Northwestern University Athletics
No. 23 Wildcats Set for 42nd Midlands
12/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
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Dec. 27, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - After running away with the overall title at the Beast of the East Invitational by more than 60 points and compiling a flawless 3-0 dual record, No. 23 Northwestern shifts its focus to hosting the 42nd Midlands Championships set to run Wednesday, Dec. 29 through Thursday, Dec. 30.
"We've wrestled great in our first few competitions," Head Coach Tim Cysewski said. "But now we have the challenge of building on those performances. We have to keep getting better."
The `Cats certainly have answered Cysewski's challenge to get better over the first month of the season, as they recently moved up one notch in the national rankings since their showing at the Beast of the East. W.I.N. Magazine currently has NU as the 23rd best team in the nation.
A couple `Cats have garnered individual national rankings as well. John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) and Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) both vaulted into the top 20 for their respective weight classes after winning titles at the Beast of the East. Velez ranks No. 13 at 125 lbs. and Herbert is No. 18 at 174 lbs. Velez has yet to lose this year, currently holding a record of 7-0. He also turned in the Wildcats' best finish at last year's tournament, claiming fourth.
Eight NU wrestlers have received pre-seed honors for the Midlands Championships. Velez is No. 3 and Herbert is No. 7. Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/Lakewood St. Edward) is No. 8 at 141 lbs., Greg Hagel is No. 10 at 149 lbs., Mike Kimberlin (Bradley, Ill./Bishop Martin McNamara) is No. 11 at 157 lbs., Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) is No. 10 at 165 lbs., Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) is No. 11 at 184 lbs. and Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) is No. 10 at 197 lbs.
As a team, NU aims to improve on its 17th-place showing in last year's tournament.
Big Ten foe Illinois is the defending Midlands champion and should prove to be formidable once again with five wrestlers pre-seeded at No. 3 or higher in their respective weight classes.
Along with the nation's top wrestlers, the championships will feature Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. On the second day of the tournament, Hastert will offer autograph copies of his latest book, "Speaker," from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the lobby of Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Results will be updated after each session. Please visit www.NUsports.com for all the latest on Midlands.
