HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — It may just be the end of December, but the energy inside the Sears Centre Arena beginning Saturday will make it seem like March and the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Tournament.

Several of the country’s Top-25 programs will gather for the 56th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding Sunday night.

Among those set for action are former Fort Dodge Senior High standouts Cayd Lara and Drew Bennett. Both true freshmen at the University of Northern Iowa are competing unattached.

This marks a return for the Panthers to the Midlands after a two-year hiatus. The complete 10-man lineup is set for action, along with Lara, Bennett and two other unattached wrestlers.

Lara, who is redshirting but is still eligible to compete in events such as this, won the Harold Nichols and Grand View Open titles, along with a tie for first at the Jim Koch Open.

He is currently checked in at 157 pounds after placing second at state twice for the Dodgers as a prep.

“This is a great opportunity to see where I’m at,” Lara said. “It’s crazy to think I’m actually wrestling (at Midlands) now. I can remember in high school we would always get together and watch the finals, and now I’m in a position to compete in the toughest tournament to date and that gets me fired up.

“It also means a lot to me and my family to see how far I’ve come. I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done to put me in the position I am in today.”

Ohio State, ranked second according to NWCA, will be in attendance, along with No. 3 Iowa, fifth-ranked Michigan, No. 7 Minnesota, 10th-ranked Arizona State, No. 14 Rutgers, 15th-ranked Illinois and No. 16 Wisconsin. Northern Iowa is currently ranked 19th in the nation.

Last year, the Hawkeyes crowned a school-record five champions in collecting their 27th Midlands team title. Rutgers was second and Central Michigan finished third.

Josh Alber is the lone UNI wrestler with a Midlands medal, as he placed second in 2015 at 133 pounds. As a team, the Panthers finished a school-best fifth in 2013.

Joining Alber in the line will be Jay Schwarm, Jack Skudlarczyk, Max Thomsen, Patrick Schoenfelder, Bryce Steiert, Taylor Lujan, Drew Foster, Tyrell Gordon and Izaak Shedenhelm. Kyle Biscoglia and Michael Blockhus are the other two entered.

Bennett, who is also redshirting, has finished third at both the UNI and Koch opens at 133. He was a state champion for the Dodgers and a two-time bronze medalist.

“The tournament is going to be a test for sure,” Bennett said. “I’m super excited to put it all on the line against some of the best guys in the country. Growing up, I would always watch the finals with some friends and hope that one day I was going ot wrestle there.

“Now, it’s going to be reality.”

Among those expected to compete at 133 are South Dakota State’s Seth Gross, Michigan’s Steven Micic, Nick Suriano of Rutgers and Austin DeSanto from Iowa. The 157-pound field includes Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin, Larry Early from Old Dominion and Kaleb Young of Iowa.