Ben Darmstadt named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Ben Darmstadt (Ohio) in the finals of the 2016 Junior Freestyle Duals. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

Ben Darmstadt (Amherst, Ohio/Elyria) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on June 27, 2016.


Manning the 195-pound slot for Team Ohio at the 2016 Junior Nationals Duals, Darmstadt placed himself in elite company by going undefeated in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions. He is one of 12 wrestlers who made the All-Tournament Team in both international styles.


Darmstadt played a key role in Ohio winning its first Junior Duals freestyle championships since Logan Stieber and company did so in 2009. With Ohio trailing Illinois, 16-10, in the freestyle finals, Darmstadt picked up a clutch 50-second fall over Patrick Brucki to shift the momentum in Ohio’s favor. Ohio went on to win five of the last eight bouts to topple Illinois, 37-27.


Across both styles Darmstadt won 16 total matches with only one bout lasting the full six minutes. He tallied seven wins by pin and seven technical falls over the four-day competition.


Darmstadt is a two-time Ohio state champion for Elyria High School and is committed to wrestle at Cornell University next season. He finished in fourth place at the Junior Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D. last summer.


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.