Michaela Hutchison (Soldotna, Alaska/Skyline High School) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of January 31 - February 6.

Hutchison became the first girl to ever win a state high school wrestling championship competing against boys. A sophomore at Skyview High School, Hutchison captured the 103-pound title in the Alaska state championships held in Anchorage, Feb. 5

She qualified for the state finals this year, where she beat Aaron Boss of Colony High School, 1-0. The difference in the match was an escape with 16 seconds left in the bout. She finished the year with a 45-4 record, including 33 pins.

It was the second straight year that Hutchison was a state finalist. In 2005, she placed second in the state meet as a freshman. Hutchison became one of just three high school girls to place second in a state championships competing against boys, joining Erica Dye of West Virginia and Deanna Rix of Maine with that achievement.

It was a great day for the Hutchison family, as her brother Eli also won the state title at 135 pounds that day and is a nationally-ranked prep athlete. She has another brother, Zeb, who also won a state high school title. Her older sister Melina was also a nationally-ranked women's wrestler, competing in both age-group and Senior-level competitions. Her father Mike serves as USA Wrestling's state chairperson for Alaska, and has been active in the organization for many years.

Michaela Hutchison is already considered one of the top high school female wrestlers in the nation. She was a member of TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American First Team last year, which recognizes the nation's top prep female wrestlers.

In 2005, Hutchison won a gold medal at USA Wrestling's Body Bar Women's FILA Cadet Nationals in El Cajon, Calif. at 108 pounds. She captured a silver medal at the 2005 ASICS Women's Junior Nationals at 110 pounds.

Each week, TheMat.com 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. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling.org