Midlands Wrestling Championship Preview.
12/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 28, 2000
EVANSTON, ILL. - The Spartans wrestlers are again expected to contend for individual titles in four of the five lower weight classes at the 2000 Midlands Wrestling Championship in Evanston, Ill.. Unofficial seatings have Chris Williams (125) sixth, Pat McNamara (133) second, Mike Castillo (141) fourth and Gray Maynard (157) eighth. The Spartan heavyweight Matt Lamb has also been seated in the top ten of his class, seated at number nine.
The Midlands Wrestling Championship will be the Spartans only team-scoring event of the season, but with provide quite a test for the Spartans as many of the top ranked teams in the country will be competing this weekend. A majority of the Big Ten schools will be competing including top-twenty schools, like Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Purdue.
Here's a weight class breakdown for those in which Spartans are ranked:
125 poundsThe top seven wrestlers are all considered to be contenders for the title at 125 pounds. Four of those wrestlers are from the Big Ten conference. LeRoy Vega (Minnesota), Jason Silverstein (Purdue), Ryan Escobar (Illinois) and Chris Williams (Michigan State).
133 poundsThe weight class is loaded with talent, including the two returning champs in 1999 champion Teague Moore (Sunkist Kids) and 1998 champion MSU's Pat McNamara. Other contenders for this year's title includes: Roman Flezar (Hofstra), David Douglas (Arizona State), Matt Azevedo (Iowa State), Brett Lawrence (Minnesota) and Evan Robinson (Purdue).
141 poundsThe 1999 runner-up and 1998 champion Doug Schwab of Iowa returns this year in attempts to capture another title. However in his way stands ranked opponents such as MSU's Mike Castillo, Eric Larkin of Arizona State and Minnesota's Chad Erickson.
157 poundsTwo-time champion Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids) will return to defend his title as last year's runner-up T.J. Williams (Iowa) will again be Bono's top competition. Gray Maynard (Michigan State)and Luke Becker (Minnesota) will be among those from the Big Ten looking to take this year's title.
HWT.Three-time champion Steve Neal (Schultz WC) is back after sitting out of last year's competition with an injury. Neal won his last title in 1999 and has recorded 15 consecutive victories at the tournament. Illinois's John Lockhart, Ohio State's Tommy Rowlands and Michigan State's Matt Lamb will also be in contention for the title.