Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis../University of Missouri) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of March 14-20.

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.

Askren, a junior, was named outstanding wrestler at the NCAA Championships after capturing his first national title at 174 pounds on March 18 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. He became Missouri's first national champion.

Askren, who placed second at the NCAAs as a freshman and sophomore, won a battle of unbeatens in the finals. The top-seeded Askren rolled to a 14-2 major decision over No. 2 seed Jake Herbert of Northwestern in the 174-pound finals.

Askren finished 45-0 this season, the first undefeated season in the history of the Missouri program. He also set season school records for falls (25), consecutive wins (45) and career pins (61).

He scored bonus points in his final three matches at nationals after earning a pair of decisions in the first two rounds.

Askren opened with a 9-2 win over Christian Arellano of Cal State-Bakersfield before edging Wes Roberts of Oklahoma 6-4. He scored a 19-3 technical fall over No. 8 Travis Frick of Lehigh in the quarterfinals before adding another technical fall in a 21-6 win over No. 5 Michael Patrovich of Hofstra in the semifinals.

He is a two-time Academic All-American.

Askren is expected to compete in freestyle at 84 kg/185 lbs. at the U.S. Nationals on April 12-15 in Las Vegas. He is ranked eighth at 185 by TheMat.com.

Askren, a Junior Nationals champion, placed sixth in the 2004 Olympic Trials and took fifth in the 2005 World Team Trials.

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 Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org