Northwestern University Athletics
Precin, Herbert Set for Midlands Finals
12/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 2008
Midlands Info Center
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the second consecutive year, Northwestern's Brandon Precin and Jake Herbert have the chance to compete for a Midlands championship, reaching the finals in one of the most tightly contested Midlands tournaments to date. Precin will battle Iowa State's Tyler Clark at 125 while Herbert must go through Iowa's Phil Keddy at 184.
During session three, Iowa State (149.5) vaulted over Iowa (138.5) to claim the top spot in the team standings. Both teams have five competitors in the finals. Northwestern stands in seventh place with 76.5 points.
Top-seeded Herbert improved to 15-0 with his pin of Rider's fourth-seeded Doug Umbehauer in 1:15 to reach the finals. The fall was the second of the tournament for Herbert, who is aiming to join the ranks of three-time champions.
Precin, who placed second in 2007 to Indiana's Angel Escobedo, punched his ticket to the finals with a workmanlike effort, a 5-0 win over Scott Sentes of Central Michigan. Precin held a 2-0 lead through most of the match before putting the contest away with three points just seconds before time ran out.
He is now 14-1 on the eve of his finals match-up with fourth-seeded Clark, who defeated Clarion's Jay Ivanco to reach the finals. Precin and Clark have met on one prior occasion, as Precin scored a 10-4 win at the Cliff Keen National Duals last January.
In his semifinal match, Jason Welch was faced with a three-time Midlands champion in Chris Bono, the head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Welch held a 4-3 lead before third-period takedown put Bono ahead, 5-4. Welch was unable to mount a comeback and lost an 8-5 decision.
Welch moved on to the wrestlebacks against fifth-seeded Scott Winston of Rutgers. With the score tied at one apiece and just 30 seconds remaining, Winston dropped Welch for three points and eventually won, 6-1. In Tuesday's nightcap session, Welch is set to take on Anthony Jones of Michigan State in the battle for fifth place.
Catch the action from Welsh-Ryan Arena beginning at 7 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network's live broadcast of the finals.
