Kyler named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/26/2006


Matthew Kyler (Clearfield, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of April 18-24.

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.

Kyler won a double title, capturing both the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at 125 pounds, at the Northeast Junior Regionals, held in Brockport, N.Y., April 21-23. 

In the freestyle finals, Kyler defeated Tyler Nauman of Pennsylvania, 2-0, 6-1 in the gold-medal match. Kyler won six matches on the way to winning the gold, outscoring his opponents 48-2 during the freestyle event.

In the Greco-Roman finals, Kyler stopped Gallaway Longenecker of Pennsylvania, 7-0, 1-7, 2-0. Kyler won four matches on the way to the Greco-Roman title.

It was the third straight year that Kyler won a double title in the Junior division at the Northeast Junior Regionals.

Kyler was a Junior National Greco-Roman champion last year at 112 pounds, defeating Tony Mustari of Colorado in an exciting overtime finals. He has been a two-time Cadet National freestyle champion (2003 and 2004) and was a Cadet National Greco-Roman runner-up in 2004.

Kyler attends Clearfield High School, where his is a senior. He was named as a First Team member of the 2005 ASICS High School All-American Team.

Kyler was a 2005 Pennsylvania state high school champion, and placed third in the 2004 and 2006 Pennsylvania state high school tournament. 

He will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point next year.

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