Foster named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
By Gavin Lang
Oklahoma State Sports Information
Oklahoma State junior 184-pounder Clayton Foster was recognized as Big 12 wrestler of the week, it was announced today by the conference office. This is the first such honor of Foster's career and marks the third time this season that a Cowboy has been singled out as Big 12 wrestler of the week.
Foster knocked off No. 6 Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming by a 10-5 score when he connected on a five-point move in sudden victory as part of OSU's 31-3 win over UW in Laramie last Friday. With a No. 6 national ranking, LeBlanc is the second-highest ranked opponent Foster has beaten in his career.
With Foster holding a 2-0 lead and in the top position to start the third period, LeBlanc scored a reversal to tie the score at two. Foster escaped to go up, 3-2 and then things got wild. LeBlanc took Foster down to take a 4-3 lead and after Foster was slapped with a stalling point, LeBlanc held a 5-3 edge. With two seconds left, Foster escaped and his riding time point brought the score to 5-5 and sent the bout into overtime. LeBlanc went after Foster in the sudden victory period, but Foster worked and scored a takedown of his own and turned it into a five-point move with a three-point nearfall to claim victory.
Earlier in the day, Foster pinned Northern Colorado's Patrick Prentice at the 3:28 mark of their bout. Foster punished Prentice from the start, using three takedowns, a two-point nearfall and a pair of three-point nearfalls to race to a 14-2 lead in the first period alone. He added another takedown early in the second period, then took control of Prentice's head, locked up the cradle and got the fall. Foster owns a 13-2 record on the year after missing a chunk of the season due to injury. He has added bonus points in nine of his 13 wins.
Iowa's Dan Dennis named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
By Dan Mihalik
Big Ten Conference
Daniel Dennis, Iowa
Sr., 133, Ingleside, Ill./Grant
Dennis helped the top-ranked Hawkeyes to victories over No. 13 Penn State on Friday and Michigan State on Sunday. Against Penn State, he scored a major decision win over Bryan Pearsall as Iowa earned a 29-6 win. Against Michigan State on Sunday, the fourth-ranked Hawkeye took on the defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Franklin Gomez in a showdown that was decided in tiebreakers following overtime.Dennis escaped in the first tiebreaker, then rode Gomez until the end of the second tiebreaker to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win and help Iowa to its 56th consecutive dual win.
The honor is Dennis' second of his career.
Ben Kjar named Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week
By Aaron Voos
Western Wrestling Conference
LARAMIE, Wyo.- Utah Valley junior 125-pounder Ben Kjar (Centerville, Utah/Viewmont HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Wrestler of the Week as announced today by the league.
Kjar helped Utah Valley begin its conference season with a 2-1 record last week as the No. 13 ranked (InterMat) 125-pounder went 3-0 in his three conference duals. His biggest victory came via 5-3 decision over Wyoming's higher-ranked (No. 11) Michael Martinez. Kjar's other two dual wins came by major decision victories over Northern Iowa's Caleb Flores (12-4) and Air Force's Andrew Zwirlein (21-11). In Kjar's match against the Falcon's Zwirlein, he scored 10 takedowns and picked up another point from riding time to tally his 21 points. Kjar's major over UNI's Flores also helped UVU beat the West Regional power Panthers for the first-time in school history. Kjar is now 24-6 on the year and 8-1 in duals.
This is the third time during the 2009-10 season that Kjar has won the WWC weekly award, the fourth for Utah Valley as a program.
Virginia Tech's Brian Stephens named ACC Wrestler of the Week
By Steve Phillips
Atlantic Coast Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia Tech's 149-pound Brian Stephens has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after he picked up a huge win over 11th-ranked Tony D'Alie of Central Michigan last Friday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Trailing 3-0 in the second period, Stephens used a pair of takedowns to tie up the match and then in the third period used a takedown and three near fall points to cap a 9-0 run. A late takedown by Stephens completed the 12-7 upset for the true freshman from Piqua, Ohio. Stephens was slated to redshirt this year, but is now 2-0 vs. ACC opposition.
Jimmy Hamel named MAC Wrestler of the Week
By William Nowadly
Buffalo Sports Information
BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo junior Jimmy Hamel (Natick, MA/Natick) has been selected as the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week. The junior defeated 12th nationally-ranked Erik Schuth of Ohio, 4-3 in ultimate overtime at the Bulls' conference home opener on Saturday afternoon. This marks the third time a Bull has received the honor this season.
Facing his third nationally-ranked opponent in three straight bouts, Hamel pulled off the biggest upset of his career by defeating 12th ranked Schuth. Following a scoreless first period, Schuth scored the bout's first point to start the second period off an escape. Facing a 1-0 deficit to start the third, Hamel was able to roll out with a somersault away from Schuth's grasp for an escape to tie the bout at 1-1. With less than a minute remaining, Schuth would be docked a penalty point for locking his hands to give Hamel a 2-1 lead. Schuth was able to send the match to overtime by earning 1:19 of riding time.
In the first round of the 30-second overtime, each would exchange an escape leading to a continuous battle. After the second set of scoreless 30-second overtime periods, Hamel would rip away from Schuth's grasp in ultimate overtime for an escape to capture a 4-3 decision over the 12th nationally-ranked wrestler giving Schuth his first dual loss of the season.
The tri-captain holds a season overall record of 22-7 and 10-2 dual meet record, occupying second place in each category. Hamel has now defeated two top-15 wrestlers in the last two weeks as he defeated 14th ranked Richard Starks, 4-2 by sudden victory at the New York State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships on January 24.
Hamel's selection as MAC Wrestler of the Week marks the second time in his career that he has garnered such an honor.
Upper Iowa's Mitch Norton NSIC Wrestler of the Week
By Nick Kornder
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Mitch Norton (174 lbs, Sr., Waverly, Iowa / Nashua-Plainfield HS)
Upper Iowa
Third ranked Mitch Norton swung the momentum of #6 Upper Iowa's NSIC dual with #4 Minnesota State when he won his 174-pound matchup with Ben Becker (#8 NCAA) by fall (4:15). The win propelled the Peacocks back into the lead, 16-12, and fueled the large home crowd for the rest of the dual as the Peacocks won 24-18. On Friday, Norton was also dominant; he picked up a technical fall victory (19-2, 6:19) over Micah Larson of Southwest Minnesota State to improve to 14-2 on the season.
Naveed Bagheri named RMAC Wrestler of the Week
By Sarah Meier
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Naveed Bagheri, Soph. 133 (Los Gatos, Calif.)
Bagheri went 6-0 for the week and at the California Collegiate Open, captured the championship at 133 pounds and the tournament's most outstanding wrestler award. Bagheri posted three victories by techincal fall and added a major decision, outscoring his four opponents 36-4 en route to his second tournament title of the season.
Bagheri, ranked third in the latest Division II poll, has won 19 straight matches, posted eight technical falls, four major decisions and one pin since a season-opening loss to Stanford.
By Gavin Lang
Oklahoma State Sports Information
Oklahoma State junior 184-pounder Clayton Foster was recognized as Big 12 wrestler of the week, it was announced today by the conference office. This is the first such honor of Foster's career and marks the third time this season that a Cowboy has been singled out as Big 12 wrestler of the week.
Foster knocked off No. 6 Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming by a 10-5 score when he connected on a five-point move in sudden victory as part of OSU's 31-3 win over UW in Laramie last Friday. With a No. 6 national ranking, LeBlanc is the second-highest ranked opponent Foster has beaten in his career.
With Foster holding a 2-0 lead and in the top position to start the third period, LeBlanc scored a reversal to tie the score at two. Foster escaped to go up, 3-2 and then things got wild. LeBlanc took Foster down to take a 4-3 lead and after Foster was slapped with a stalling point, LeBlanc held a 5-3 edge. With two seconds left, Foster escaped and his riding time point brought the score to 5-5 and sent the bout into overtime. LeBlanc went after Foster in the sudden victory period, but Foster worked and scored a takedown of his own and turned it into a five-point move with a three-point nearfall to claim victory.
Earlier in the day, Foster pinned Northern Colorado's Patrick Prentice at the 3:28 mark of their bout. Foster punished Prentice from the start, using three takedowns, a two-point nearfall and a pair of three-point nearfalls to race to a 14-2 lead in the first period alone. He added another takedown early in the second period, then took control of Prentice's head, locked up the cradle and got the fall. Foster owns a 13-2 record on the year after missing a chunk of the season due to injury. He has added bonus points in nine of his 13 wins.
Iowa's Dan Dennis named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
By Dan Mihalik
Big Ten Conference
Daniel Dennis, Iowa
Sr., 133, Ingleside, Ill./Grant
Dennis helped the top-ranked Hawkeyes to victories over No. 13 Penn State on Friday and Michigan State on Sunday. Against Penn State, he scored a major decision win over Bryan Pearsall as Iowa earned a 29-6 win. Against Michigan State on Sunday, the fourth-ranked Hawkeye took on the defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Franklin Gomez in a showdown that was decided in tiebreakers following overtime.Dennis escaped in the first tiebreaker, then rode Gomez until the end of the second tiebreaker to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win and help Iowa to its 56th consecutive dual win.
The honor is Dennis' second of his career.
Ben Kjar named Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week
By Aaron Voos
Western Wrestling Conference
LARAMIE, Wyo.- Utah Valley junior 125-pounder Ben Kjar (Centerville, Utah/Viewmont HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Wrestler of the Week as announced today by the league.
Kjar helped Utah Valley begin its conference season with a 2-1 record last week as the No. 13 ranked (InterMat) 125-pounder went 3-0 in his three conference duals. His biggest victory came via 5-3 decision over Wyoming's higher-ranked (No. 11) Michael Martinez. Kjar's other two dual wins came by major decision victories over Northern Iowa's Caleb Flores (12-4) and Air Force's Andrew Zwirlein (21-11). In Kjar's match against the Falcon's Zwirlein, he scored 10 takedowns and picked up another point from riding time to tally his 21 points. Kjar's major over UNI's Flores also helped UVU beat the West Regional power Panthers for the first-time in school history. Kjar is now 24-6 on the year and 8-1 in duals.
This is the third time during the 2009-10 season that Kjar has won the WWC weekly award, the fourth for Utah Valley as a program.
Virginia Tech's Brian Stephens named ACC Wrestler of the Week
By Steve Phillips
Atlantic Coast Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia Tech's 149-pound Brian Stephens has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after he picked up a huge win over 11th-ranked Tony D'Alie of Central Michigan last Friday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Trailing 3-0 in the second period, Stephens used a pair of takedowns to tie up the match and then in the third period used a takedown and three near fall points to cap a 9-0 run. A late takedown by Stephens completed the 12-7 upset for the true freshman from Piqua, Ohio. Stephens was slated to redshirt this year, but is now 2-0 vs. ACC opposition.
Jimmy Hamel named MAC Wrestler of the Week
By William Nowadly
Buffalo Sports Information
BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo junior Jimmy Hamel (Natick, MA/Natick) has been selected as the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week. The junior defeated 12th nationally-ranked Erik Schuth of Ohio, 4-3 in ultimate overtime at the Bulls' conference home opener on Saturday afternoon. This marks the third time a Bull has received the honor this season.
Facing his third nationally-ranked opponent in three straight bouts, Hamel pulled off the biggest upset of his career by defeating 12th ranked Schuth. Following a scoreless first period, Schuth scored the bout's first point to start the second period off an escape. Facing a 1-0 deficit to start the third, Hamel was able to roll out with a somersault away from Schuth's grasp for an escape to tie the bout at 1-1. With less than a minute remaining, Schuth would be docked a penalty point for locking his hands to give Hamel a 2-1 lead. Schuth was able to send the match to overtime by earning 1:19 of riding time.
In the first round of the 30-second overtime, each would exchange an escape leading to a continuous battle. After the second set of scoreless 30-second overtime periods, Hamel would rip away from Schuth's grasp in ultimate overtime for an escape to capture a 4-3 decision over the 12th nationally-ranked wrestler giving Schuth his first dual loss of the season.
The tri-captain holds a season overall record of 22-7 and 10-2 dual meet record, occupying second place in each category. Hamel has now defeated two top-15 wrestlers in the last two weeks as he defeated 14th ranked Richard Starks, 4-2 by sudden victory at the New York State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships on January 24.
Hamel's selection as MAC Wrestler of the Week marks the second time in his career that he has garnered such an honor.
Upper Iowa's Mitch Norton NSIC Wrestler of the Week
By Nick Kornder
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Mitch Norton (174 lbs, Sr., Waverly, Iowa / Nashua-Plainfield HS)
Upper Iowa
Third ranked Mitch Norton swung the momentum of #6 Upper Iowa's NSIC dual with #4 Minnesota State when he won his 174-pound matchup with Ben Becker (#8 NCAA) by fall (4:15). The win propelled the Peacocks back into the lead, 16-12, and fueled the large home crowd for the rest of the dual as the Peacocks won 24-18. On Friday, Norton was also dominant; he picked up a technical fall victory (19-2, 6:19) over Micah Larson of Southwest Minnesota State to improve to 14-2 on the season.
Naveed Bagheri named RMAC Wrestler of the Week
By Sarah Meier
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Naveed Bagheri, Soph. 133 (Los Gatos, Calif.)
Bagheri went 6-0 for the week and at the California Collegiate Open, captured the championship at 133 pounds and the tournament's most outstanding wrestler award. Bagheri posted three victories by techincal fall and added a major decision, outscoring his four opponents 36-4 en route to his second tournament title of the season.
Bagheri, ranked third in the latest Division II poll, has won 19 straight matches, posted eight technical falls, four major decisions and one pin since a season-opening loss to Stanford.
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