Utah Valley's Ben Kjar Named WWC 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 placed fifth at the Midlands Championships, Dec. 29-30, after entering the tournament as the No. 6 seed at 125 pounds, going 5-2 at the event. Kjar, who is ranked No. 15 in the nation in the most recent InterMat poll, is 19-5 overall on the year. At the Midlands, Kjar's wins included a 16-5 major decision over Christopher Quiroga of Purdue and a 4-3 decision over the seventh seed and 17th ranked Jason Lara of Oregon State. Kjar's two losses, both decisions, came against third seed and No. 8 Matt McDonough of Iowa and the tournament's top seed, Brandon Precin of Northwestern, who finished third at last season's NCAA Championships.
The weekly league honor for Kjar is his second this season, the other coming on Nov. 24.
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 and Wyoming.
Other Nominees:
Air Force - Cole VonOhlen, Fr., 141 pounds, Jackson, Minn. (Jackson County Central HS)
North Dakota State - Andrey Patselov, Jr., 149 pounds, Fargo, N.D. (Fargo North HS)
Northern Iowa - Andy O'Loughlin, RJr., 184 pounds, Independence, Iowa (Independence HS)
2009-10 WWC Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 10 - Tyler Sorenson (South Dakota State)
Nov. 17 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming)
Nov. 24 - Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
Dec. 1 - Kenny Hashimoto (Northern Colorado)
Dec. 8 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
Dec. 15 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado)
Dec. 22 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Jan. 5 - Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
Brent Metcalf named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
By Dan Mihalik
Big Ten Conference
Brent Metcalf, Iowa
Sr., 149, Davison, Mich./Davison
Metcalf won his third straight Midlands Championship last weekend and was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler at the event. The Hawkeyes won the team championship with 168.5 points, with Metcalf accounting for 32.5 points, the most by any individual at the meet. In the 149-pound bracket, the top-ranked Metcalf pinned three opponents, recorded a technical fall and a major decision before winning his weight class with a 9-2 decision over No. 2 Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin. The weekly honor is the fourth of Metcalf's career.
Last Iowa Wrestler of the Week: Brent Metcalf (Feb. 24, 2009)
2009-10 Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 10: Colton Salazar, Jr., PUR
Nov. 17: Cyler Sanderson, Sr., PSU
Nov. 24: Reece Humphrey, Sr., OSU & Brad Pakaty, Jr., PSU
Dec. 1: Paul Young, Jr., IND
Dec. 8: Angel Escobedo, Sr., IND
Dec. 15: Ben Berhow, Jr., MINN
Dec. 22: Cyler Sanderson, Sr., PSU
Jan. 5: Brent Metcalf, Sr., IOWA
Nicholson, Mytych named CAA Wrestlers of the Month; Morabito named Rookie of the Month
By Bud Focht
Rider University Sports Information
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ-James Nicholson of Old Dominion University and Steve Mytych of Drexel University have been named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestlers of the Month for December, 2009. Garrett Morabito of Binghamton University is the CAA Rookie of the Month.
Nicholson, a junior 125 from Des Moines, Iowa (Theodore Roosevelt), was 10-1 last month, placing third at the Cliff Keen Vegas Invite. Currently ranked fourth by Amateur Wrestling News and seventh by InterMat, Nicholson took part in the NWCA All-Star Classic and went 3-0 at the ODU Quad. In the last month he compiled two pins, two tech falls and a major decision.
Mytych, a senior 133 from Wyoming, PA (Northampton) was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Wilkes Open, going all four matches without being taken down. In Vegas Mytych placed third at Cliff Keen Invite and is currently ranked 13th by Amateur Wrestling News, 19th by InterMat.
Morabito, a freshman 133 from Conklin, NY (Susquehanna Valley), was 13-3 last month, placing third at the Wilkes Open and seventh at the Penn State Open, winning four of six matches.
Upper Iowa's Mitch Schultz named NSIC Wrestler of the Week
By Nick Kornder
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Mitch Schultz (184 LBS, R-Fr., Postville, Iowa / Postville HS)
Upper Iowa
Mitch Schultz returned to the mat for the Peacocks at 184 pounds and went 4-0 on the day at the Flash Open in Dubuque, Iowa. Schultz won his four matches by a combined 33-2 score. Schultz's first win came by technical fall, 16-0. The Postville, Iowa native then earned a major decision, 15-2, over Shane Rosenberry of Northern Illinois and a close decision, 2-0, over Josh Kirkland of Loras. Schultz picked up his final win by injury default. The four wins improve the young man's season record to 13-1 including seven bonus-point victories. His only loss on the season came as Schultz finished on the short end of a 7-6 decision. This is the second time this season Schultz has been named NSIC Wrestler of the Week (11/24/09).
North Carolina's Scotton named ACC Wrestler of the Week
By Steve Phillips
Atlantic Coast Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- North Carolina junior Thomas Scotton has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after winning one championship and posting another top-three finishes in his last two tournament outings.
Scotton, ranked No. 7 nationally at 157 pounds, placed third at the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 20 and claimed the title at the Southern Scuffle hosted by UNC Greensboro on Dec. 29-30. Scotton went 10-1 during the two events and posted five wins over fellow nationally-ranked opponents, including three wins against top-10 opponents. Scotton is a team-best 21-2 on the season.
Scotton's only loss during the span was a 2-0 decision to fifth-ranked Boise State's Adam Hall during the Reno tournament. Scotton was victorious vs. sixth-ranked Chase Parmi of Cal-Poly, eighth-ranked Neil Eirsman of Oklahoma State, ninth-ranked Bryce Saddoris of Navy (twice) and 12th-ranked Kurt Kinser of Indiana. The 2-1 overtime decision vs. Kinser came in the Southern Scuffle's 157-pound championship match.
Scotton, a native of Willingboro, N.J., has been named ACC Wrestler of the Week twice this season. Scotton shared the first weekly honor of the 2009-10 season with Duke heavyweight Konrad Dudziak on Nov. 10.
ACC wrestling action continues to pick up after the holiday day break.
NC State wraps up a Midwestern swing with a 5 p.m. match at Wyoming today, then returns home to face VMI at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Wolfpack will then travel to Duke for a 6:30 p.m. match on Saturday, the ACC opener for both teams.
Virginia Tech and Virginia will both take part in the 30th annual Virginia Duals on Friday and Saturday at Hampton, Va. The 24th-ranked Hokies will open against 14th-ranked Penn State on Friday at 9 a.m., while 18th-ranked Virginia faces Michigan at 11 a.m.
Seventh-ranked Maryland is also scheduled for dual action. The Terps will take part in the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals on Saturday and Sunday at Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Fittery named EIWA Wrestler of the Week
By Andrew Chesboro
American University Sports Information
Steve Fittery has been named the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association's Wrestler of the Week after capturing the 157 lbs. title at the 47th Annual Midlands Championships. Fittery won all five of his bouts at the tournament by bonus points and was crowned Champion of Champions.
Fittery, the top-seeded wrestler at 157 lbs., was dominate over the course of the tournament, picking up three major decisions, one tech-fall and one fall. The junior cruised through the first day of competition with two major decisions before tech-falling Clairon's Hadley Harrison in the second period, 17-1, to advance to the semifinals. Fittery then returned to the mat on the second day with a 15-5 major decision over fifth-seeded Keegan Davis from Oregon State to earn himself a place in the finals. In the finals, Fittery made quick work of second-seeded Jake Patacsil from the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club to earn his first Midlands Championship by fall 2:52 into the first period.
At the tournament's conclusion, Fittery was named the Champion of Champions, an honor voted on by all 10 Midlands Champions. Fittery is the first wrestler in American history to be named Champion of Champions and the third to capture a Midlands Championship. He was also the only EIWA wrestler to win an individual championship at this year's tournament.
Fittery was also named EIWA Wrestler of the Week on November 23 after being named Outstanding Wrestler at the Keystone Classic. Fittery won three matches to claim the 157 lbs. title at the tournament, including two by tech-fall and one by major decision.
The American University wrestling team will return to action on Friday, January 8, with its first home dual of the season against Navy at 7:00 p.m.
Andrew Long named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
By Emily Franzenburg
Big 12 Conference
IRVING, Texas - Andrew Long (Iowa State) has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, it was announced. This is the first Conference honor of Long's career.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Long, Fr., 125 pounds, Creston, Iowa/Creston
Long was seeded fourth heading into the prestigious Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, Ill. After advancing due to forfeit in the initial round, the redshirt freshman reeled off three straight pins. After sticking Seth Wright (New Mexico-Highlands) in 3:27 and Matt Steintrager (Central Michigan) in 2:15, Long recorded his third fall over top-seeded Brandon Precin, pinning the Northwestern All-American at the 4:20 mark, before falling in the tournament finals to Iowa's Matt McDonough in overtime, 9-7 (SV).
The Cyclone standout followed his Midlands runner-up finish with a victory at Minnesota on Jan. 3. The freshman, ranked 13th according to Intermat, took down No. 3 Zach Sanders of Minnesota by decision, 8-4. Long tallied his third takedown of the match to defeat Sanders, who placed sixth at last year's NCAA Championships. Long advances his record to 15-2 in his first campaign, including a 3-1 mark in dual action.
2009-10 BIG 12 WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK/MONTH
November: Eric Lapotsky, Oklahoma, Sr. 197
Dec. 7: Alex Meade, Oklahoma State, Fr., 165
Dec. 14: Craig Brester, Nebraska, Sr., 197
Dec. 21: Jake Varner, Iowa State, Sr., 197
Jan. 4: Andrew Long, Iowa State, Fr., 125
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 placed fifth at the Midlands Championships, Dec. 29-30, after entering the tournament as the No. 6 seed at 125 pounds, going 5-2 at the event. Kjar, who is ranked No. 15 in the nation in the most recent InterMat poll, is 19-5 overall on the year. At the Midlands, Kjar's wins included a 16-5 major decision over Christopher Quiroga of Purdue and a 4-3 decision over the seventh seed and 17th ranked Jason Lara of Oregon State. Kjar's two losses, both decisions, came against third seed and No. 8 Matt McDonough of Iowa and the tournament's top seed, Brandon Precin of Northwestern, who finished third at last season's NCAA Championships.
The weekly league honor for Kjar is his second this season, the other coming on Nov. 24.
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 and Wyoming.
Other Nominees:
Air Force - Cole VonOhlen, Fr., 141 pounds, Jackson, Minn. (Jackson County Central HS)
North Dakota State - Andrey Patselov, Jr., 149 pounds, Fargo, N.D. (Fargo North HS)
Northern Iowa - Andy O'Loughlin, RJr., 184 pounds, Independence, Iowa (Independence HS)
2009-10 WWC Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 10 - Tyler Sorenson (South Dakota State)
Nov. 17 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming)
Nov. 24 - Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
Dec. 1 - Kenny Hashimoto (Northern Colorado)
Dec. 8 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
Dec. 15 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado)
Dec. 22 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Jan. 5 - Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
Brent Metcalf named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
By Dan Mihalik
Big Ten Conference
Brent Metcalf, Iowa
Sr., 149, Davison, Mich./Davison
Metcalf won his third straight Midlands Championship last weekend and was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler at the event. The Hawkeyes won the team championship with 168.5 points, with Metcalf accounting for 32.5 points, the most by any individual at the meet. In the 149-pound bracket, the top-ranked Metcalf pinned three opponents, recorded a technical fall and a major decision before winning his weight class with a 9-2 decision over No. 2 Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin. The weekly honor is the fourth of Metcalf's career.
Last Iowa Wrestler of the Week: Brent Metcalf (Feb. 24, 2009)
2009-10 Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 10: Colton Salazar, Jr., PUR
Nov. 17: Cyler Sanderson, Sr., PSU
Nov. 24: Reece Humphrey, Sr., OSU & Brad Pakaty, Jr., PSU
Dec. 1: Paul Young, Jr., IND
Dec. 8: Angel Escobedo, Sr., IND
Dec. 15: Ben Berhow, Jr., MINN
Dec. 22: Cyler Sanderson, Sr., PSU
Jan. 5: Brent Metcalf, Sr., IOWA
Nicholson, Mytych named CAA Wrestlers of the Month; Morabito named Rookie of the Month
By Bud Focht
Rider University Sports Information
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ-James Nicholson of Old Dominion University and Steve Mytych of Drexel University have been named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestlers of the Month for December, 2009. Garrett Morabito of Binghamton University is the CAA Rookie of the Month.
Nicholson, a junior 125 from Des Moines, Iowa (Theodore Roosevelt), was 10-1 last month, placing third at the Cliff Keen Vegas Invite. Currently ranked fourth by Amateur Wrestling News and seventh by InterMat, Nicholson took part in the NWCA All-Star Classic and went 3-0 at the ODU Quad. In the last month he compiled two pins, two tech falls and a major decision.
Mytych, a senior 133 from Wyoming, PA (Northampton) was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Wilkes Open, going all four matches without being taken down. In Vegas Mytych placed third at Cliff Keen Invite and is currently ranked 13th by Amateur Wrestling News, 19th by InterMat.
Morabito, a freshman 133 from Conklin, NY (Susquehanna Valley), was 13-3 last month, placing third at the Wilkes Open and seventh at the Penn State Open, winning four of six matches.
Upper Iowa's Mitch Schultz named NSIC Wrestler of the Week
By Nick Kornder
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Mitch Schultz (184 LBS, R-Fr., Postville, Iowa / Postville HS)
Upper Iowa
Mitch Schultz returned to the mat for the Peacocks at 184 pounds and went 4-0 on the day at the Flash Open in Dubuque, Iowa. Schultz won his four matches by a combined 33-2 score. Schultz's first win came by technical fall, 16-0. The Postville, Iowa native then earned a major decision, 15-2, over Shane Rosenberry of Northern Illinois and a close decision, 2-0, over Josh Kirkland of Loras. Schultz picked up his final win by injury default. The four wins improve the young man's season record to 13-1 including seven bonus-point victories. His only loss on the season came as Schultz finished on the short end of a 7-6 decision. This is the second time this season Schultz has been named NSIC Wrestler of the Week (11/24/09).
North Carolina's Scotton named ACC Wrestler of the Week
By Steve Phillips
Atlantic Coast Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- North Carolina junior Thomas Scotton has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after winning one championship and posting another top-three finishes in his last two tournament outings.
Scotton, ranked No. 7 nationally at 157 pounds, placed third at the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 20 and claimed the title at the Southern Scuffle hosted by UNC Greensboro on Dec. 29-30. Scotton went 10-1 during the two events and posted five wins over fellow nationally-ranked opponents, including three wins against top-10 opponents. Scotton is a team-best 21-2 on the season.
Scotton's only loss during the span was a 2-0 decision to fifth-ranked Boise State's Adam Hall during the Reno tournament. Scotton was victorious vs. sixth-ranked Chase Parmi of Cal-Poly, eighth-ranked Neil Eirsman of Oklahoma State, ninth-ranked Bryce Saddoris of Navy (twice) and 12th-ranked Kurt Kinser of Indiana. The 2-1 overtime decision vs. Kinser came in the Southern Scuffle's 157-pound championship match.
Scotton, a native of Willingboro, N.J., has been named ACC Wrestler of the Week twice this season. Scotton shared the first weekly honor of the 2009-10 season with Duke heavyweight Konrad Dudziak on Nov. 10.
ACC wrestling action continues to pick up after the holiday day break.
NC State wraps up a Midwestern swing with a 5 p.m. match at Wyoming today, then returns home to face VMI at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Wolfpack will then travel to Duke for a 6:30 p.m. match on Saturday, the ACC opener for both teams.
Virginia Tech and Virginia will both take part in the 30th annual Virginia Duals on Friday and Saturday at Hampton, Va. The 24th-ranked Hokies will open against 14th-ranked Penn State on Friday at 9 a.m., while 18th-ranked Virginia faces Michigan at 11 a.m.
Seventh-ranked Maryland is also scheduled for dual action. The Terps will take part in the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals on Saturday and Sunday at Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Fittery named EIWA Wrestler of the Week
By Andrew Chesboro
American University Sports Information
Steve Fittery has been named the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association's Wrestler of the Week after capturing the 157 lbs. title at the 47th Annual Midlands Championships. Fittery won all five of his bouts at the tournament by bonus points and was crowned Champion of Champions.
Fittery, the top-seeded wrestler at 157 lbs., was dominate over the course of the tournament, picking up three major decisions, one tech-fall and one fall. The junior cruised through the first day of competition with two major decisions before tech-falling Clairon's Hadley Harrison in the second period, 17-1, to advance to the semifinals. Fittery then returned to the mat on the second day with a 15-5 major decision over fifth-seeded Keegan Davis from Oregon State to earn himself a place in the finals. In the finals, Fittery made quick work of second-seeded Jake Patacsil from the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club to earn his first Midlands Championship by fall 2:52 into the first period.
At the tournament's conclusion, Fittery was named the Champion of Champions, an honor voted on by all 10 Midlands Champions. Fittery is the first wrestler in American history to be named Champion of Champions and the third to capture a Midlands Championship. He was also the only EIWA wrestler to win an individual championship at this year's tournament.
Fittery was also named EIWA Wrestler of the Week on November 23 after being named Outstanding Wrestler at the Keystone Classic. Fittery won three matches to claim the 157 lbs. title at the tournament, including two by tech-fall and one by major decision.
The American University wrestling team will return to action on Friday, January 8, with its first home dual of the season against Navy at 7:00 p.m.
Andrew Long named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
By Emily Franzenburg
Big 12 Conference
IRVING, Texas - Andrew Long (Iowa State) has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, it was announced. This is the first Conference honor of Long's career.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Long, Fr., 125 pounds, Creston, Iowa/Creston
Long was seeded fourth heading into the prestigious Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, Ill. After advancing due to forfeit in the initial round, the redshirt freshman reeled off three straight pins. After sticking Seth Wright (New Mexico-Highlands) in 3:27 and Matt Steintrager (Central Michigan) in 2:15, Long recorded his third fall over top-seeded Brandon Precin, pinning the Northwestern All-American at the 4:20 mark, before falling in the tournament finals to Iowa's Matt McDonough in overtime, 9-7 (SV).
The Cyclone standout followed his Midlands runner-up finish with a victory at Minnesota on Jan. 3. The freshman, ranked 13th according to Intermat, took down No. 3 Zach Sanders of Minnesota by decision, 8-4. Long tallied his third takedown of the match to defeat Sanders, who placed sixth at last year's NCAA Championships. Long advances his record to 15-2 in his first campaign, including a 3-1 mark in dual action.
2009-10 BIG 12 WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK/MONTH
November: Eric Lapotsky, Oklahoma, Sr. 197
Dec. 7: Alex Meade, Oklahoma State, Fr., 165
Dec. 14: Craig Brester, Nebraska, Sr., 197
Dec. 21: Jake Varner, Iowa State, Sr., 197
Jan. 4: Andrew Long, Iowa State, Fr., 125
