Nick Marable named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Nick Marable (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week.

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. 

Marable captured a gold medal at the Yasar Dogu International in freestyle wrestling on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey.

Marable edged Morteza Rezae Ghaleh of Iran 4-3 in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Trailing 3-2 in the second period, Marable scored the winning takedown late in the period.
Marable defeated 2012 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs in the quarterfinals. Burroughs led 1-0 after one period, but Marable scored two takedowns in the second period. A Burroughs pushout and late takedown tied the match at 4-4, but Marable won by criteria decision.
The Marable victory snapped Burroughs’ win streak at 69 matches. It was the first loss for Burroughs on the Senior level.

In the semifinals, Marable defeated Batuhan Demircin of Turkey 6-3 to reach the finals, Marable won five matches on the way to the gold.

It was Marable’s second straight international gold medal, after winning a title at the Grand Prix of Paris earlier this month. He also won a title at the New York AC International this season. 

Marable, an All-American for Missouri, placed third at the 2013 U.S. Open.

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