Dec. 28, 2005

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Off to a 3-0 start in the 2005-06 wrestling season, 14th-ranked Northwestern has one more wish on its list before the end of the holiday season -- a successful run at the 43rd Midlands Wrestling Championships, December 29-30 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The tournament, started by former Wildcat coach and administrator Ken Kraft, is annually hosted by Northwestern and attracts the best amateur wrestling has to offer.

The 'Cats look to make a run at the team title this season after finishing seventh in 2004. Northwestern placed four wrestlers last year, including a first-place finish by Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) at 174 lbs.

Herbert, who is off to an 11-0 start this season as the nation's second-ranked grappler at 174 lbs., looks to become Northwestern's first back-to-back Midlands champion. He is expected to receive the No. 1 seed at 174 lbs. this year.

Herbert has taken home titles at both the Reno Tournament of Champions and the Michigan State Open this season.

After his 174-pound title run at the Reno Tournament of Champions, Herbert was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week.

No. 8 Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) looks to make his last Midlands his best. Delguyd posted a 3-2 record at the 2004 event, finishing seventh at 197 lbs. He has recorded a 7-6 career Midlands record.

With an 11-3 record, he is tied for most wins on the team and is off to the second-best start of his career--Delguyd began the 2004-05 season 12-2.

Sophomore Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) enters the tournament looking to improve on his sixth-place 2004 finish. The nation's ninth-ranked wrestler at 184 lbs., Tamillow has compiled a 4-3 career Midlands record. Tamillow is one of two 'Cats with undefeated records this season and is off to the best start of his career.

Tamillow has a 9-0 combined-tournament record this season, taking first at the Reno Tournament of Champions and the Michigan State Open at 184 lbs.

No. 10 Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) is a serious contender to take home the 285-pound crown this season. Fox is 9-3 this year, including a second-place finish at the Michigan State Open and a fifth-place finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

Sophomore Greg Hagel (Linwood, N.J./Blair Academy) entered the 2004 Midlands tournament as the 10th-seeded wrestler at 149 lbs., but is expected to compete at 157 lbs. this year. Hagel has been one of the Wildcats' most reliable middle-weight wrestlers this season, posting a 10-3 record, including a third-place finish at the Michigan State Open.

Graduate transfer Will Durkee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) is 10-2 this season, placing second at the Michigan State Open and fifth at the Reno Tournament of Champions. This will be Durkee's first Midlands action.