Midwest Region Preview

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Midwest Region Championship | Event Website
Elmhurst College
Saturday, March 2nd, 9:00 AM

d3wrestle.com Rankings | NWCA Team Rankings

12 Teams – Full List

Ranked Teams: #2 Elmhurst, #4 Whitewater, #5 La Crosse, #9 Stevens Point, #12 Olivet, #29 Wabash

d3wrestle.com Top Ten Individuals (Returning AA in Bold)
125 – #9 Preston (Trine), #10 Balsiger (La Crosse)
133 – #2 Fitzenreider (North Central), #3 Bullard (Elmhurst)
141 –  #1 Sheley (La Crosse), #3 Earley (Elmhurst), #5 Fredricksen (Whitewater), #7 Kust (Stevens Point)
149 –  #7 Pederson (Olivet), #9 Strausbaugh (Wabash)
157 – #1 Larson (Trine), #5 Savenok (Wheaton), #10 Lefever (Wabash)
165 – #6 Schulte (Stevens Point), #7 Myers (Olivet)
174 – #5 Balderas (Elmhurst), #6 Conat (Stevens Point), #9 O’Brien (La Crosse), #10 Pieper (Trine)
184 – #1 Rau (Elmhurst), #8 Holm (Olivet), #10 Dunlap (Whitewater)
197 – #4 Benefiel (Elmhurst), #5 Wozniak (Stevens Point), #8 Siefert (Whitewater)
285 – #5 Mayer (La Crosse), #9 Edgren (Whitewater), #10 Robinson (Alma)

Lastly, we have the Midwest Region. It is definitely the toughest region of the six in 2013 with six ranked teams, four of which are in the top ten. Some of the tougher teams that could have been in the West Region are instead here, making this a great tournament. Elmhurst has put together a great season and will host the event. They have five ranked wrestlers and a few others just outside the rankings at weight where they could also qualify. Not far behind is WIAC champ Whitewater and their four ranked wrestlers and #4 ranked team. La Crosse comes in at #5 and will also challenge with their three returning All-Americans. Rounding out the top ten teams is Stevens Point with four ranked wrestlers of their own. #12 Olivet and #29 Wabash have some ranked wrestlers as well and round out the top teams.

Every weight class is tough, but a few stand out. 141 has the #1 ranked Sheley as well as #3 Earley, #5 Fredricksen, and #7 Kust. At least one of those guys will have his season end tomorrow. The same is true at 174 with #5 Balderas, #6 Conat, #9 O’Brien, and #10 Pieper. It does not get much easier after that, as there are four other weights with three top ten wrestlers and none with less than two. #1 ranked Larson of Trine is looking for his first title at 157 as is #1 Rau of Elmhurst at 184. #2 Fitzenreider and #3 Bullard could meet in the 133 final for what could also be an NCAA semifinal preview. Fitzenreider won 6-5 in their meeting just over a week ago.

Other intriguing entries include #7 Pederson of Olivet at 149 who has a win over #1 Silvestri this season, #4 Mike Benefiel of Elmhurst who could be rounding into the form that made him the #6 recruit in the country his senior year of high school, and #3 Earley of Elmhurst who has been outstanding (and undefeated) since dropping to 141 after last season at 149.