Dec. 30, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -
*Olympic gold medallist Rulon Gardner was recognized as the 2001 Midlands Honorary Champion prior to Saturday evening's session. Gardner was on hand during the first day of competition to sign autographs and speak to a youth group at the YMCA.
*Three new members were inducted into the elite "20 in 4" club during the 39th annual Midlands Championships. The group recognizes those who have gained 20 wins or more in their first four Midlands appearances. After the 2001 championships there are now 14 members.
* Cael Sanderson (Iowa State) had no trouble winning his fourth Midlands title even though he moved up a weight class to 197. Sanderson became only the second wrestler ever to enter the "20 in 4" club with an undefeated record. He is 21-0 in Midlands' competition and 138-0 for his collegiate career.
*Sanderson's efforts did not go unnoticed. He was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler Award, which is chosen by the media. He was also named the Art Kraft Champion of Champions as chosen by all ten champions.
*Top-seeded 157-pounder Yoshi Nakamura (Penn) became the 12th member of the "20 in 4" club with his quarterfinal win. Nakamura went on to defeat second-ranked Luke Becker (Minn.) to capture his first-ever Midlands title.
*Heavyweight Mitch Clark (Ohio Int.) garnered his 20th win in the quarterfinals. He went on to place second, falling to true freshman Steve Mocco (Iowa) in the title match.
*174-pounder Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids WC) had a record-setting weekend. Williams won his eighth straight Midlands title, tying Bruce Baumgartner's mark. He also passed Baumgartner on the all-time wins list, leaving the 2001 Championships with 45 Midlands wins. Williams placed fifth in his first Midlands tying him with Jim Fisher for most places at nine, and finally, he has now won 41 consecutive matches, setting a new Midlands high.
* Tyson Thivierge (Montana State Northern) was the highest placing unseeded wrestler in this year's tournament. Thivierge defeated third-seeded Jessman Smith (Iowa) in the semifinals to advanced the 184-pound championship match. Thivierge fell to top-seeded Victor Sveda (Indiana) in the title round, 9-5.
*Eighty-four falls were recorded in the two-day event. Fifteen wrestlers had multiple pins. Andy Bowlby (Oregon State) recorded the fastest fall of the tournament when he pinned Marc Baukecht (East Stroudsburg) in 29 seconds.