Fourteen Wrestlers Set To Compete At Midlands

12.28.2012 | Men's Wrestling

By: cyclones.com

EVANSTON, Ill.- Fourteen Iowa State wrestlers will be competing Saturday and Sunday at the 50^th Anniversary of the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill.

"This tournament shows you where you are with the best teams in the country," Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. "That will do nothing but increase your confidence if you go in there and wrestle the right way. You just don't get that simulation of the NCAA tournament anywhere else."

Four returning place winners will be competing for the Cyclones at this year's Midlands Championships. Reigning Big 12 heavyweight champion Matt Gibson headlines that group.

The redshirt senior from Vallejo, Calif. took third place at 285 pounds at the 2011 Midlands Championships. Gibson lost his first match of the tournament then won seven straight matches, including a 9-4 decision over All-American Mike McMullan of Northwestern in the consolation championship.

Other returning place winners include Luke Goettl, Tanner Weatherman and Mikey England. Goettl placed sixth at 141 pounds, Weatherman placed fifth at 174 pounds competing unattached and England placed eighth at 174 pounds.

Other notable Cyclones competing include No. 16 Kyven Gadson at 197 pounds, No. 16 Boaz Beard at 184 pounds and No. 19 Michael Moreno at 165 pounds. Both Beard and Gadson will be making their Midlands Championships debuts.

The finals of this year's Midlands Championships will be televised live by the Big Ten Network on Sunday, Dec. 30.

Session one of the 2012 Midlands Championships begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29. For tickets contact the Northwestern Athletics Ticket office at 888-GO-PURPLE.

Who: Iowa State (1-2, 0-0 Big 12) at the 50^th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships

Where: Evanston, Ill. - Welsh-Ryan Arena 

When: Dec. 29-Dec.30 (All Day) 

Live stats: Live stats will be available at www.trackwrestling.com 

Television: Finals will be broadcast live by the Big Ten Network on Sunday

Live blog: Join in on a virtual press row for Sunday's meet with an interactive live blog put on by members of the Iowa State athletics communications department. Fans are encouraged to participate by asking questions on the blog which will begin at 9:00 a.m. (CST) Saturday.

Twitter: Be sure to follow "CycloneWR" on Twitter for final results after each match.