Metcalf wins Midlands Title, CMU ends 3rd in team race
12/31 - There was a large contingency of Michigan Grapplers in Evanston this weekend for the 45th Midlands Championships. As far as Michigan colleges go, Central Michigan, Michigan State, and Olivet College competed with CMU finishing 3rd behind Iowa & Iowa State. MSU finished 11th and Olivet finished 30th out of the field of 52 teams.
The only Michigan wrestler of to win his weight, however, was not representing any of Michigan schools. It was Davison native Brent Metcalf, competing for Iowa, who won it all at 149lbs. Metcalf, ranked 6th nationally, dominated his competetion en route to the title. He racked up big wins over #17 Josh Wagner (17-11), #15 Mitch Mueller (10-4), and capped the weekend off with a 18-5 trouncing over Jake Patascil of Purdue in the finals.
Another Davison native wrestling collegiately in the state of Iowa made the finals as well. Iowa State's Jon Reader, a 2006 graduate of Davison, made the finals at 165lbs from his #5 seed. Reader fell in the finals to reigning NCAA Champ Mark Perry of Iowa. In the round of 16 Reader defeated fellow former MI D1 state champ Trevor Stewart of CMU by a score of 6-2.
The only Michigan collegiate to make the finals was Michigan State's Franklin Gomez at 133lbs. Gomez, the top seed currently ranked 4th in the country, cruised to the semis with two major decisions and a techfall. In the semis he avenged a loss from last year's Midlands, beating Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State 4-1. Gomez fell in the finals to Iowa sophomore Joey Slaton 6-2. Slaton is ranked 5th nationally.
Although Central Michigan had no finalists, they showed great depth by placing 10 wrestlers in the top 8. Christian Sinnot, Brandon Sinnott, and Wynn Michalak all finished 3rd at 174, 184, and 197. The Sinnotts, native to Allen Park, and Caro grad Michalak all advanced to the championship semifinals where they suffered their only losses.
Grandville native Bubba Gritter also made the semifinals at 285lbs. Gritter lost a nailbiter to Mike Faust in overtime, then lost again to former MSU all-american Nik Fekete to fall into the 5th place bout. Also placing 5th was Mike Miller at 174lbs. Miller defaulted to Sinnott in the consolation semis.
DCC grad came from being unseeded to finishe 6th at 165lbs. Rounding out CMU's placers were Connor Beebe, Eric Cruger, Swartz Creek native Brandon Carter, and Ishpeming native Ben Kelto.
Former MSU 4x All-American and Williamston 4x state champ Nick Simmons made a return trip to Midlands this year competing for the Sunkist Kids. Simmons suffered the 2nd loss of his Midlands career when he was upended by Brandon Precin of Northwestern in the semifinals at 125lbs.
To view full brackets, click here.
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