Daniel Dennis (Ingleside, Ill./University of Iowa) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Dec. 23-30.
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by Craig Sesker
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 fourth-seeded Dennis won the Midlands Championships title at 133 pounds to lift the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes to the team title on Tuesday night in Evanston, Ill.
Dennis downed All-American and No. 3 seed Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State 4-3 in the finals. The win by Dennis helped Iowa edge No. 2 Iowa State 156.5 to 153.5 for the team title. Fanthorpe was ranked second nationally.
Dennis reached the finals by defeating All-American and No. 1 seed Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois 5-3 in overtime in the semifinals. Kennedy was ranked second in the country.
In the finals against Fanthorpe, Dennis scored an escape and takedown in the second period to build a 3-0 lead. Fanthorpe scored an escape and reversal to tie the score 3-3, but Dennis scored a third-period escape to secure the win.
Dennis, a junior, improved to 12-1 on the season. He was ranked No. 11 in the country entering the Midlands. He had a 16-18 career record entering this season.
Dennis started for Iowa during the 2005-06 season as a true freshman. He redshirted the next year. He won his only match last season.
Dennis won a University Nationals title in freestyle earlier this year. He was a two-time Illinois state runner-up in high school.
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
The fourth-seeded Dennis won the Midlands Championships title at 133 pounds to lift the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes to the team title on Tuesday night in Evanston, Ill.
Dennis downed All-American and No. 3 seed Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State 4-3 in the finals. The win by Dennis helped Iowa edge No. 2 Iowa State 156.5 to 153.5 for the team title. Fanthorpe was ranked second nationally.
Dennis reached the finals by defeating All-American and No. 1 seed Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois 5-3 in overtime in the semifinals. Kennedy was ranked second in the country.
In the finals against Fanthorpe, Dennis scored an escape and takedown in the second period to build a 3-0 lead. Fanthorpe scored an escape and reversal to tie the score 3-3, but Dennis scored a third-period escape to secure the win.
Dennis, a junior, improved to 12-1 on the season. He was ranked No. 11 in the country entering the Midlands. He had a 16-18 career record entering this season.
Dennis started for Iowa during the 2005-06 season as a true freshman. He redshirted the next year. He won his only match last season.
Dennis won a University Nationals title in freestyle earlier this year. He was a two-time Illinois state runner-up in high school.
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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