, he too will challenge for this year's Midlands crown.  Owns both an 8-3 as well as a 10-4 win over Adam Kemp, he also owns two wins over Ferrante (14-3 & 24-11). He also has a 10-4 win over McCoy. 

#11
Adam Kemp
Cal Poly 

Kemp has his fair share of losses, so it'd definitely be a surprise to see him make the Midlands finals if you look at it strictly from an on paper perspective.  However, it is still feasible when you take into consideration that he's the type that can take losses and turn them into wins in high pressure situations.  Do I see him getting hot enough to win a Midlands title? It'd take at least two if not three high profile wins in a row to do so. 

#12
Nick Incontrera
Pennsylvania

A Midlands runner-up last season, it'd take a few upsets for Nick Incontrera to once again make the finals, but it is feasible.  The Quaker has both a 5-3 victory over Philip Conigliaro as well as a 7-0 win over Kole Mulhauser. 

#16
Brody Conley
West Virginia

This year's Midlands will feature an assortment of young talent & Brody Conley is one of them.  The freshman had already earned a Midlands medal as he took a very impressive 3rd place finish last year.  Among his wins Vs the competition, he has a 4:46 fall over Cael Valencia & a 12-0 major over Alex Cramer. 

#18
Alex Cramer
Central Michigan

Alex Cramer is one of the last remaining of the Old Dominion final squad that was forced to transfer because of the selfish & idiotic decisions of Camden Selig. For that fact alone, I wouldn't mind seeing him take top 8 honors here at the Midlands.  Opinions aside, the fact that he's a very talented wrestler has more merit for why he's likely to be.  Owns a 7-5 decision over Cael Valencia & a 4-0 win over Max Maylor. 

#19
Max Maylor
Wisconsin

Maylor never quite got his shot while he was at Michigan, but now that he's at Wisconsin he's ranked in his final season on the mat.  For him to take a top 8 finish at the Midlands would be quite the statement not only for him & his team, but for the sport of wrestling in general.  I guess I can't say it is only wrestling that does this, but wrestling is certainly guilty of it.  Thinking that everything has to happen right here, right now as soon as possible.  I see so many young wrestlers give up on themselves if they aren't achieving great things within their freshman seasons.  For some it does happen that early.  For others, the hard work, sacrifice and disciple pay off a little later.  Maylor is among those eligible to take home a top 8 finish.  Owns a 7-5 win over Cramer. 

U.R. 
Philip Conigliaro
Harvard

You know something that I don't like about wrestling?  How easy it is to be forgotten about.  A few bad losses and suddenly you're nobody. No one cares about you. No one talks about you.  It can be a rather depressing sight.  You know one of the things I love about wrestling? How easy it can be to be remembered.  All it takes is a couple of good wins & a good showing at a tournament like this & you're back. Philip Conigliaro has fallen off the radar, but there's no reason to think that he can't find his way back this tournament.  He owns both a 6-4 as well as a 3-2 victory over Incontrera & he also has an 8-4 victory over Kole Mulhauser. 

U.R.
David Ferrante
Northwestern

Here's a guy that for many reasons I would keep an eye on this tournament.  While inconsistent, he's pull off some very notable wins in his career.  Two of them are a 14-5 major decision as well as an 11-5 decision over Danny Braunagel.  Wrestling on his home mats in front of his home crowd, who knows what he is capable of? He's not one I'd take likely or look past, I do know that. 

U.R.
Sal Perrine
Ohio 

Here's another guy that I wouldn't dare look past this tournament.  A strong wrestler with upset capabilities, Sal Perrine owns both an 8-5 s.v. over Valencia as well as a 3-1 s.v. over Conley. 

U.R.
Kole Mulhauser
Princeton

The Tiger was 7th at last year's Midlands Championships and I will be even more impressed among this competition if he is able to earn another medal this year.  Owns an 8-3 decision over Valencia. 

U.R.
Cael Valencia
Arizona State

As the kind of guy who enjoys predicting things in wrestling, Cael Valencia can often make me wanna pull the hair out of my head. He's literally the kind of guy that could get knocked into the consolation bracket by an unranked non-DI wrestler & then win his R12 match to medal against one of the top ranked DI wrestlers in this bracket.  That's how he wrestles.  That's who he is.  How do you predict a guy like that?  Well, all you can do is say that you know what he's capable of if he wrestles up to his potential. I honest think he could beat anyone in this bracket.  I also know that he could easily go 0-2.  So make of that what you will. 

U.R. 
D.J. Shannon
Michigan State

Here's another guy that frustrates me, but for different reasons.  YOu ever watch a wrestler on the mat & feel that he's so much better than what he's displaying? That if he'd just get out of his head, let loose & wrestle he'd be so much better?  D.J. Shannon is one of those wrestlers for me.  I'm not thinking he's gonna be a world beater, gunning for the NCAA DI title. I'm not saying that, but he's definitely top 33 material.  No reason at all why he shouldn't end this season as an NCAA qualifier.  What I really think it is with him is confidence. He just needs something big, something important to happen in his career. Placing at the Midlands, especially in a rather loaded bracket would be that something.  If you think I'm off my hinges in saying so, just remember that he does own a 7-6 victory over Kemp. 

#2 In NCAA DIII
Jared Stricker
UW-Eau Claire

We're really stretching it here. Among the DI competition in this bracket, for a non-DI wrestler to place top 8, it'd take miracle type wrestling.  No offense, but that's just the reality of it.  IF there be a non-DI wrestler to step up and do it, it'd be last year's D3 runner-up Jared Stricker.  For the record, the Blugold did take Iowa's Brennan Swafford to an 8-6 match, for whatever that is worth. 

Midlands Preview (Fri Dec 29th-Sat Dec 30th) = 165 lbs

 

#6
D.J. Hamiti
 Wisconsin 

Whereas 149 & 157 are likely to be won by Sun Devils, 165 is likely to be won by a Badger.  The two time NCAA DI All American was a Midlands runner-up last season & the probability of him trading in silver for gold this year has a percentage close to 100. Upsets of course are always on the table, but here, highly unlikely.  Owns both a 10-6 decision over Peyton Hall & a 14-2 major over Maxx Mayfield. 

#9
Caleb Fish
Michigan State

In my estimation the real question here at 165 lbs is who will be Hamiti's finals opponent & who is likely to take 3rd? Caleb Fish really came alive towards the end of last season & he's one of many Spartans you can take a look at & see how much he's improved over the seasons.  Earning a spot in the Midlands finals would look very good on his resume & he's in position to make it happen.  Owns a 2-0 win over Mayfield. 

#12
Peyton Hall
West Virginia 

Hall is another strong candidate to make the Midlands finals here against likely opponent Hamiti.  Matter of fact, I think the probable semi between Hall & Fish could end up being the best match of the entire 165 lbs bracket.  Hall was an All American two seasons ago, but barely missed out on AA number two last year.  A Midlands finals appearance would look good on his resume. 

#14
Garrett Thompson
Ohio 

Darkhorse finalist? I'm gonna say probably not because I think he'll be on the same side of the bracket as Hamiti.  Now Darkhorse 3rd place finisher?  That I can see.  Garrett Thompson has already proven he can beat Hall, with an 8-5 decision.  I would think he can also beat Fish.   The Bobcat also owns a 2-0 victory over Mayfield. 

#17
Maxx Mayfield
Northwestern

Excited to see how Maxx Mayfield ends up performing this weekend. As of right now I have him slotted to take the top half of the bottom half of the award stand.  In other words, I have him right about 5th place.  Yet I also realize that he's wrestling on his home mats, in front of his home crowd.  That can make a difference.  Due to the massive amount of loss via both transferring & graduation, the Wildcats aren't going to repeat as team champions this year.  However, they still plan on having some good performances on an individual level.  Mayfield, who was one match shy of a medal last season, is one of them. 

U.R.
Lucas Revano
Pennsylvania

The Quaker was 7th at last year's championships & I guarantee he plans on leaving Hoffman Estates with another medal.  Thus far owns both a 10-5 as well as a 3-1 decision over Joshua Kim.  He also owns an 11-4 win over Blaine Bergey. 

U.R.
Blaine Bergey
Princeton

Among the place-winner candidates for this year's Midlands, Blaine Bergey has his name thrown in the hat.  The Tiger owns a 6-4 s.v. over Fish. 

U.R. 
Joshua Kim
Harvard

Here's a guy I'd like to see find a spot on the award stand. Joshua Kim has been around for a long time & he's due for a memorable showing at a major tournament.  Other than the EIWA's & of course the NCAA's, this will be his last shot.  Owns a 3-1 victory over Revano. 

R.S.
Nicco Ruiz
Arizona State

He'll wrestle unattached due to redshirting, but you better believe he'd be very valuable points if he were helping to add up the Arizona State team score.  Nicco Ruiz recently won RENO & you can bet he's looking to do well here as well. 

U.R. 
Nick Hamilton
Virginia

And yet again, talking about a young Cavalier on the Virginia team.  With all of the youthful talent, it really makes me wonder how tough Virginia is going to be in the years to come.  Nick Hamilton as a redshirt was one match shy of placing last season. 

#5 in NCAA DIII
Tristan Massie
UW-Eau Claire

As to the Non-DI wrestlers in this bracket, I believe our best bet for a good showing is Tristan Massie of UW-Eau Claire.