Ian Parker named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Ian Parker awarded Hammer Award at Journeymen Freestyle Classic.

Ian Parker (St. Johns, Mich./Massa’s Maniacs) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on April 19, 2016.


Last weekend, Parker won top prize at the Journeymen Freestyle Classic held in Schenectady, N.Y. over a stout 132-pound field.


Parker went 4-0 en route to the the gold medal in a bracket that featured several top international competitors on top of high-level domestic successes like Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion Vito Arujau. All four of Parker’s wins came by technical fall and he topped Inalbek Sheriev of Russia, 12-2, in the championship finals.


For his efforts at the Journeymen Freestyle Classic Parker was awarded one of three Hammer Awards given to the best performers of the competition.


Parker finished in fourth place at 120 pounds at the Junior Freestyle Nationals held in Fargo, N.D. last summer. He is a two-time Cadet Freestyle Nationals All-American.


A two-time Michigan state champion and four-time state place winner at powerhouse St. Johns, Parker was named Wrestler of the Year by the Lansing State Journal.


The Michigan product has announced plans to attend Iowa State next year to wrestle for head coach Kevin Jackson. He projects as a 133-pounder for the Cyclones.


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.