Finishing among the top eight at the always-loaded Midlands Tournament is never easy.

Just ask Mid-American Conference wrestlers. Only three of them who returned this season reached the top eight last year, and that includes the MAC's seven new members.

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Here is a rundown of MAC wrestlers who stand the best chance of making the top eight at this year's Midlands, slated for Sunday and Monday at Northwestern:

1. MATT STENCEL, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

The junior 285-pounder is seeking a third straight top-four Midlands finish after placing third last year and fourth in 2017. 

Stencel is off to a 13-3 start, including eight pins and a major decision win. All three of his losses have come at the hands of Michigan's Mason Parris. 

Stencel, currently ranked No. 8, is the top returning finisher in his weight class. Arizona State is not participating this year, which means defending champion Tanner Hall will not be back. Northwestern's Conan Jennings, last year's runner-up, has graduated.

While Stencel is a lock to finish among the top eight, winning the tournament is another story with No. 4 Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) and No. 5 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) in the field. 

However, Stencel has won his only meetings with both. He decisioned Hillger (3-1) for seventh place at last year's NCAA Championships and pinned Cassioppi in 43 seconds as last year's Midlands. 

Stencel boasts a 72-24 career record, including 44-9 since the start of last season. He has 29 pins in his last 44 wins. 

2. LOGAN PARKS, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

The senior is pursuing a second consecutive top-eight Midlands showing after placing seventh at 157 pounds a year ago.

Parks, who entered the rankings at No. 25 this week, is still wrestling at 157 and off to an 8-4 start. He has beaten No. 17 Matt Zovistoski (Appalachian State) this season. 

The 157-pound class is loaded, so finishing among the top eight again is not a sure thing for Parks. Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) is back along with last year's runner-up -- eighth-ranked Caleb Young (Iowa). No. 22 Eric Barone (Illinois), fifth in 2018, also returns. 

There is also No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State), No. 5 Kendall Coleman (Purdue), No. 6 Quincy Monday (Princeton), No. 8 Anthony Artalona (Penn), No. 13 Justin Ruffin (SIUE), No. 16 AC Headlee (North Carolina) No. 18 Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) and No. 21 Mason Kauffman (Northern Illinois).

Parks, who went 1-2 at last year's NCAA Championships, decisioned Coleman, Monday and Kauffman last season. He owns a 67-51 career record.

3. TREVOR ALLARD, BLOOMSBURG

The senior is also hoping to place for a second straight season after finishing seventh at 184 pounds last year. He remains at 184 this season and is ranked No. 14. 

Allard has raced to a 12-1 start with his only loss coming to No. 13 Noah Stewart (Army), whom he could meet again at Midlands. He has beaten No. 15 Corey Hazel (Lock Haven) and No. 16 Jelani Embree (Michigan). 

There will be a new champion at 184 with the graduation of Northern Iowa's Drew Foster, but his teammate, Taylor Lujan, who has second at 174 last year, has moved up to 184. Luijan (No. 4) is also the highest-ranked wrestler in the field. 

There is also No. 9 Nelson Brands (Iowa), No. 10 Samuel Colbray (Iowa State), No. 11 Tanner Harvey (American), No. 12 Andrew Morgan (Campbell), No. 19 Travis Stefanik (Princeton) and No. 21 Zach Braunagel (Illinois). 

Allard, who owns a win over Stefanik, has an 85-41 career record and is pursuing his first NCAA Tournament berth.

4. DREW HILDEBRANDT, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

After a 38-28 record the previous two seasons, the junior has rocketed to a 13-1 start at 125 pounds. In fact, Hildebrandt, ranked seventh, has not lost since dropping a 3-2 decision to No. 6 Brock Hudkins (Indiana) to open the season.

Hildebrandt is hoping to ride that momentum to a top-eight finish after going 3-2 at the 2018 Midlands. He has beaten No. 17 Sydney Flores (Air Force) this season, but does not own a win over any wrestler ranked in the top 20 who will be in the Midlands field. 

Defending champion Sebastian Rivera of Northwestern has moved up to 133, but the heavy favorite is top-ranked Spencer Lee of Iowa, who was second last year. Princeton's Pat Glory (No. 3) was third last year.

Also in this weight class should be No. 8 Devin Schroder (Purdue), No. 11 Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern), No. 12 Alex Mackall (Iowa State), No. 13 Michael Colaiocco (Penn), No. 16 Jacob Schwarm (Northern Iowa).

Hildebrandt, who went 1-2 at last year's NCAA Tournament, has an 86-29 career record.

5. DRESDEN SIMON, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

The junior is off to a 12-4 start after going just 26-32 the previous two seasons and ranked No. 17 at 141 pounds. Simon, who went 0-2 at last year's Midlands, has won seven matches by pin or major decision.

Defending champion Josh Alber of Northern Iowa has graduated, but the field is stacked at 141 and includes No. 7 Max Murin (Iowa), who was second last year. No. 4 Michael Blockhus (Northern Iowa) was fourth last year and No. 24 Corey Shie (Army) sixth. No. 8 Tristan Moran (Wisconsin) finished seventh. 

The highest-ranked, 141-pounder who could be at Midlands is No. 3 Dom Demas of Oklahoma. There is also No. 5 Ian Parker (Iowa State), No. 10 Josh Heil (Campbell), No. 18 Kyle Shoop (Lock Haven) and No. 19 Shakur Laney (Ohio).

Simon owns wins over Shie and Shoop this season along with No. 22 Lenny Petersen (Air Force).

6. JUSTIN RUFFIN, SIUE

As mentioned above, the 157-pound weight class is loaded, but Ruffin, a sophomore, is 10-3 this season after going 18-12 last year. That includes 1-2 at the NCAA Tournament.

The four-time Georgia State champion is ranked No. 13 and has beaten No. 14 Larry Early (Old Dominion) this season and Parks last season. Ruffin did not wrestle at the 2018 Midlands because the Cougars were competing at the South Beach Duals.

Mark Spezia is a freelance writer based in Lapeer, Michigan. He has written for ESPNW, Flohockey, Flint, Michigan-based My City Magazine, the Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit Magazine and Troy, Michigan-based Oakland Press. He previously worked for the Flint Journal, Lapeer (Michigan) County Press and Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, Michiga