Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Return to Campus
9/11/2025 2:19:00 PM | Wrestling, Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Ken Kraft Midlands Championships are coming back to Evanston, Northwestern wrestling announced Thursday. After the last six tournaments have been held in Hoffman Estates, Ill., the prestigious event will return to campus on December 29-30, 2025, to be hosted inside Ryan Fieldhouse.
"My staff and I are very excited to be bringing the Midlands Championships back on campus this December," said head wrestling coach Matt Storniolo. "Ryan Fieldhouse will provide a truly unique setting for one of college wrestling's premier events. We're looking forward to welcoming some of the nation's elite men's and women's programs to Evanston for two intense days of competition."
It will mark the second time a wrestling event has been held in Ryan Fieldhouse after the 'Cats hosted SIUE for a dual meet there in February of 2019.
The Midlands Championships have been hosted by Northwestern since 1963, when then-head coach Ken Kraft organized the inaugural tournament in La Grange, Ill. Beginning in 1972, the tournament was held annually in Welsh-Ryan Arena until 2017, when it moved off campus. This year's tournament will be the 61st iteration of the event and the first one held in Evanston in nearly a decade.
READ MORE ON THE LEGENDARY KEN KRAFT
Last year's field featured 25 teams on the men's side, including nine ranked squads. This December's tournament will be the fourth to feature a women's division as well.
The full event schedule, list of attending teams and ticket information for the 61st annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships will be released at a later date.
"My staff and I are very excited to be bringing the Midlands Championships back on campus this December," said head wrestling coach Matt Storniolo. "Ryan Fieldhouse will provide a truly unique setting for one of college wrestling's premier events. We're looking forward to welcoming some of the nation's elite men's and women's programs to Evanston for two intense days of competition."
It will mark the second time a wrestling event has been held in Ryan Fieldhouse after the 'Cats hosted SIUE for a dual meet there in February of 2019.
The Midlands Championships have been hosted by Northwestern since 1963, when then-head coach Ken Kraft organized the inaugural tournament in La Grange, Ill. Beginning in 1972, the tournament was held annually in Welsh-Ryan Arena until 2017, when it moved off campus. This year's tournament will be the 61st iteration of the event and the first one held in Evanston in nearly a decade.
READ MORE ON THE LEGENDARY KEN KRAFT
Last year's field featured 25 teams on the men's side, including nine ranked squads. This December's tournament will be the fourth to feature a women's division as well.
The full event schedule, list of attending teams and ticket information for the 61st annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships will be released at a later date.
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