Sam Hazewinkel named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Sam Hazewinkel (USA) battles Eliesar Guevera Abrines (Cuba) at the Pan American Championships. Photo: Stuart Spears.

Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on Feb. 29, 2016.


Hazewinkel claimed the 57kg/125.5 lbs. gold medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships over the weekend. He went 3-0 over the course of the competition, defeating both Eliesar Guevera Abrines (Cuba) and Andry Josen Davila Baron (Venezuela) by technical fall to make the gold medal match.


In the finals, Hazewinkel downed Darthe Cappelin (Canada), 7-5, to secure his second Pan American Championships gold. He also won this event when it was held in Colorado Springs, Colo. in 2012.


Four years ago, Hazewinkel achieved the Olympic dream, clinching a berth on the 2012 Olympic Team that competed in London. He is a four-time U.S. Open champion, claiming two titles in men’s freestyle and two titles in Greco-Roman.


In total, Hazewinkel has made the U.S. National Team nine times across both styles dating back to 2004. He finished in second place at the U.S. Senior Nationals in December.


In college, Hazewinkel was a four-time NCAA All-American for the University of Oklahoma, compiling a 132-10 record. He finished in third place at the NCAA Championships during his first three seasons and was runner-up as a senior.


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.