The 47th Midlands Championships will start today at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. If you have never been to a Midlands, you should plan on making the tournament next year. It is an incredible show with a ton of great competition.

The Midlands is “Where the Elite Meet to Compete.” There have been a ton of Olympic team members and champions wrestle in this tournament, including Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, Cary Kolat (who competed while in high school), the Brands. This year, it is rumored that Jake Deitchler will make his first appearance of the season (he has been out with an injury).

Tennessee will be represented by the entire UTC team, and also Nick Marable from University of Missouri. Marable has been on a tear this season and is seeded 4th in the tournament at 165. Jake Young, from UTC, is seeded 9th at 174. He has been having a great season so far, with only 2 losses. One of those was apparently a 2-point loss to last years NCAA runner up Mike Miller of Central Michigan.

I am heading up there tomorrow to catch the semifinals and the finals. Here is the official Midlands Championship site, which includes schedule, seeding, and results.

From Intermat
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling coach Heath Eslinger announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Chattanooga’s next incoming class will include three state champions and two wrestlers who finished in the top four at the 2009 Super 32.
read UTC signs five wrestlers for next season