The 2015 Midlands Championships will be underway December 29th and 30th.  This tournament is annually among the toughest in season tournaments.  This year looks to be no different.  As always we'll have some great D1 battles along with a few really intriguing post grads and NAIA entries.

125 Contenders

#2 Thomas Gilman (Iowa)

#6 Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa)

#7 Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State)

#10 David Terao (American)

#12 Tim Lambert (Nebraska)

#13 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State)

#18 Sean McCabe (Rutgers)

Brandon Jeske (ODU)

Kris Williams (Nebraska)

Commentary: Gilman comes in as a very strong favorite at 125.  He has been on an utter tear this year with his closest match being a 9-1 major over Eddie Klimara.  We’ve seen Thomas run some scores up before, but against more elite competition he will play the hand fight, grind you out game.  I don’t see anyone in this field that will make Gilman revert to that strategy.  I really only see Nico, Tomasello and Dance as guys who could make Gilman hold back his vast array of offense.

Part of me wishes the field bolstered a little more high end talent at this weight to see if Gilman is just going to be a 7 minute buzzsaw of offense or if he’ll still hold back his attacks and hand fight when push comes to shove.

The second tier of guys at this weight is very deep. With that depth and evenness comes some cannibalizing of one another.  Bresser beat Terao, Terao has beaten Peters, Peters has beaten Bresser.  Bresser is as skilled as the come in this group with his lightning quick attacks.  Peters is a physical specimen with as powerful a knockout punch as anyone in this weight. Terao is creative on his feet with his throw-by’s and countering ability.  On top he brings serious heat with the ability to turn with legs in and cradle you up.  

CP’s Predictions:
1. Thomas Gilman - Iowa

2. Dylan Peters - UNI

3. David Terao - American

4. Ronnie Bresser - Oregon State

5. Tim Lambert - Nebraska

6. Kris Williams - Nebraska

133 Contenders

#2 Cory Clark (Iowa)

#5 Zane Richards (Illinois)

#8 Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin)

#6 Earl Hall (Iowa State)

#10 Eric Montoya (Nebraska)

#12 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland)

#18 Mason Beckman (Lehigh)

#19 Josh Alber (Northern Iowa)

Dom Forys (Pittsburgh)

Anthony Giraldo (Rutgers)

Scott Delvecchio (Rutgers - Unattached)

Brance Simms (South Dakota State)

Commentary: This field is incredibly tough with the Cory Clark in the field alongside hammers Hall, Richards and Taylor.  Zane Richards looks to be back to the form we saw him in early last year when he took out AJ Schopp, Cory Clark, etc.  He looked great at Reno and has been unchallenged for this entire season. The same can be said for Cory Clark this year. His closest bout has been a 4-1  win over Brance Simms. He also beat Earl Hall 9-2 this year.

With Wisconsin’s Ryan Taylor showing some struggles this year, I am not ready to put him in this mix until I see him return to his form of old.  Mason Beckman currently sits with a season record well below .500.  Whatever is or was going on with Mason has caused him to compete drastically different from seasons past.  Like Ryan Taylor, I’ll err on the side of caution and not predict a breakout tourney for Mason until I see him back in form.  

I believe we’re destined for a Clark/Richards match up.  These two split a season ago with Richards winning in Carver and Clark taking the match at Midlands.  Both guys thrive in tie ups and using their respective hooks and 2 on 1’s to get to legs.  I’m going to go with Clark’s track record of success on this one. But believe me it’ll be tight.

CP’s Predictions:
1. Cory Clark - Iowa

2. Zane Richards - Illinois

3. Earl Hall - ISU

4. Eric Montoya - Nebraska

5. Mason Beckman - Lehigh

6. Ryan Taylor - Wisconsin

141 Contenders

#2 Chris Mecate (Old Dominion)

#3 Kevin Jack (North Carolina State)

#4 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers)

#10 Mike Racciato (Pittsburgh)

#11 Todd Preston (Harvard)

#13 Anthony Abidin (Nebraska)

#18 Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois)

Andrew Long (Grand View)

Sam Speno (NC State)

Rick Durso (Franklin & Marshall)

Alfred Bannister (Maryland)

Seth Gross (SDSU)

Matthew Kolodzik (Unattached)

Commentary: This may seem like an odd place to start, but how cool is it to have Andrew Long back in the mix?  The 2-time All-American fell on hard times but has recovered in spades.  He now finds himself at NAIA Grand View where he finds himself undefeated with all wins coming by bonus points, even against Logan Ryan, Topher Carton and John Meeks, all guys who have had starting duties for Iowa and ISU. Can he break into the top 3 of Mecate, Ashnault and Jack?  IÂ’m not sure.  Andrew Long at his best is the favorite here, but itÂ’s just tough to know at this point.

With 3 of the top 4 here, this could be the premier weight class of the tournament.  We’ve seen Mecate and Ashnault down and defeat all comers.  Mecate took out Jack in OT this year. Ashnault has downed Evan Henderson, Rick Durso and Anthony Abidin. Jack has suffered losses to #1 Dean Heil and #2 Mecate this year in two very tight bouts. We are likely looking at a Jack/Ashnault semi. I like Ashnault to take that one.  His offense has been clicking this year and I think he has the finishing ability to counter the scrambling and length of Kevin Jack.  

Andrew Long is the biggest wildcard here.  I predict he leads the charge of a very deep 2nd tier. That tier includes Long, Racciato, Abidin, Preston, Bleise, Durso, Speno and Bannister.  Long may out-class these guys by a bit but the difference between Racciato and a Speno/Bannister is pretty small in my mind.  In the finals I’ll take Ashnault over Mecate.  I truly don’t have a great read on those 3 as they compare to one another.

CP's Predictions

1. Anthony Ashnault - Rutgers

2. Chris Mecate - ODU

3. Kevin Jack - NC State

4. Andrew Long - Grand View

5. Anthony Abidin - Nebraska

6. Mike Racciato - Pitt

149 Contenders:
#2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa)

#3 Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern)

#5 Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion)

#7 Jake Sueflohn (Nebraska)

#13 Michael DePalma (Kent State)

#14 Matt Kraus (Arizona State)

#16 Alex Griffin (Purdue)

#20 B.J. Clagon (Rider)

Chris Perez (Princeton)

Kenny Theobold (Rutgers - Unattached)

Dynamite top two here with Sorensen and Tsirtsis in the mix.  It’s extremely difficult to predict what we’ll get from Jason Tsirtsis this time around.  He didnÂ’t look great at the Grapple in the Garden in his loss to Cimato, and he only beat Ohio StateÂ’s Cody Burcher 5-3 on December 18th.  Sorensen has looked like outstanding so far this year beating Collica 6-1 and Gabe Moreno 11-3. Sorensen takes it here with very little issue.

If Tsirtsis isn’t back to form, Richardson and Sueflohn may be the biggest challenges in Sorensen’s way.  BJ Clagon hasn’t been great this year compared to his finish a season ago, but cannot be counted out.  The seeds here will have a big impact on who falls where.

**UPDATE** I wasn't sure if Mike Kemerer was going, but if he does, I think he's 2 or 3 here behind Sorensen.  He's going to do very well. 

CP’s Predictions:
1. Brandon Sorensen - Iowa

2. Alexander Richardson - ODU

3. Jake Sueflohn - Nebraska

4. Jason Tsirtsis - Northwestern

5. BJ Clagon - Rider

6. Alex Griffin - Purdue

157 Contenders:
#1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois)

#2 Ian Miller (Kent State)

#6 Thomas Gantt (North Carolina State)

#7 Cody Pack (South Dakota State)

#9 Doug Welch (Purdue)

#11 Lou Mascola (Maryland)

#14 Tyler Berger (Nebraska)

#15 Chad Walsh (Rider)

#17 John Boyle (American)

Richie Lewis (Rutgers)

Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa)

Edwin Cooper (Iowa)

Josh Shields (ASU)

I’m a bit nervous that Miller hasn’t registered yet for this weight, but I’m holding onto hope that we’ll see him here.  IMAR, Miller and Gantt is a fearsome group of 3 that I want to watch trade blows.  If there’s no Miller, I strongly believe we’ll have a Gantt v. IMAR final.  Gantt and IMAR both could teach masters courses on pace and physicality. They happen to be two of my favorites to watch across any weight.  Ultimately, IMAR is going to have a little more offense than Gantt and that will be the difference.  Once a match IMAR has a “welp, nobody else in the country can do that” moment.  That’s what will separate he and Gantt.

I’m not counting on Miller registering, just putting it out there.  So let’s operate under that assumption.  We’ll have Pack, Welch, Mascola and Berger in the mix.  I’m erring on upside with Berger to make the top 3.  Berger had a rough weekend a few weeks ago losing to Richie Lewis and Mascola.  He’ll get back on track here.  His top game and evolving neutral attacks set him apart here.  

CP’s Predictions:
1. Isaiah Martinez - Illinois

2. Thomas Gantt - NC State

3. Tyler Berger - Nebraska

4. Cody Pack - SDSU

5. Doug Welch - Purdue

6. Edwin Cooper - Iowa

165 Contenders:    
#3 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin)

#4 Anthony Perrotti (Rutgers)

#6 Austin Wilson (Nebraska)

#7 Steven Rodrigues (Illinois)

#9 Max Rohskopf (North Carolina State)

#11 Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa)

#13 Tanner Weatherman (Iowa State)

#14 Chad Welch (Purdue)

#17 Connor Brennan (Rider)

Seth Thomas (Oregon State)

Clark Glass (Oklahoma)

Under normal circumstances, Isaac Jordan would be a massive favorite.  However, he survived a real scare against Geno Morelli of Penn State. Also, thereÂ’s still some questions if heÂ’ll even register.  Perrotti has been great this year with wins over Austin Wilson and Ethan Ramos.  His lone blemish came at the hands of Clark Glass of Oklahoma.  

Steven Rodrigues has more than looked the part at 165 up 3 weights.  He beat All American Jim Wilson at Reno and is still undefeated on the season.  A Jordan-less field could look at a number of potential title contenders here.  Max Rohskopf is not yet registered either, so IÂ’m not factoring him in either.  Cooper Moore had a pretty rough CKLV, but I donÂ’t expect that trend to continue.  He has a shot for redemption here and I think a top 3 finish is coming.

I think Rodrigues and Perrotti are the two most complete guys here.  If seeding holds properly, I think weÂ’ll see those two in the finals.  I think Perrotti will have an advantage in strength/physicality as a full-grown 65 pounder.  Rodrigues overcomes a lot with his pristine positioning and a real knack for finish from tough positions.  Perrotti is just too much of a powder keg.  I think there will be an exchange or two where PerrottiÂ’s size/power overwhelms Rodrigues.

CPÂ’s Predictions:
1. Anthony Perrotti - Rutgers

2. Steven Rodrigues - Illinois

3. Cooper Moore - Northern Iowa

4. Austin Wilson - Nebraska

5. Tanner Weatherman - ISU

6. Chad Welch - Purdue

174 Contenders:    
#4 Alex Meyer (Iowa)

#5 Zac Brunson (Illinois)

#8 Bryce Hammond (Bakersfield)

#9 Nate Jackson (Indiana)

#11 Cody Walters (Ohio)

#12 Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State)

#13 Micah Barnes (Nebraska)

#14 Jonathan Schleifer (Princeton)

#20 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin)

Matt Reed (Oklahoma)

TeShan Campbell (Pittsburgh)

Crazy excited for this weight.  A potential Brunson/Meyer rematch has me particularly intrigued.  Recall last year these two wrestled at Carver Hawkeye.  Brunson had a several point lead (more than two, want to say it was 5-2 at the time).  Meyer shot a single and got the non controlled fall with 1 second to go to take the win from Brunson.  I think Cody Walters has a great chance to play spoiler here.  He and Brunson are the best top wrestlers in this field.  Both are great with legs in, and Brunson put his tilting skills on full display at Reno.  Walters had Blaise Butler on the ropes and gave up 2 penalty points late to lose to the Mizzou 74 pounder.  

Walters struggles with consistency at times and while he can beat some monsters he fell to PrincetonÂ’s Schleifer already this year.  Iowa is counting on major points from Alex Meyer.  Meyer has some amazing wins in his career with two over Crutchmer as well as wins over Butler and the aforementioned Butler last year.  That said, he fell to Crutchmer this year and hasnÂ’t faced much other elite competition this season. It has been theorized that Alex benefitted by not being “the guy” for Iowa and was under-scouted and was able to surprise guys.  Now that heÂ’s IowaÂ’s starter, his style is under more of a microscope.  WeÂ’ll see if thatÂ’s the case moving forward.  My opinion is that you canÂ’t just beat guys that good by accident.  

I think thereÂ’s a substantial drop off after Walters.  Despite the fact that Schleifer looms with his win over Walters, IÂ’m still giving him the benefit of the doubt.  Nate Jackson of Indiana is a very tough matchup for most with his length and speed combo.  I like Brunson to get a little redemption over Meyer.  His point scoring potential and top game give him a greater margin for error. Very fun weight.

CPÂ’s Predictions:
1. Zac Brunson - Illinois

2. Alex Meyer - Iowa

3. Cody Walters - Ohio

4. Nate Jackson - Indiana

5. Jonathan Schleifer - Princeton

6. Lelund Weatherspoon - ISU

184 Contenders:    
David Taylor (Unattached)

#2 Jack Dechow (Old Dominion)

#3 Blake Stauffer (Arizona State)

#4 Nate Brown (Lehigh)

#6 Hayden Zillmer (North Dakota State)

#7 T.J. Dudley (Nebraska)

#9 Sammy Brooks (Iowa)

#15 Pete Renda (North Carolina State)

#17 Abram Ayala (Princeton)

#18 Jeff Koepke (Illinois)

#20 Nicholas Gravina (Rutgers)

Andrew Romanchik (Ohio)

Ah snap!  DT in the mix.  I really donÂ’t think thereÂ’s anyone here who can go point for point with DT.  His newfound size in conjunction with his very apparent athleticism and speed will make him close to a lock at 184.

With that said this is an amazingly deep field at 184. WeÂ’ve got 6 top 10 guys on top of David Taylor. Dechow holds a high ranking but hasnÂ’t faced very much competition this year. Now is his time to legitimize his ranking.  Stauffer take a fall to Zavatsky at Vegas but has been solid otherwise beating Nate Brown.  Brown has fallen to Dudley and Stauffer this year while Dudley took a loss to Rutgers Nick Gravina. So essentially all of these guys have had lapses, including Zillmer.  

I think Nate Brown is one of the few guys who can really make DT work for points.  HeÂ’s a great hand fighter and probably has the best counter-game at 184 pounds. If heÂ’s opposite David, I like him to make the finals before ultimately falling to DT.

CPÂ’s Predictions:
1. David Taylor - Unattached

2. Nate Brown - Lehigh

3. Jack Dechow - ODU

4. Blake Stauffer - ASU

5. Sammy Brooks - Iowa

6. TJ Dudley - Nebraska

197 Contenders:    
#4 Nathan Burak (Iowa)

#7 Reuben Franklin (Bakersfield)

#9 Brett Harner (Princeton)

#10 Nathan Rotert (South Dakota State)

#11 Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska)

#14 Phil Wellington (Ohio)

#17 Michael Boykin (North Carolina State)

#18 Jeric Kasunic (American)

#20 Anthony Abro (Eastern Michigan)

Nick Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh)

Cody Crawford (Oregon State)

Marcus Harrington (ISU)

Not necessarily the deepest weight in the field.  2-time All American Nathan Burak will be a massive favorite at this weight.  Reuben Franklin has been someone IÂ’ve been high on this year and heÂ’s been a real treat to watch so far this year after a great showing at CKLV.

I think Michael Boykin has some upside in this field.  Burak is separated from the field but from Franklin on back thereÂ’s a number of guys who could find themselves massively out-wrestling their seed. Burak, then Franklin then pick some names out of the hat.  This one could go 100 different directions.  Of note, Iowa State has reinstated Marcus Harrington.  He's a super-talent at this weight but I'm not sure what to make of him getting dropped into a tournament this tough. 

CPÂ’s Predictions:
1. Nathan Burak - Iowa

2. Reuben Franklin - CSU Bakersfield

3. Michael Boykin - NC State

4. Nathan Rotert - SDSU

5. Aaron Studebaker - Nebraska

6. Jeric Kasunic - American

285 Contenders:
#1 Nick Gwiazdowski (North Carolina State)

#5 Amarveer Dhesi (Oregon State)

#7 Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa)

#9 Ryan Solomon (Pittsburgh)

#11 Billy Smith (Rutgers)

#13 Sam Stoll (Iowa)

#14 Ross Larson (Oklahoma)

#15 Tanner Hall (Arizona State)

#19 Brooks Black (Illinois)

Ray O'Donnell (Princeton)

Garrett Ryan (Columbia)

Collin Jensen (Nebraska)

This weight has my most anticipated potential matchup of the entire tournament on it.  The list of people with a legitimate shot at dethroning Gwiaz is relatively short.  In reality, the list could be completely empty.  However, if you have to theorize which styles could go with the 2-time NCAA Champion, Amar DhesiÂ’s size and skillset would certainly make the short list.  Dhesi is a Junior World Medalist in Freestyle and has a unique combination of size and quickness.   HeÂ’s got a great high crotch as well as incredible short offense.  Do I give him a legitimate shot against Gwiazdowski?  Not really.  IÂ’ve watched Gwiaz punish guys consistently who take head outside shots against him.  He wonÂ’t get caught out of position against Dhesi either.  When Gwiaz pulls the trigger heÂ’s as good a finisher as we have at any weight.  Gwiazdowski tells the country to look elsewhere for a challenger.  HeÂ’s taking care of business here.

ThereÂ’s a pretty noticeable dropoff from Dhesi on down.  We watched Dhesi handle Blaize Cabell at Northeast Duals this season.  A few adjustments by Cabell and I think that can be a particularly close match.  He has to be more selective when he pulls the trigger against Dhesi.  

Iowa fans will closely monitor the progress of their young heavyweight Sam Stoll.  Stoll recently notched his first big-time win in a d1 singlet when he took out Rutgers big man Billy Smith.  Stoll, like many young wrestlers, has a few areas of relative weakness to shore up.  He can struggle from underneath at times and can be a bit too reserved in terms of committed leg attacks.  I expect this to improve with time.  This is something to monitor this tournament.

Another Freshman of note is ASUÂ’s Tanner Hall.  Hall can be a load on his feet with his height and upper body ties. He uses these well to control the center of the mat. HeÂ’s also quite tough from the top position.  He took out Cabell at CKLV this year, but has had some strange lapses as well.

CPÂ’s Predictions:
1. Nick Gwiazdowski - NC State

2. Amarveer Dhesi - Oregon State

3. Tanner Hall - Arizona State

4. Blaize Cabell - UNI

5. Sam Stoll - Iowa

6. Billy Smith - Rutgers

Team Predictions:
Should be Iowa by a whole lot here.  It could be a very competitive battle for 2nd, however.

1. Iowa

2. Nebraska

3. Illinois

4. NC State

5. Rutgers

6. ODU

7. UNI

8. Oregon State

9. Purdue

10. Arizona State

Reminder, you can watch action on btn2go.com and finals on the Big 10 Network!