Nelson Brands named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Nelson Brands (Iowa) awarded the Junior MFS Outstanding Wrestler award at the USA Wrestling Southeast Regional.

Nelson Brands (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on June 2, 2016.


Brands was named outstanding wrestler for the Junior men’s freestyle division at the USA Wrestling Southeast Regional held in Atlanta, Ga. last weekend.


In total, Brands triumphed in five matches to claim the 152-pound gold medal at the Southeast Regional. Four of his five victories were decided by technical fall. He defeated James Noel of Arkansas, 13-3, in the championship match.


Brands, the son of Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands, also earned a second place finish in the Junior Greco-Roman division at the Southeast Regional.


At the Open Championships held in Las Vegas, Nev. in April, Brands was able to post a runner-up finish at the Western Junior Regional at 152 pounds in men’s freestyle, as well as a fourth place finish at the UWW Junior Greco-Roman Nationals at 70 kg.


Brands won his first Iowa state championship as a sophomore for Iowa City West High School last February competing at 138 pounds in class 3A.


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.