Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships

When: March 8-9

Where: M.A.C. Center, Kent State

Participating teams:  Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio University, Old Dominion

The skinny: Yes, Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion are in the MAC -- for at least one sport. The trio has bolstered the conference's wrestling profile, with the MAC receiving 41 automatic spots to the NCAA Division I Championships. The Big Ten (74) and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (47) are the lone conferences with more automatic qualifiers. ... Two area wrestlers are a big part of resurgent Ohio University's success. Sophomore Phil Wellington (VASJ) is the No. 1 seed at 197 pounds. Junior Harrison Hightower (University) is seeded third at 165. Six MAC teams received votes in the final USA Today/NWCA/AWN Top 25. Northern Iowa went 13-0 and ended the regular season ranked fifth. Missouri went 10-2 to earn the No. 9 ranking. ...The tournament begins at noon March 8. The finals are 1:20 p.m. March 9.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsherladguy