Willie Miklus named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Willie Miklus (Missouri) at the 2015 MAC Championships. Photo: John Kelly.

Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa/University of Missouri) has been selected as TheMat.com wrestler of the week for Dec. 14, 2015.


Miklus was instrumental for the Tigers in wins against defending national champion Ohio State and MAC rival Ohio over the weekend.


Missouri and Ohio State were knotted 17-17 entering the 184-pound match. It was Miklus dominating Kenny Courts, 15-0, in a battle of returning All-Americans to give the Tigers a 22-17 lead over the Buckeyes with one match remaining in the dual meet.


Missouri ultimately defeated Ohio State by a 26-17 tally, backing up the Tigers statement win from last week at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in impressive fashion.


The following afternoon Miklus topped NCAA qualifier Andrew Romanchik, 9-3, as Missouri downed Ohio 27-9, improving the Tigers dual meet win streak to 32.


Miklus is now 7-2 on the year with his only two losses coming at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational where he finished in fourth place at 184 pounds. Last season, he went 33-9 overall, was a MAC championships runner-up and finished in seventh place at the NCAA championships.


Prior to his time at Missouri, Miklus trained for a full year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.


Each week USA Wrestling 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.


To nominate a wrestler for USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program and weekly and career accomplishments to Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.