2012 – 197 lbs. Preview

13 NCAA Tournament,

2012 IIAC Finals 197 (6)

Qualifiers (seeds listed, returning All-Americans in bold, qualifiers in italics)
Brackets

  • 1 Tate (Wartburg)
  • 2 Myhrberg (Cortland)
  • 3 Baxter (St. John’s)
  • 4 Baus (Augsburg)
  • 5 Flegel (Luther)
  • 6 Schmitz (Concordia MN)
  • 7 Meaney (Elizabethtown)
  • 8 Latella (Whitewater)
  • Coolidge (Cornell)
  • De’Reese (Hunter)
  • Erickson (Wesleyan)
  • Faber (Wheaton)
  • Glover (Brockport)
  • Johnson (Dubuque)
  • Leonard (Olivet)
  • Lovins (Heidelberg)
  • Mosquera (JHU)

This weight, as much as any other, almost seems like a foregone conclusion for the top spot. Tate is going for his third title. He has not lost to a DIII opponent in two years, and he has placed at the Midlands twice. That said, nobody thought Tate himself had a chance to win the 2010 championship with both finalists back at his weight, so anything is possible. Myhrberg is undefeated, and Baxter has been able to raise his game at the NCAA championships in the past, though he did lose an overtime match to Faber of Wheaton in the regional semifinal.

Latella and Johnson are the other two returning All-Americans, though each has had a rocky road to the tournament. Latella did not start competing until January and started off with some bad losses before righting the ship, though he did also lose to Meaney. Johnson is only in the tournament as an injury replacement for Burkle of Coe at 285. Schmitz returns as well and was 4th at the Great Lakes, though he has split with region champ Baus. Mosquera won the Centennial for a second time and is athletic, if often fragile.

There seem to be a stratification in the talent level at this weight with a significant favorite, a group of contenders, and a larger group of wrestlers with little chance to place. Surprises happen, like Mulligan and Johnson placing here last year, but it seems like the seeding has a good chance to hold here.

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