Outside of the powerhouse that is the Big Ten, and the EIWA, which has seven more schools, the Mid-American Conference has the most allocations to the NCAA tournament. This year the MAC features seven former All-Americans, returning national champion J’den Cox, and possible the best team in the country in Missouri. The host Tigers are well on their way to a third straight conference crown with six number one seeds, and three number two seeds. We’ll take a look at the pre-seeds, the number allocations at each weight, and my predictions. Let’s get into it man!
 

125lbs -  # of allocations: 2

1. Alan Waters, Missouri
2. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
3. Brandon Jeske, Old Dominion
4. Derek Elmore, Northern Illinois
5. Brent Fleetwood, Central Michigan
6. Del Vinas, Kent State
7. Zak Hassan, Ohio
8. Shayne Wireman, Eastern Michigan

Just as the number of allocations suggest this a two horse race. #1 Alan Waters has been lights out all year, and already owns a 10-1 major decision over second seeded, and #6 Dylan Peters. Waters probably owns the best wins out of any wrestler in the country beating Nathan Tomasello, Sean Boyle, Eddie Klimara, Nahshon Garrett, Thomas Gilman, and 2x defending national champion Jesse Delgado. While Waters is the clear cut favorite, Dylan Peters is a guy who can never be counted out. As we saw him do against Nathan Tomasello, Peters can catch anyone and end the match quickly. However, I believe the experienced Waters won’t fall victim to that. Brandon Jeske is the dark horse in this bracket, and wrestled Waters to a 5-2 match earlier this year. However, Peters is a bad match-up for Jeske in the semis, and I don’t see him getting by the returning All-American. 

Bratke’s Predicitons:

1. Alan Waters, Missouri
2. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
3. Brandon Jeske, Old Dominion
4. Brent Fleetwood, Central Michigan

133lbs -  # of allocations: 1

1. Zach Synon, Missouri
2. Tyler Keselring, Central Michigan
3. Vincent Pizzuto, Eastern Michigan
4. Mack McGuire, Kent State
5. Kagan Squire, Ohio
6. Leighton Gaul, Northern Iowa
7. Michael Hayes, Old Dominion
8. Jordan Northrup, Northern Illinois 

With no ranked wrestlers or clear cut favorite this is without a doubt the most wide open weight in the country. Synon took over the starting spot half way through the season, and earned the number one spot after beating Keselring and Pizzuto, but both of those victories were by a point. McGuire has been a guy who has been in and out of the rankings over the past two years, but this year has struggled. McGuire has fallen to both Keselring and Pizzuto, but has yet to wrestle Synon. McGuire is extremely hard to score on, and a great scrambler, and I like McGuire to slide by Synon in the top half semi. In the bottom half semi I once again like Keselring to squeak by Pizzuto to pouch his ticket to the finals. In the finals I like Keselring to gain handle McGuire for the second time this season,and punch his ticket to the national tournament. I wouldn’t be shocked to see McGuire, who has been to the national tournament before, and PIzzuto who I expect to get third, receive wildcards to the big dance. 

Bratke’s Predictions:

1. Tyler Keselring, Central Michigan
2. Mack McGuire, Kent State
3. Vincent Pizzuto, Eastern Michigan
4. Zach Synon, Missouri

141lbs - # of allocations: 3

1. Zach Horan, Central Michigan
2. Lavion Mayes, Missouri
3. Chris Mecate, Old Dominion
4. Tyler Small, Kent State
5. Jake Hodges, Northern Iowa
6. Tyler Argue, Northern Illinois
7. Mike Shaw, Eastern Michigan
8. Joel Shump, Ohio

One of the deepest weights in the conference, 141 features three top 15 wrestlers, and I expect those three wrestlers to grab all three allocations. Fifth ranked Lavion Mayes has one loss on the year, and that one loss is to top seeded and 11th ranked Zach Horan. Horan knocked off Mayes earlier this year in sudden victory. I expect Horan to make the finals with relative ease, while Mayes and Mecate battle it out in the bottom half. Mayes edged Mecate earlier in the year, 5-4, and the Southern Scuffle champ has been on fire recently. I like Mayes to not only win again, but widen the gap this time. In the finals rematch I like Mayes to exact revenge, and knock off Zach Horan. Mecate will grab the last automatic birth by beating Tyler Small in the consolation finals. 

Bratke’s Predictions:

1. Lavion Mayes, Missouri
2. Zach Horan, Central Michigan
3. Chris Mecate, Old Dominion
4. Tyler Small, Kent State

149lbs - # of allocations: 5

1. Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
2. Alexander Richardson, Old Dominion
3. Colin Heffernan, Central Michigan 
4. Tywan Claxton, Ohio
5. Nick Barber, Eastern Michigan
6. Mike Depalma, Kent State
7. Gunnar Wolfensperger, Northern Iowa
8. Austin Cultin, Northern Illinois

149 features the second most allocations at weight in the conference, and three returning NCAA qualifiers, and two-time All-American Drake Houdashelt. In the top half I believe we will see the rubber match between #3 Drake Houdashlet and #14 Tywan Claxton. A year ago Claxton knocked off then #1 Houdashlet in Columbia, and earlier this year Houdashelt returned the favor beating Claxton in Athens. Houdashlet's lone loss of the season was a controversial one in the Southern Scuffle finals, and I don’t see him taking loss number two here. In the other semi Richardson and Heffernan will square off for the second time this season. Like the first match-up I like Richardson to get past Heffernan in a tight match, and for the second straight year set up a Houdashelt-Richardson MAC final. Houdashelt is 3-0 against Richardson all-time, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Houdashelt has looked great all year, and I believe he is the best 149-pounder in the country, he wins his third straight MAC championship. Claxton, Heffernan, and Barber claim the remaining automatic bids. 

Bratke’s Predictions:

1. Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
2. Alexander Richardson, Old Dominion
3. Tywan Claxton, Ohio
4. Heffernan, Central Michigan
5. Nick Barber, Eastern Michigan

157lbs - # of allocations: 3

1. Ian Miller, Kent State
2. Joey Lavallee, Missouri
3. Jarrett Jensen, Northern Iowa
4. Cody LeCount, Central Michigan
5. Brandon Zeerip, Eastern Michigan
6. Andrew Morse, Northern Illinois
7. Sparty Chino, Ohio
8. TC Warner, Old Dominion

Another very deep weight 157 features four former NCAA qualifiers, and All-American Ian Miller. Miller is without a doubt one of the most electrifying wrestlers in the country, but throughout his career has had some head scratching losses. One of those head scratching losses came earlier this year to Jarrett Jensen of Northern Iowa. However, don’t expect to see any of those losses this weekend. Miller should see stud freshman Cody LeCount of Central Michigan in the semis to make his third MAC final. On the other half I expect to see funky Joey Lavallee take out Jarrett Jensen, and set up another showdown between #7 Miller and #13 Lavallee. Miller won in sudden victory back in December, but I don’t see it being that close this time. Miller wins his third MAC title, and LeCount knocks off Jensen to punch his ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Sparty Chino is the dark horse at this weight. He has beaten Zeerip, Jensen, and Morse before while wrestling Lavallee to a one point match. Although he has struggled this year, if he gets on a roll he could challenge for an automatic birth. 

Bratke’s Predicitons:

1. Ian Miller, Kent State
2. Joey Lavallee, Missouri
3. Cody LeCount, Central Michigan
4. Jarrett Jensen, Northern Iowa

165lbs - # of allocations: 4

1. Tristan Warner, Old Dominion
2. Cooper Moore, Northern Iowa
3. Harrison Hightower, Ohio
4. Jordan Wohlfert, Central Michigan
5. Mikey England, Missouri
6. Tyler Buckwalter, Kent State
7. Shaun’Qae McMurty, Northern Illinois 
8. Devan Marry, Eastern Michigan

Yet another deep weight that features two top 15 guys and four returning NCAA qualifiers. In the top half of the bracket I like Mikey England to knock off Jordan Wohlfert in the quarters, and set up a showdown between England and top seed and #12 Tristan Warner in the semis. Warner is extremely funky, and gets by England to make the finals. On the other side familiar foes could square off again when Cooper Moore and Harrison Hightower wrestle for the fourth time in their careers. Moore is 3-0 all time against Hightower, but Hightower is a hammer on top and always dangerous as Moore found out last year in the MAC finals. Moore stays out of Hightower’s bar and half and makes his second straight MAC finals to take on Warner. When the two met in the dual Warner was victorious 7-4, but this time I see the meeting going the other way. #12 Moore stays out of scrambles and finishes solid this time to knock off Warner. 

Bratke’s Predictions: 

1. Cooper Moore, Northern Iowa
2. Tristan Warner, Old Dominion
3. Mikey England, Missouri
4. Harrison Hightower, Ohio

174lbs - # of allocations: 3

1. Johnny Eblen, Missouri
2. Cody Walters, Ohio
3. Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan
4. Caleb Marsh, Kent State
5. Trace Engelkes, Northern Illinois 
6. Austin Coburn, Old Dominion
7. Curt Maas, Northern Iowa
8. Kayne MacCallum, Eastern Michigan

This weight features two top ten guys in #5 Johnny Eblen and #9 and former All-American Cody Walters. On the top half Eblen will likely square off with multiple time NCAA qualifier Caleb Marsh. The two have yet to meet yet, but Eblen has been on fire since moving to 174 and I expect him to continue to roll in the finals. The other semi should feature former All-American Cody Walters and Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan. I expect Walters to dispatch Ellingwood no problem for the second time this year to move into his third straight MAC final setting up a showdown with Eblen. Both Walters and Eblen are great scramblers, and I expect this match to be a scramblefest with Walters coming out on top to win his third straight Mac title. Walters is a gamer who almost always seems to perform when the lights are the brightest and find a way to get it done. 

Bratke’s Prediction’s:

1. Cody Walters, Ohio
2. Johnny Eblen, Missouri
3. Caleb Marsh, Kent State
4. Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan

184lbs - # of allocations: 2

1. Willie MIklus, Missouri
2. Jack Dechow, Old Dominion 
3. Jerald Spohn, Kent State
4. Andrew Romanchik, Ohio
5. Austin Severn, Central Michigan
6. Cody Caldwell, Northern Iowa
7. Quinton Rosser, Northern Illinois
8. Mike Curby, Eastern Michigan

Much like 125 is a two horse race so is this weight. Dechow burst onto the scene last year winning a MAC title, and taking fourth at the NCAA tournament as a freshman. However, Dechow was stunned back in November by Willie Miklus in sudden victory. #4 Dechow and #10 Miklus should make the finals with relative ease, and this time I expect it to be a different story. Dechow gets to his offense, controls the pace, and avenges his only loss of the year to claim his second MAC title. 

Bratke’s Predictons:

1. Jack Dechow, Old Dominion 
2. Willie Miklus, Missouri
3. Andrew Romanchik, Ohio
4. Jerald Spohn, Kent State

197lbs - # of allocations:6

1. J’den Cox, Missouri
2. Phil Wellington, Ohio
3. Anthony Abro, Eastern Michigan
4. Basil Minto, Northern Iowa
5. Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois
6. Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion
7. Cole Baxter, Kent State
8. Jackson Lewis, Central Michigan

J’den Cox leads possibly the deepest weight in the conference with the most allocations. While Cox is the clear favorite, the returning national champion did drop a match to Phil Wellington last year, before avenging that loss in last year’s MAC finals. Cox should roll to the finals after taking out Jackson Lewis in the quarters and Shawn Scott in the semis. I expect Wellington to see Kevin Beazley in the semis, and to beat him for the third time in his career to make his second MAC final and set up another showdown with Cox. Wellington has had a disappointing year, and I don’t see him being able to recreate the magic he did when he knocked off Cox a year ago. Cox wins his second straight MAC title, and puts himself in position for the #1 seed at nationals. Beazley claims third after beating Scott, and Anthony Abro beats Cole Baxter for sixth.

Bratke's Predictions:

1. J’Den Cox, Missouri
2. Phil Wellington, Ohio
3. Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion
4. Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois
5. Anthony Abro, Eastern Michigan
6. Cole Baxter, Kent State

285lbs - # of allocations: 4

1. Blaize Cabell, Northern Iowa
2. Devin Mellon, Missouri
3. Mimmo Lytle, Kent State
4. Jake Henderson, Old Dominion
5. Gage Hutchison, Eastern Michigan
6. Adam Robinson, Central Michigan
7. Jesse Webb, Ohio
8. Arthur Bunce, Northern Illinois

Another MAC weight class with good depth, and two top 15 wrestlers. #12 Blaize Cabell and #15 Devin Mellon should make the finals after beating Henderson and Lytle respectively. Both Cabell and Mellon are very athletic and mobile heavyweights so expect a lot of action in this one. Cabell won their first meeting in sudden victory, and I expect the same result this time. Cabell comes out on top of the scramble that decides the match. All chalk in this bracket for me. 

Bratke’s Predicitons:

1. Blaize Cabell, Northern Iowa
2. Devin Mellon, Missouri
3. Mimmo Lytle, Kent State
4. Jake Henderson, Old Dominion