Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Oct. 3-9.

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.

Marano won her eighth World medal after earning a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this month in Guangzhou, China. She beat Canada's Ohenewa Akuffo 1-1, 4-0 in her bronze-medal match at 72 kg/158.5 pounds.

Marano, a two-time World Champion, rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to five-time World Champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan to win three straight matches and earn a bronze medal.

Marano is now a perfect 8-for-8 in earning medals when she qualifies for the World Championships. She's won three more World medals than any other American woman in history. Tricia Saunders is next in line with five World medals.

Marano won World gold medals in 2000 and 2003, won World silver medals from 1996-99 and won World bronze medals in 2002 and 2006.

Marano made a triumphant return to the World Championships this year after coming up just short of making the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team and 2005 World Team. Marano bumped up to 158.5 this year after competing at 147.5, in part to start gearing up for the Olympics.

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