2009 Midlands Tournament: 149 lb preview

149:
Iowa’s Brent Metcalf, a 2008 NCAA champion and two-time Midlands champion, is the clear frontrunner in this weight class. Metcalf is 9-0 this season with seven pins and a technical fall. Wisconsin’s Kyle Ruschell, who is ranked No. 2, was a Midlands runner-up to Metcalf a year ago, losing 14-5 in the finals. Ruschell, a Kentucky native, won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and is 10-0 on the season. No. 3 Kyle Borshoff of American, a returning All-American, has been impressive this season. He is 6-0 and defeated three-time All-American Lance Palmer of Ohio State at the NWCA All-Star Classic. No. 8 Kevin LeValley of Bucknell is 20-3 this season and lost narrowly to Metcalf, 3-2, in a dual meet. Marion Mason of Minnesota, who is ranked No. 9, was one of the nation’s top recruits in 2008. This will be his first major test at the Division I level. No. 12 Tony D’Alie of Central Michigan, who placed fourth at the Midlands last season at 141 pounds, is 6-1 this season with his only loss coming to Borshoff. Iowa State’s Mitch Mueller is a three-time NCAA qualifier and ranked No. 13. Another wrestler to watch is Oregon State’s R.J. Pena, a talented freshman who placed seventh at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.