TOM Midlands preview

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Predicting 2 Iowa State Champions

165
#2 Josh Asper, Maryland
#5 Scott Winston, Rutgers
#6 Bekzod Abdurakhmanov, Clarion
#7 Brandon Hatchett, Lehigh
#8 Andrew Sorenson, Iowa State
#13 Mike Evans, Iowa
#14 Ben Jordan, Wisconsin
#18 Peter Yates, Virginia Tech

Other Contenders:
Luke Manuel, DCAC
Steve Fittery, DCAC
Pat Smith, Minnesota (Unattached)
Lester France, Eastern Michigan

This one will be interesting from the quarters on. Some great match-ups could and should take place. Our favorite is Fittery who has since moved on to the international scene. Fittery is solid on his feet with explosive attacks and a great defense. Fittery and Asper have faced each other this year, with Fittery winning, but Asper did suffer a minor injury that forced him out of the tournament. Asper as stated has a loss to Fittery, but has been perfect against college competition this year. Winston, much like teammate Mason, has been lightly wrestled up until this point. Winston has two matches against ranked opponents and he lost to Asper, but defeated Abdurakhmanov. So, this tournament will tell us more as to where he is at, at this point of the season.

Abdurakhmanov is having a good year for Clarion. He does have the loss to Winston, but he also has a win over Hatchett from Lehigh. Hatchett, has losses to top ranked Taylor and Abdurakhmanov but has been solid in the rest of his matches. The guy we think will make a statement here is Sorenson. He has been working his way up the rankings and has been one of the bright spots for the Cyclones this year. He has four straight wins over ranked opponents and has looked good doing it. Now we look at the guy Iowa has high hopes for and that in Mike Evans. Evans has been good only losing to Sorenson. Although Sorenson is the only ranked opponent he has faced this year. Evans is a hammer on top and has a very aggressive style. This will be a great gauge for us to see where he fits into the weight class. Jordan is solid and tends to win the matches he should and lose the matches you would expect. He will give anyone a great match and should not be overlooked. The same should be said for Yates, although he has been a bit up and down this year.

Keep you eye on Manual who is entered into this one. His seed could make things interesting for one of the top guys.

TOM Prediction
1.Andrew Sorenson, Iowa State
2.Steve Fittery, DCAC
3.Josh Asper, Maryland
4.Mike Evans, Iowa

174
#3 Ryan DesRoches, Cal Poly
#5 Chris Spangler, Iowa State
#8 Ethen Lofthouse, Iowa
#9 Jordan Blanton, Illinois
#10 Greg Zanetti, Rutgers
#12 Jimmy Sheptock, Maryland
#13 Jim Resnick, Rider
#14 Lee Munster, Northwestern

Other Contenders:
John Martin-Cannon, Buffalo
Phillip Joseph, Eastern Michigan
Chase Nelson, Oklahoma
Luke Rynish, Wisconsin Parkside

This is an interesting weight that should give us some great match-ups. Also it will help shake out some of the rankings. DesRoches is fresh off winning both Vegas and Reno with some real solid wins during those events. He seems to be wrestling very well right now and should be on track to win his third straight tournament. Spangler is the other bright spot in a rough year for the Cyclones. He has worked his way up the rankings and is now sitting in the top five. This weekend will let us know if he stays or even moves up. He has faced three straight ranked opponents and has come out on top in all three of those. Lofthouse has been a bit shaky to start the year. He has suffered two losses so far but has a nice win over Blanton from Illinois.

Blanton, seems to have hit a road bump the past month or so. During that time he has suffered two losses, one being to Lofthouse and the other to a non-DI wrestler. If he is on, he will be dangerous, if he is not, he could have a long weekend. Zannetti is putting together a solid season for Rutgers. He has several good wins, but will be tested in this field. He could find himself in contention if things go right for him. Sheptock also has a few nice wins but does have a loss to Zanetti. He will need to reverse that if he wants to make a run at the top four here. Resnick has been up and down. He does have a win over Munster and a loss to Zanetti. Munster is a tough freshman that has performed well for a first year starter. If he continues to improve he could do some nice things here.

Keep an eye on Martin-Cannon who is redshirting for Buffalo this year. He is a solid wrestler that could do well here. Nelson is another guy that can win some matches for the Sooners and find himself competing for a higher placement.

TOM Prediction
1.Chris Spangler, Iowa State
2.Ryan DesRoches, Cal Poly
3.Ethen Lofthouse, Iowa
4.Greg Zanetti, Rutgers

Tom Preview: 49th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands 2011*|*The Open Mat

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Will be without Finch, Moreno and Beard.

England will compete at 174 with Spangler

Midlands wrestling: Iowa, ISU missing key title contenders | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

[brett108]

Beard being out is disappointing, as this would have been a great gauge of his progression this year. Moreno does not appear like he will be healthy at all this year. We lack depth in a lot of areas, and this year is not stacking up well. Hope we can get victories out of Spangler and Sorenson in their classes.

What is wrong with Finch? Everyone of KJs big recruits out of that class has been made of glass except Cozart, who doesn't show anything on the mat.

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I agree. I don't know if they are going so hard that they just get beat up or what. I hope KJ is just being extremely cautious and getting them 100% healthy for last part of season. Last chance to do that.

[Judoka]

I know Finch had tweaked something before Minnesota. But I'm wondering what's up this time. Other than Gadsen, did these guys have recurring injury issues in high school?

I really do think it is at the point where the teams needs to take a look at training practices and see if something is happening to make us more prone to injuries.

[GoCubsGo]

Has anyone found a website to track live results? It seems like there was a website in past years, but I'm having trouble finding it.


Edit: Just realized I'm a day early and the tourney doesn't start until tomorrow. However, still looking for a good place to follow along once it starts.

[Wesley]

So maybe KJ should have gone the route of FH transfer U? Sounds like these freshman will be like McD type wrestlers. They fill a spot but will they ever be top notch? Do we have MVC recruits wrestling in theB12? This weekend should be interesting.

[goldrush]

Half the team has packed it in now it is just a question of how many will leave at the end of the year

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TOM will cover the Midlands

I'll post the link when its up.

Or go to this site and look, not there yet

The Open Mat*|*College Wrestling News, High School Wrestling News, MMA News, Wrestling Forums

[WrestlingWatch]

I know Finch had tweaked something before Minnesota. But I'm wondering what's up this time. Other than Gadsen, did these guys have recurring injury issues in high school?

I really do think it is at the point where the teams needs to take a look at training practices and see if something is happening to make us more prone to injuries.

Judoka - Beard was out most of his red shirt year with injuries. Then he left to play baseball. Doesn't look like he is doing much better with the injuries now.

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These guys would be wrestling, if it was their choice. This is KJ holding them out.

It doesn't do us any good if these guys aren't close to 100% healthy come Big 12's and Nationals.

It Stinks, but everybody is already anti Iowa State and KJ, so KJ needs to do what he thinks is right for March.

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Beard's injuries are minor, but you can tell the difference with his performance when he's 100% healthy (early season majors and TF) and 75-80% healthy (Wagner of Iowa match)

Heard he might sit out Arizona State also and then a go for the remainder of the season.

[goldrush]

Mental toughness most the team lacks it.

[Judoka]

If Beard is out for a while do you let Shafer go to 184 and put Volker in at 197? Is Volker even healthy right now?

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If Beard is out for a while do you let Shafer go to 184 and put Volker in at 197? Is Volker even healthy right now?

I think Shafer's future is 197 and not even sure if he kept his certification at 184.

I know England is weighing in at 177, even when he wrestles 184, in case Spangler gets hurt.