Live On Flo This Week: Dec 27-28: Mt Mat Madness | Dec 29-30: Powerade | Jan 1-2: Southern Scuffle

It's the last week of December, which means the 54th edition of the The Midlands, the annual holiday wrestling classic hosted by Northwestern, is right around the corner. This year's competition looks to be as mighty and monstrous of a meatgrinder as we've seen in recent memory.

The wrestling starts at Welsh-Ryan Arena in the morning on Thursday, Dec. 29, and concludes the next day on Friday, Dec. 30.

The Midlands organizers have assembled an intimidating lineup of teams: 36 NCAA DI programs as well as at least one top competitor from the Division II, III, and NAIA ranks.

39 teams. 16 ranked.#Midlands54 pic.twitter.com/oYWmVyrWlw

— The Midlands (@MidlandsChamps) December 12, 2016

The field is staggeringly deep -- a theme that will be revisited often in the individual weight class previews -- with half of the teams currently in the top 20 slated to compete in Evanston, Illinois.

A few teams, such as Michigan and Lehigh, will send redshirts and backups but not starters. Furthermore, not all teams have finalized their rosters, and even for the teams that have registered, there is always the possibility of last-minute additions or scratches. So we won't know exactly who will be stepping on to the mats until the brackets are released, but armed with as much foresight as possible, we've nonetheless compiled a list of potential contenders at each weight class.

125 Contenders

#1 Thomas Gilman (Iowa)

#6 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State)

#8 Tim Lambert (Nebraska)

#15 Noah Gonser (Eastern Michigan)

#16 Markus Simmons (Iowa State)

#17 Josh Terao (American)

#19 Freddie Rodriguez (SIU-Edwardsville)

#20 Shakur Laney (Ohio)

Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State)

Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan)

Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion)

Ryan Millhof RS (Arizona State)

Elijah Oliver (Indiana)

Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern)

Returning NCAA finalist Thomas Gilman has ended every match he's wrestled this year by a fall of either the technical or pin variety. He will be a strong favorite but will be tested by Ryan Millhof and Ronnie Bresser if the Sun Devils and Beavers choose to enter both redshirting wrestlers (teams have traditionally been able to enter up to 15 wrestlers, with redshirts competing unattached). Neither Millhof nor Bresser are registered at the moment, but both teams do have room on their rosters.

Nebraska's Tim Lambert will also be angling for a spot in the finals. This is the start of many stacked brackets to come and don't be surprised if several NCAA All-American contenders are kept off the podium at this year's Midlands.

The results of this bracket will also go a long way in determining the bottom half of the top 20 individual rankings, as those spots have gone through a weekly reshuffling so far this year.

Spey's Soothsay:

Gilman holds off the contenders to claim his third Midlands belt in four trips to the finals. Millhof and Bresser (if they wrestle) finish second and third. The acrobatic Terao of Washington, DC's American University finishes fourth, and the Huskers and Cyclones each get a wrestler on the podium in Tim Lambert and Markus Simmons. To cover myself if Millhof and Bresser don't go, move everyone else up and add Ohio's Shakur Laney and SIUE's Fred Rodriguez to the final two spots.

1. Gilman

2. Millhof

3. Bresser

4. Terao

5. Lambert

6. Simmons

133 Contenders

#1 Cory Clark (Iowa)

#2 Zane Richards (Illinois)

#4 Eric Montoya (Nebraska)

#5 Seth Gross (South Dakota State)

#7 Dom Forys (Pitt)

#11 Earl Hall (Iowa State)

#17 Tyson Dippery (Rutgers)

#19 Sean Fausz (North Carolina State)

#20 Cameron Kelly (Ohio)

Scott DelVecchio (Rutgers)

Luke Karam RS (Lehigh)

Cory Keener (Central Michigan)

Brian Lantry (Buffalo)

Alex Madrigal (Old Dominion)

Jamal Morris (North Carolina State)

Anthony Tutolo (Kent State)

It's tough to know where to begin with this absurd weight class. We could see Cory Clark versus Zane Richards, round seven, in the finals (Clark holds a 4-2 lead in that series), but that's assuming both wrestles can get past fellow returning All-Americans Eric Montoya and Earl Hall, not to mention top eight contenders Seth Gross and Dom Forys. It should also be noted that Clark, who has been hampered by injuries this year, is not registered as of publication time, and he is likely to be scratched from the tournament.

Half of the top 20 133-pounders are set to attend, joined by a host of other podium threats. I'm predicting mostly chalk, but that could easily prove to be a foolish forecast with a bracket this overflowing with talent. We could be looking at a lot of repeat podium climbers in St. Louis in March.

Spey's Soothsay:

Iowa wins it's second championship in a row, and Clark his second Midlands of his career, besting Junior and Cadet Freestyle World team member (and former Hawkeye teammate) Seth Gross, in the finals. Richards takes down two-time AA Earl Hall to salvage a third-place finish. Nebraskan Eric Montoya and Pitt Panther Dom Forys round out the top six. If Clark doesn't go, slide everyone up and Ohio's Cam Kelly into sixth place.

1. Clark

2. Gross

3. Richards

4. Hall

5. Montoya

6. Forys

141 Contenders

#3 Matt Kolodzik (Princeton)

#5 Kevin Jack (North Carolina State)

#6 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers)

#10 Colton McCrystal (Nebraska)

#16 Luke Pletcher (Ohio State)

#19 Cole Martin (Wisconsin)

#20 Joey Palmer (Oregon State)

Michael Longo (Oklahoma)

Gabe Moreno (Iowa State)

Chad Red RS (Nebraska)

Emilio Saavedra (Old Dominion)

Kyle Springer (Eastern Michigan)

Kanen Storr RS (Iowa State)

In yet another weight class silly with depth, Matt Kolodzik, Kevin Jack, and Anthony Ashnault lead our pack of worthies. Expect a bloodbath as these three title contenders battle it out with NCAA tournament seeding on the line.

Nebraska is sending highly touted true freshman Chad Red, who will have his chance to make a statement. The redshirt frosh has 15 wins this year against a single loss, to his teammate, Colton McCrystal.

Ohio State plans on sending Luke Pletcher (along with Myles Martin as its only two entrants). Pletcher was thrust into the starting lineup following the season-ending injury to Keshawn Hayes. The Buckeyes will be counting on Pletcher to score points in March if they are to contend for a team title, and this tournament will go a long way in determining just how hopeful they should be.

Spey's Soothsay:

Jack tops Ashnault for the second time in a month to claim the crown. Kolodzik doesn't go down easy but still finishes third, beating an impressive Chad Red. Nebraska's second placer of the weight class, McCrystal, edges Ohio State's Pletcher, who shows off his bona fides with a sixth-place finish.

1. Jack

2. Ashnault

3. Kolodzik

4. Red

5. McCrystal

6. Pletcher

149 Contenders

#2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa)

#6 Justin Oliver (Central Michigan)

#10 Alfred Bannister (Maryland)

#13 Christian Pagdilao (Arizona State)

#14 Ken Theobold (Rutgers)

#17 Sam Speno (North Carolina State)

#18 Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois)

#19 Joey Delgado (Oregon State)

Andrew Crone (Wisconsin)

Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma)

Jordan Laster (Princeton)

Mikey Racciato (Pittsburgh)

Zander Wick RS (Wisconsin)

Barely keeping up with its peers, a mere nine top 20 wrestlers are expected to compete at 149, though another four starters are knocking on the rankings door.

Maryland's "Baby J" Bannister is undefeated, but to stay that way he'll have to topple Iowa's Brandon Sorensen, whose last loss to anyone not named Zain Retherford came in the 2015 NCAA finals (to Jason Tsirtsis). The seventh-place finisher in 2016, Central Michigan's Justin Oliver, should not be overlooked.

Like 125, the bottom half of the top 20 rankings here will hopefully achieve clarity by the tournament's conclusion, for Flo's NCAA-ranker Christian Pyle's sanity, if nothing else.

Spey's Soothsay:

In typical workmanlike fashion, Sorenson dispatches all challengers, cementing Iowa's team title (if the Hawkeyes haven't done so already). Oliver and Bleise wrestle tough and finish two-three, respectively, for the Chippewas and Huskies (of the Northern Illinois variety). A surging Speno finishes fourth for the Wolfpack. Bannister bags a medal and Sooner Davion Jeffries gets his season back on track with a place on the podium.

1. Sorenson

2. Oliver

3. Bleise

4. Speno

5. Bannister

6. Jeffries

157 Contenders

#4 Michael Kemerer (Iowa)

#5 Tyler Berger (Nebraska)

#9 Clay Ream (North Dakota State)

#10 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan)

#11 B.J. Clagon (Rider)

#14 DaWaylon Barnes (Oklahoma)

#16 Josh Shields (Arizona State)

Alex Griffin (Purdue)

Hayden Hidlay (North Carolina State)

Colin Holler (South Dakota State)

Caden McWhirter (Northern Illinois)

Jason Tsirtsis RS (Arizon State)

Evan Wick RS (Wisconsin)

The Midlands' 157 weight class took a major hit in the last couple weeks, when N.C. State's Max Rohskopf and Rutgers' Richie Lewis both went down with season-ending injuries. Their absence should help clear the way for a Kemerer vs. Berger final, in what will likely be the first of many contests between the young Hakweye and Cornhusker.

As repeatedly mentioned, depth is once again on display, as a bevy of stalwarts in and around the bottom half of the top 20 are expected to hash it out on the mats. NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis is notably registered at 157. Tsirtsis transferred from Northwestern to Arizona State in the offseason. Redshirt Wisconsinite Evan Wick, if entered, will look to establish himself, as his fellow blue-chip brother will do likewise at 149.

Spey's Soothsay:

Iowa loses its first finals match of the day, when Big Ten rival Tyler Berger gets the better of Michael Kemerer. BJ Clagon shakes off his trademark early season rust and storms his way to a bronze medal. Heffernan places an admirable fourth and ND Stater Clay Ream stops the upstart McWhirter in the fifth-place match.

1. Berger

2. Kemerer

3. Clagon

4. Heffernan

5. Ream

6. McWhirter

165 Contenders

#1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois)

#3 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin)

#6 Chad Walsh (Rider)

#8 Clark Glass (Oklahoma)

#12 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State)

#17 Seldon Wright (Old Dominion)

#19 TeShan Campbell (Pitt)

Alex Marinelli RS (Iowa)

Austin Reese (Ohio)

Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern)

Tyrel White (Columbia)

Kyle Bierdumpful (Harvard)

The marquee matchup of the tournament could be the 165 final if two-time NCAA champion Isiah Martinez and two-time NCAA All-American Isaac Jordan hold seed. The Imar EyeJo tilt will be highly anticipated, with both Big Ten and NCAA tournament seeds at stake. [UPDATE]: Jordan is not on Wisconsin's list of registered wrestlers so our marquee match up is likely a scratch. 

Arizona State's Anthony Valencia has had a few stumbles this year but has the talent and creativity to make a deep run in this tournament and reestablish himself as a title contender.

Fans may also get an opportunity to gauge the prospects of another blue-chip Iowa redshirt freshman in Alex Marinelli. There are NCAA team-race implications to Marinelli's finish as well, as head coach Tom Brands may decide to take off the redshirt if the young Hawkeye can show he can hang with the top tier of his weight class.

Spey's Soothsay:

IMar's pace is too much for Zeke, as the Fighting Illini keeps his collegiate varsity career loss total to a mere singleton. AValancia rebounds with a solid third-place finish over Rider star Chad Walsh. Marinelli makes a statement with a fifth-place finish over Oklahoman veteran Clark Glass.

1. Martinez

2. Jordan

3. Valencia

4. Walsh

5. Marinelli

6. Glass

174 Contenders

#4 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State)

#7 Alex Meyer (Iowa)

#12 Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State)

#13 Zac Brunson (Illinois)

#16 David Kocer (South Dakota State)

#19 Christian Brucki (Central Michigan)

#20 Jonathan Schleifer (Princeton)

Phil Bakuckas (Rutgers)

Micah Barnes (Nebraska)

Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin)

Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois)

Josef Johnson (Harvard)

Matt Reed (Oklahoma)

Nick Reenan (North Carolina State)

Conan Schuster (Sacred Heart)

Frosh phenom Zahid Valencia has yet to drop a match this year and should earn the No. 1 seed of the tournament. Last year's Midlands was Zahid's debutante ball, as the then-redshirt freshman finished 7th at 184.

Iowa will look to senior Alex Meyer to stop Zahid in the finals. Lelund Weatherspoon of Iowa State and Zac Brunson of Illinois will try to crash that finals party. Both have proven themselves capable of such a feat despite their frequent spells of inconsistency.

Tournament host Northwestern isn't expected to put too many Wildcats on the podium, but one of its best shots may come at 174 from sophomore Johnny Sebastian.

And keep an eye out for Grandview's Lawton Benna and Messiah's Ben Swarr, the respective NAIA and NCAA Division III No. 1-ranked wrestlers. Their finish will provide some insight on how those non-DI wrestling classifications compare to the top division.

Spey's Soothsay:

ZValencia continues his torrential onslaught, capturing the Midlands throne over Meyer. Princeton's stout Jonathan Schleifer claims third after more than a couple upsets, including one over fourth-placer David Kocer of South Dakota State. Perennial enigmas Weatherspoon and Brunson complete the sextet.

1. Valencia

2. Meyer

3. Schleifer

4. Kocer

5. Weatherspoon

6. Brunson

184 Contenders

#3 TJ Dudley (Nebraska)

#4 Myles Martin

#6 Nate Jackson (Indiana)

#8 Sammy Brooks (Iowa)

#10 Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan)

#11 Nicholas Gravina (Rutgers)

#12 Jack Dechow (Old Dominion)

#13 Emery Parker (illinois)

#15 Michael Macchiavello (North Carolina State)

#18 Ian Baker (Princeton)

Mitch Sliga (Northwestern)

This is yet another ludicrous weight class. The quarterfinals will resemble an abattoir, where at least one of the five NCAA All-Americans expected to enter the tournament will not make the semis.

This past season's NCAA champion at 174, Myles Martin, and 2016's fifth-place finisher at 197, Pat Downey, converged at 184 this year, contributing to what many experts consider to be the toughest overall weight class this academic year. Fortunately for for the Midlands' entrants (but unfortunately for its spectators), Downey will be out of action until 2017 and thus won't be on the mats this week.

Nevertheless, whoever emerges from this charnel house of a weight class unscathed will have truly established himself as a remorseless slaughtering machine and a major threat at the season-ending NCAA Tournament.

Spey's Soothsay:

Showing off his native South Carolinian muscle, TJ Dudley topples NCAA champ Myles Martin in the finals. Brooks settles for third with a win over conference rival and Hoosier Nate Jackson. Old Dominion's Jack Dechow halts the gravy train for Rutgers' Nick Gravina in the fifth-place match.

1. Dudley

2. Martin

3. Brooks

4. Jackson

5. Dechow

6. Gravina

197 Contenders

#5 Nate Rotert (South Dakota State)

#9 Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska)

#10 Brett Harner (Princeton)

#11 Ryan Wolfe (Rider)

#12 Kevin Beazley (Old Dominion)

#14 Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois)

#15 Brad Johnson (Oklahoma)

#17 James Benjamin (Buffalo)

#19 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin)

Corey Griego (Oregon State)

Pete Renda RS (North Carolina State)

Austin Severn (Central Michigan)

Cash Wilcke (Iowa)

In an attempt to keep pace with its fellow weight classes, 197 shows up with nine ranked wrestlers of its own, in addition to a potential appearance from redshirt superstar and 2016 third-place finisher Pete Renda of NC State.

While not quite as top heavy as some of the lighter divisions, 197 will not lack for quantity. Princeton's Brett Harner will look to climb back into the top five where he started the year, and Oregon State's Corey Griego will attempt to pry is way back into the top 20.

Iowa freshman Cash Wilcke will attempt to establish himself as someone who can score points for the Hawkeyes in March. He'll have the opportunity to do so in a field replete with quality veterans.

Spey's Soothsay:

Princeton's Harner ascends the apex in a season-defining tournament. Studebaker's finals appearance helps the Huskers notch another impressive performance. Renda continues his preparation for next year's title run with a solid third-place finish. Nate Rotert ends up fourth. Ryan Wolfe of Rider scores a fifth-place finish over the surprising Austin Severn.

1. Harner

2. Studebaker

3. Renda

4. Rotert

5. Wolfe

6. Severn

285 Contenders

#2 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)

#5 Tanner Hall (Arizona State)

#7 Sam Stoll (Iowa)

#11 Brooks Black (Illinois)

#15 Collin Jensen (Nebraska)

#17 Ross Larson (Oklahoma)

#18 Ryan Solomon (Pitt)

#20 Ray O'Donnell (Princeton)

Michael Boykin (North Carolina State)

Garrett Ryan (Columbia)

Quean Smith (Iowa State)

If Michigan sends redshirting senior Adam Coon, we may get to see him wrestle Wisconsin's Connor Medbery in one final folkstyle battle. The pair of All-Americans have split their two previous encounters.

If Coon does not make an appearance, expect Sun Devil Tanner Hall or, if healthy, Hawkeye Sam Stoll to meet Medbery in the finals Saturday evening.

Also currently registered is Lehigh's cadet freestyle world silver medalist, Jordan Wood, who will be testing his mettle against top DI competition for the first time.

As with many other weights, 285 should do wonders for helping weary rankers sort out the bottom half of the rankings. The bracket is a minefield, and these heavies will need to be on their A game to avoid falling out of, or further away from, the top 20.

Spey's Soothsay:

Medbery stomps a path to victory over the redoubtable Tanner Hall. Iowan Sam Stoll impresses, coming back from injuries to win third place over Nebraskan Collin Jensen. Pitt scores its highest placement with Ryan Solomon, who beats Brooks Black for fifth.

1. Medbery

2. Hall

3. Stoll

4. Jensen

5. Solomon

6. Black

Team Race:

Though not in a complete runaway, Iowa takes the team trophy without too much trouble, earning its fourth championship in a row. Nebraska finishes second with a sizable lead over the rest of the field. Wisconsin narrowly tops its neighbor to the south, Illinois, for third. A young Arizona State team, with more hardware to come in its future, finishes fifth. Rutgers sneaks past Central Michigan and into the top six on the strength of its impressive depth.

1. Iowa

2. Nebraska

3. Wisconsin

4. Illinois

5. Arizona State

6. Rutgers

Check back here on FloWrestling for updates and tune in live to watch the Monstrous Midlands Mayhem on BTN2Go