Wrestling set for Midlands
December 27, 2011 | Wrestling
Dec. 27, 2011
MADISON, Wis.-- The Wisconsin wrestling team (5-2) returns to the mat this weekend at the 49th annual Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
| Midlands Championships | |
| Date | Thursday, Dec. 29 - Friday, Dec. 30 | All Day |
| Location | Evanston, Ill. | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Social Media | @BadgerWrestle  | Facebook  |
| Live Coverage | Live blog |
Midlands Championships
The Championships feature 18 Division I teams ranked in the Top 30 of InterMat's latest poll, including three teams ranked in the Top 10. In total, more than 40 Division I, II and III teams will to compete at Midlands. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. (CT) on Thursday.
UW took second place at last year's Midlands Championships. Redshirt junior Cole Schmitt is the only wrestler on the Badger squad that placed at last year's Championships. He took second place at 149 lbs.
The Badgers will send junior Shane McQuade (125 lbs.), redshirt junior Tom Kelliher (133 lbs.), redshirt junior Cole Schmitt (149 lbs.), redshirt sophomore Shawn Perry (157 lbs.), senior Ben Jordan (165 lbs.), redshirt sophomore Scott Liegel (174 lbs.), redshirt freshman Frank Cousins (174 lbs.), redshirt freshman Timmy McCall (184 lbs.), redshirt sophomore Jackson Hein (197 lbs.), and redshirt sophomore Cole Tobin (Hwt.) to compete in Evanston.
Schmitt is the lone pre-seeded Badger wrestler as the No. 7 seed at 149 lbs.
Freshmen Matthew Kelliher (133 lbs.) and Connor Medbery (Hwt.) will also wrestle unattached this weekend.
Last time out
The Wisconsin wrestling team dropped its first Big Ten dual of the season to No. 8 Michigan by a 21-12 score in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Badgers claimed four individual victories in the matchup, including an upset by redshirt junior Tom Kelliher over No. 12 Zac Stevens at 133 lbs.
After being tied 12-12 entering the 174 lbs. match, the Wolverines won the final four bouts of the afternoon to claim the victory.
Two ranked Badgers
Redshirt junior Cole Schmitt has moved up in ranking every week at 149 lbs. since the start of the 2011-12 season. He is now ranked No. 9 in his weight class. Senior Ben Jordan remains the No. 15-ranked wrestler at 165 lbs.
Top recruiting class
The Wisconsin wrestling team signed nine new wrestlers for the class of 2012, marking one of the program's top recruiting classes in UW wrestling history.
The class is composed of seven total ranked wrestlers, including three No. 1-ranked wrestlers, a No. 7, a No. 8, a No. 11 and a No. 20. Davis also recruited multiple wrestlers from three different high schools for this year's class.
2011-12 season outlook
The Badgers returns 10 letterwinners and welcome nine newcomers to its squad in 2011. Head coach Barry Davis returns for his 18th season at the helm of the Wisconsin wrestling program. Davis' staff features three new assistant coaches, Ryan Morningstar, Kyle Ruschell and Trevor Brandvold.
The Badgers return five starters from last year's squad, including NCAA qualifiers No. 16 Cole Schmitt (149 lbs.) and No. 17 Ben Jordan (165 lbs.).
Wisconsin will be without three of its 2011 All-America recipients, Tyler Graff (133 lbs.), Andrew Howe (165 lbs.) and Travis Rutt (184 lbs.), due to Olympic redshirt seasons, but returns two other 2011 NCAA qualifiers in redshirt juniors Cole Schmitt (149 lbs.) and Ben Jordan (165 lbs.).
UW faces a schedule that includes six ranked teams in the NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll, including top-ranked Penn State, No. 2-ranked Iowa and No. 4-ranked Minnesota. In total, the Badgers host five events at the UW Field House in Madison, Wis., including new Big Ten rival Nebraska on Jan. 29.
After competing in the Badger Duals in early November, the team will travel to Princeton, N.J. on Nov. 18 for its first dual meet against Princeton and Rider. Wisconsin then concludes the weekend on Nov. 20 in Long Island, N.Y., against Hofstra.
The Badgers open the month of December in Las Vegas at the Cliff Keen Invite, an event where in 2010 Howe claimed an individual title. The Badgers then travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. for their first Big Ten Conference dual against No. 7 Michigan on Dec. 11.
Wisconsin hosts its first home dual against No. 19 Northwestern on Jan. 8, and then returns to the UW Field House on Jan. 15 to take on 2011 NCAA Division I champion Penn State after facing Northern Iowa on Jan. 13.
UW concludes regular Big Ten competition in Iowa City, Iowa, with a dual against Iowa on Feb. 5.
The Big Ten Championships are slated for March 3-4 in West Lafayette, Ind., and the 2012 NCAA Championships will take place March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.
2010-11 in review
The Wisconsin wrestling team finished the 2011 Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships in 10th place with 54.5 points - UW's third-consecutive top 10 finish at the Championships. Four Badgers claimed All-America honors, placing in the top seven of their weight class, including Tyler Graff (133 lbs.), Andrew Howe (165 lbs.), Travis Rutt (184 lbs.) and Trevor Brandvold (197 lbs.).
Graff took fifth place at 133 lbs., finishing the 2011 NCAA's with a 4-2 record to finish his second season of eligibility with a 31-5 overall record at 133 lbs.
Howe finished last season in third place at 165 lbs. with a 27-3 overall mark and became just the 11th wrestler in Wisconsin program history to slate at least three All-America honors.
Rutt claimed seventh place at 184 lbs., slating an impressive 34-4 overall record, collecting the most wins of any Badger last year.
Brandvold wrapped up his collegiate career with his most successful season at Wisconsin, notching fourth place at 197 lbs.
Second-most in school history for second-straight year
The 2011 team's four All-Americans tied for the second-most in school history. Wisconsin also had four All-Americans the previous year, three of which were Brandvold, Graff and Howe.
14 victories over ranked opponents at the NCAA Championships
Five of the seven Badgers who competed in the NCAA Championships helped the squad collect 14 victories over ranked opponents. Leading the pack was Andrew Howe, who notched five victories over ranked opponents at the three-day event. Tyler Graff and Travis Rutt chipped in three wins apiece over ranked opponents while teammates Cole Schmitt and Trevor Brandvold contributed one and two victories, respectively.
Ranked wrestlers are challenged by the Badgers
Wisconsin collected 61 individual wins over ranked opponents in the 2011-12 season. Led by Travis Rutt at 184 lbs., who knocked off 16 ranked opponents. Also contributing significant numbers were Andrew Howe (13 wins over ranked opponents) and Tyler Graff (12 victories over ranked opponents).
Four ranked teams fall to the Big Red
UW knocked off four ranked teams in 2011 including then-No. 15 Virginia Tech, No. 22 American, No. 5 Minnesota and No. 16 Nebraska. They also tied Illinois, who at the time, was ranked No. 15 according to the NWCA Coaches Poll.
