Iowa's Mark Perry named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week
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by Craig Sesker
Mark Perry (Stillwater, Okla./University of Iowa) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for March 13-19.
Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Perry knocked off No. 1 seed and two-time NCAA champion Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State 4-3 in the 165-pound finals at the NCAA Championships on March 17 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Perry, a junior for the Hawkeyes, had been 0-6 in his career against Hendricks, including a loss to him in the 2005 NCAA finals. Hendricks, a senior, had his 56-match winning streak snapped in the loss.
Perry placed second at the NCAAs as a freshman at 165 and third as a sophomore at 174 before moving back down to 165 this season.
In the finals match with Hendricks, Perry trailed 2-0 before scoring a reversal and two near-fall points late in the match to build a 4-2 lead. Hendricks escaped with six seconds left in the match, but was unable to gain a takedown as Perry prevailed 4-3. Perry ends his junior season with a 28-4 record.
Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org
Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Perry knocked off No. 1 seed and two-time NCAA champion Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State 4-3 in the 165-pound finals at the NCAA Championships on March 17 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Perry, a junior for the Hawkeyes, had been 0-6 in his career against Hendricks, including a loss to him in the 2005 NCAA finals. Hendricks, a senior, had his 56-match winning streak snapped in the loss.
Perry placed second at the NCAAs as a freshman at 165 and third as a sophomore at 174 before moving back down to 165 this season.
In the finals match with Hendricks, Perry trailed 2-0 before scoring a reversal and two near-fall points late in the match to build a 4-2 lead. Hendricks escaped with six seconds left in the match, but was unable to gain a takedown as Perry prevailed 4-3. Perry ends his junior season with a 28-4 record.
Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org
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