The Midlands is generally regarded as one of the top folkstyle tournaments in the country.
It features some of the best collegiate wrestlers in the country and some of the best teams. It also inlcudes many former collegians who continue to compete competitively and from time-to-time some of the country's elite high schoolers are invited to compete.
This year's version kicks off on Sunday with pre-tournament festivities and wrestling starts on Monday. Kansas products Zach Roberson and Joe Johnston are each seeded at their respective weight.
There are a number of interesting story lines in this year's event, some of which include
1). How will the defending 125 pound NCAA champ Travis Lee of Cornell fare against the likes of Roberson, Moore and Jayne at 133?
2). How will Nik Fekete do after the lengthy legal battle he has waged against his former school (Michigan State) in hopes of gaining a scholarship release so that he may compete for Hofstra?
3). Will Montana State-Northern's manchild Emmett Wilson prove the nay-sayers wrong as they continue to state that Wilson's NAIA accolades mean nothing (even after Wilson won Vegas earlier this month)
4). Can heralded high schooler Alexander Tsirtsis medal in the event? He will be just the third high schooler to compete in the event (although others were invited, but declined to compete - including Blair Academy's Steve Mocco).
The two others were Jimmy Carr of Erie, Pa., who won the 126-pound title in 1973, and Cary Kolat of Rices Landing, Pa., who entered the tournament in 1989, when he took third at 118 lbs.
Tsirtsis (who is 195-0 in high school) has beaten several ranked collegians in freestyle, but at 141 pounds in folkstyle, you would think he would have a more difficult time than the others who earned medals at lighter weights.
5). and on, and on, and on.......
Free audio broadcasts are being offered, if you want to tune in to the event. It does require a special media player, but a link is provided for a free download of that player.
Here is the link for intermat's coverage. From there you will note a link for audio coverage.
http://www.intermatwrestle.com/college/coverage/midland03.asp Good luck Zach and Joe!
