CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestler Javier Maldonado was named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week, the SoCon office announced this week.
The award is given to a SoCon student-athlete in season with regards to his or her academic and athletic accomplishments for the week. A student-athlete must have a 3.0 grade point average to be eligible.
A senior from Kissimmee, Fla., Maldonado owns a 3.57 grade point average in his major, Pedagogy. He produced a 4.0 GPA last semester.
In competition this past week, Maldonado defeated UNC Greensboro's Mitchell Johnson 4-2 Saturday to help lead the 18th-ranked Mocs to a 25-17 victory over the Spartans and claim the SoCon regular-season title. The win was Maldonado's 20th consecutive SoCon victory without a loss during his career. He is currently ranked as high as 19th nationally.
Maldonado is a two-time SoCon Champion at 125 pounds and a two-time NCAA Qualifier.
Chattanooga will compete in the upcoming SoCon Wrestling Championships March 8 held at the McKenzie Arena on the UTC campus.
Northern Iowa's Anderson honored by Western Wrestling Conference
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa 197-pound junior Andrew Anderson has been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Wrestler of the Week as announced by league officials.
Anderson (Sioux City, Iowa/East HS) posted a perfect 2-0 mark this past week to improve to 17-9 on the season. Anderson scored a 6-5 victory over Jacob Marrs (Nebraska-Omaha), who is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II at 197 pounds. Anderson then added a first-period fall at the 1:40 mark of his match with NDSU's Jacob Bryce, who was a national qualifier in 2007. Anderson has won four matches in a row to end the dual portion of the season.
It marks the second time this season that Anderson has earned the league's top weekly honor (Jan. 23 & Feb. 27). UNI's Moza Fay has also been named the WWC Wrestler of the Week twice this season (Nov. 21 & Jan. 8).
The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming.
*Others nominated:*
Air Force - Tyler French
Utah Valley State - Marc Fenwick
Wyoming - Eric Coxbill
Wisconsin's Massey honored by Big Ten
Kyle Massey, Wisconsin
Jr., Hwt., Champlin, Minn. / Champlin Park
No. 4 Massey earns his first career weekly laurel after an impressive win against Northwestern over the weekend. Massey defeated No. 1 and previously undefeated Dustin Fox in a 5-3 decision to seal the dual win for the Badgers in their regular season finale. Wisconsin trailed 19-18 heading into the Massey's heavyweight bout. Massey jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the second period then secured the victory in the third with a two-point takedown and had a point of riding time. The win clinched the dual for the Badgers with a final of 21-19, making it UW's third-straight win to close the season. The Champlin, Minn. native ends the regular season with a 24-5 record.
Last Wisconsin WOW: Zach Tanelli (2/20/08)
Maryland's Taylor honored by ACC
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's Hudson Taylor has once again been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week. Taylor, who leads all league wrestlers with five weekly awards this season, defeated two ranked opponents last weekend to improve his overall record to 28-2 this year.
In the Terrapins' first meet of the week, Taylor drew No. 12 Cayle Byers of George Mason. Up against one of his most highly-ranked opponents of the season, the sophomore 197-pounder was dominant, claiming victory over Byers via a 8-0 major decision. Taylor, a native of Pennington, N.J., then faced off against No. 20 Brent Jones of UVA in the regular-season finale for the ACC's top two teams on Sunday. With his 10-2 major decision victory, Taylor earned what proved to be the deciding four points of the match, as the Terps squeaked out a 16-15 win over the Cavaliers. With the win, Maryland clinched its second-straight undefeated ACC season.
Taylor, who still has not dropped a match since Nov. 17, and the rest of the Terps face their next competition at the 2008 ACC Wrestling Championship. This year's league tournament is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 8, in the Comcast Center on the campus of the University of Maryland.
Oklahoma's Weitzel honored by Big 12
NORMAN, Okla. - Coming off his second victory in the Bedlam series this season, senior Joshua Weitzel is the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week the conference announced Monday.
Minutes after being honored on senior night, No. 6 Weitzel's pin versus No. 3 Oklahoma State proved to be the deciding factor in the 18-15 upset win last Thursday, Feb. 21, in Norman.
The in-state matchup began at 184 pounds after Oklahoma State chose to draw instead of starting at the traditional 125 pounds. Weitzel took full advantage by pinning Jack Jensen in the first period (2:18). The fall was his sixth overall this season, the most by any OU starter.
"His pin to start the match was huge," head coach Jack Spates said. "You don't see many pins in Bedlam, and to start off that way was a huge inspiration for our team."
With both teams winning five overall bouts and all coming by decisions other than Weitzel's, the six points posted by the Lincoln University, Pa., native gave the Sooners a three point victory.
The win propelled him to his 23rd victory on the season (23-2) and is now 16-2 in dual action, 3-2 versus Big 12 opponents.
"Josh is a leader for this squad on and off the mat," Spates said. "We couldn't be prouder of him."
This is the second weekly honor for an OU wrestler this season. Freshman Joey Fio was awarded Wrestler of the Week on Feb. 11 after posting two Big 12 victories, including a defeat of No. 4 Paul Donahoe of Nebraska.
The Sooners (14-5, 1-4 in Big 12) will take their momentum from the Bedlam upset into the postseason, as they will travel to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 8 for the Big 12 Championships.
The award is given to a SoCon student-athlete in season with regards to his or her academic and athletic accomplishments for the week. A student-athlete must have a 3.0 grade point average to be eligible.
A senior from Kissimmee, Fla., Maldonado owns a 3.57 grade point average in his major, Pedagogy. He produced a 4.0 GPA last semester.
In competition this past week, Maldonado defeated UNC Greensboro's Mitchell Johnson 4-2 Saturday to help lead the 18th-ranked Mocs to a 25-17 victory over the Spartans and claim the SoCon regular-season title. The win was Maldonado's 20th consecutive SoCon victory without a loss during his career. He is currently ranked as high as 19th nationally.
Maldonado is a two-time SoCon Champion at 125 pounds and a two-time NCAA Qualifier.
Chattanooga will compete in the upcoming SoCon Wrestling Championships March 8 held at the McKenzie Arena on the UTC campus.
Northern Iowa's Anderson honored by Western Wrestling Conference
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa 197-pound junior Andrew Anderson has been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Wrestler of the Week as announced by league officials.
Anderson (Sioux City, Iowa/East HS) posted a perfect 2-0 mark this past week to improve to 17-9 on the season. Anderson scored a 6-5 victory over Jacob Marrs (Nebraska-Omaha), who is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II at 197 pounds. Anderson then added a first-period fall at the 1:40 mark of his match with NDSU's Jacob Bryce, who was a national qualifier in 2007. Anderson has won four matches in a row to end the dual portion of the season.
It marks the second time this season that Anderson has earned the league's top weekly honor (Jan. 23 & Feb. 27). UNI's Moza Fay has also been named the WWC Wrestler of the Week twice this season (Nov. 21 & Jan. 8).
The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming.
*Others nominated:*
Air Force - Tyler French
Utah Valley State - Marc Fenwick
Wyoming - Eric Coxbill
Wisconsin's Massey honored by Big Ten
Kyle Massey, Wisconsin
Jr., Hwt., Champlin, Minn. / Champlin Park
No. 4 Massey earns his first career weekly laurel after an impressive win against Northwestern over the weekend. Massey defeated No. 1 and previously undefeated Dustin Fox in a 5-3 decision to seal the dual win for the Badgers in their regular season finale. Wisconsin trailed 19-18 heading into the Massey's heavyweight bout. Massey jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the second period then secured the victory in the third with a two-point takedown and had a point of riding time. The win clinched the dual for the Badgers with a final of 21-19, making it UW's third-straight win to close the season. The Champlin, Minn. native ends the regular season with a 24-5 record.
Last Wisconsin WOW: Zach Tanelli (2/20/08)
Maryland's Taylor honored by ACC
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's Hudson Taylor has once again been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week. Taylor, who leads all league wrestlers with five weekly awards this season, defeated two ranked opponents last weekend to improve his overall record to 28-2 this year.
In the Terrapins' first meet of the week, Taylor drew No. 12 Cayle Byers of George Mason. Up against one of his most highly-ranked opponents of the season, the sophomore 197-pounder was dominant, claiming victory over Byers via a 8-0 major decision. Taylor, a native of Pennington, N.J., then faced off against No. 20 Brent Jones of UVA in the regular-season finale for the ACC's top two teams on Sunday. With his 10-2 major decision victory, Taylor earned what proved to be the deciding four points of the match, as the Terps squeaked out a 16-15 win over the Cavaliers. With the win, Maryland clinched its second-straight undefeated ACC season.
Taylor, who still has not dropped a match since Nov. 17, and the rest of the Terps face their next competition at the 2008 ACC Wrestling Championship. This year's league tournament is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 8, in the Comcast Center on the campus of the University of Maryland.
Oklahoma's Weitzel honored by Big 12
NORMAN, Okla. - Coming off his second victory in the Bedlam series this season, senior Joshua Weitzel is the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week the conference announced Monday.
Minutes after being honored on senior night, No. 6 Weitzel's pin versus No. 3 Oklahoma State proved to be the deciding factor in the 18-15 upset win last Thursday, Feb. 21, in Norman.
The in-state matchup began at 184 pounds after Oklahoma State chose to draw instead of starting at the traditional 125 pounds. Weitzel took full advantage by pinning Jack Jensen in the first period (2:18). The fall was his sixth overall this season, the most by any OU starter.
"His pin to start the match was huge," head coach Jack Spates said. "You don't see many pins in Bedlam, and to start off that way was a huge inspiration for our team."
With both teams winning five overall bouts and all coming by decisions other than Weitzel's, the six points posted by the Lincoln University, Pa., native gave the Sooners a three point victory.
The win propelled him to his 23rd victory on the season (23-2) and is now 16-2 in dual action, 3-2 versus Big 12 opponents.
"Josh is a leader for this squad on and off the mat," Spates said. "We couldn't be prouder of him."
This is the second weekly honor for an OU wrestler this season. Freshman Joey Fio was awarded Wrestler of the Week on Feb. 11 after posting two Big 12 victories, including a defeat of No. 4 Paul Donahoe of Nebraska.
The Sooners (14-5, 1-4 in Big 12) will take their momentum from the Bedlam upset into the postseason, as they will travel to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 8 for the Big 12 Championships.
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