InterMat: Inside info from the N.W.C.A

Quick hits

2006 National Champion: Jake Rosholt, Oklahoma State
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket (Premium Service)

One of the most difficult weight classes to project, but Missouri freshman Max Askren will get the distinction of being the top seed. He'll be followed by American's Josh Glenn, Big Ten Champion Mike Tamillow of Northwestern and returning runner-up Phil Davis of Penn State in the top four.

Askren doesn't have a clear path to the finals, since he has not been nearly as invincible as brother Ben, but Max still wins. He avenged his only loss to Iowa State's Kurt Backes, but will have to contend with Backes again or Joel Flaggert, whom Askren has had much success against. Also up top is Wisconsin's Dallas Herbst at #12 and Jerry Rinaldi of Cornell at #5.

Down low, it's loaded with fun, Glenn, Tamillow, J.D. Bergman of Ohio State, Nebraska freshman Craig Brester, Central Michigan's Wynn Michalak, last year's top seed, and returning All-American Chris Weidman of Hofstra. Just beyond the seeds are some good cats too, but this weight provides some of the top balance of any division this season. Anyone gets hot, they could come away with the title.

The Bad Draw ...

InterMat's breakdown of who the top guns don't want to see in the opening round.

Patrick Bond, Illinois -- Was nearly finished this season after a knee injury at the Missouri Open, but the redshirt freshman caught fire, beating three straight ranked opponents to get into the top half of the national rankings. A mediocre Big Ten tournament (at a tough weight), kept him from being seeded, but the lanky Bond is well versed at winning the close ones.

Ryan Goodman, N.C. State -- Seeded last year and making his return after the Wolf Pack finished out their football season, the New Jersey native has all the tools and an All-American finish would really go a long way in getting the ACC more bids. Four are seeded from the ACC, and Goodman isn't. That's a problem draw!

Brandon Halsey, Cal State-Bakersfield -- Very good Pac-10 tournament showed that Halsey's a very good candidate to go far into the tournament. 26-7 on the season.

Hudson Taylor, Maryland -- Redshirt freshman went back and forth with Goodman all year long and the Blair Academy graduate's one tough nut. Went 26-8 with a solid schedule for the Terps.

Sam Wendland, Wyoming -- Out of the lineup for the start of the season, Wendland finished 15-1 en route to a West Region crown. This guy is a monster on top.

Seeds:
1. Askren, Maxwell (Missouri)
2. Glenn, Josh (American)
3. Tamillow, Mike (Northwestern)
4. Davis, Phil (Penn State)
5. Rinaldi, Jerry (Cornell)
6. Bergman, J.D. (Ohio State)
7. Brester, Craig (Nebraska)
8. Flaggert, Joel (Oklahoma)
9. Backes, Kurt (Iowa State)
10. Michalak, Wynn (Central Michigan)
11. Weidman, Chris (Hofstra)
12. Herbst, Dallas (Wisconsin)

2006 Medal Match Results
Finals: Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State) dec. Phil Davis (Penn State) 10-3
3rd: B.J. Padden (Nebraska) dec. Jerry Rinaldi (Cornell) 5-3
5th: Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma) FOR Chris Weidman (Hofstra)
7th: Ryan Bader (Arizona State) dec. Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan)