Patrick Bond, Illinois So., 197, Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge Illinois sophomore Patrick Bond earns his first career weekly award after posting back-to-back upset wins over ranked wrestlers last week. On Friday, the 20th-ranked Bond upset No. 13 Nathan Moore of Purdue, 9-5, to help the Illini to a 29-7 victory in West Lafayette. Bond then upset 12th-ranked Dallas Herbst of Wisconsin with a 7-3 decision on Sunday. The win proved crucial for the Illini, as it kept their Big Ten title hopes alive. Entering the 197-pound match, Illinois led only by an 18-16 score. For Bond, who is now ranked 12th nationally, his victory sealed the win for the Illini as they finished their road schedule undefeated for the first time since the 2005. Last ILL WOW: Troy Tirapelle (1/24/07) Manuel Rivera, Minnesota Jr., 141, El Monte, Calif./Rosemead High School Rivera defeated a pair of top-10 opponents last week in convincing wins over Michigan State and Nebraska to keep his perfect record intact at 33-0 on the year. The second-ranked wrestler captured a 7-2 decision over No. 4 Andy Simmons of Michigan State on Friday, recording two takedowns in the third period in the match. On Sunday, Rivera scored a takedown midway through the third period to secure a 5-2 victory over No. 7 Dominick Moyer of Nebraska. After qualifying for his first NCAA Tournament last season, Rivera has been one of the Gophers' most consistent performers this year. His 33 consecutive wins rank as the sixth-longest winning streak in school history and is the fifth-longest active streak in the nation. Rivera, who is now 12-0 against ranked opponents on the season, earns his first career weekly award. Last MINN WOW: Jayson Ness (12/12/06) Air Force's Lord honored by Western Wrestling Conference CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Air Force Academy's 149-pounder Bridger Lord has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week as announced by league officials. Lord's win on Saturday helped Air Force secure its first WWC victory, a 25-21 decision over South Dakota State. Lord, a senior from Missoula, Mont., registered his first fall of the year, pinning SDSU's Sean Flynn in a time of 1:33. Lord improves his dual mark to 8-4 on the season. The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming. Others Nominated: North Dakota State: Eric Hoffman, 125, Jr., Davenport, Iowa (Iowa Central C.C./North HS) Northern Iowa: Moza Fay, 157, So., Anamosa, Iowa (Anamosa HS) Northern Colorado: Tony Mustari, 125, R-Fr., Greeley, Colo. (Greeley Central HS) South Dakota State: Ryan Meyer, 165, R-Fr., Parkston, S.D. (Parkston HS) Wyoming: Dan Barrone, 184, So., El Prado, N.M. (Taos HS) ISU's Backes honored by Big 12 IRVING, Texas - Kurt Backes (Iowa State) has been named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for his performances of Feb. 6-11, the conference announced. Backes receives this recognition for the second time in his career. Backes, a senior at 197 pounds, downed 14th ranked T.J. Morrison (Rider) with an 8-3 decision at home. He then pinned Missouri's top-ranked Max Askren in 3:11, handing him the fi rst loss of his career as the Cyclones recorded a 27-12 dual victory at Missouri. The pin was Backes' fifth of the season. He is ranked No. 9 at 197 pounds and holds a 21-4 overall record. He leads Iowa State with four wins by technical fall. 2006-07 Big 12 Wrestlers of the Week/Month November Maxwell Askren Missouri Fr. 197 December Ben Askren Missouri Sr. 174 January 22 Johny Hendricks Oklahoma State Sr. 165 January 29 Johny Hendricks Oklahoma State Sr. 165 February 5 Josh Wagner Missouri Jr. 149 February 12 Kurt Backes Iowa State Sr. 197 North Carolina State's Caldwell honored by ACC GREENSBORO, N.C. - NC State's Darrion Caldwell is the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week for February 12 after posting three extra-point wins last week. The freshman is currently ranked 20th in the nation at 141 pounds. On Wednesday, Caldwell opened the match for NC State with a major decision over North Carolina's Mike Rappo, 18-7. His points helped the Wolfpack avenge a loss to the Tar Heels earlier in the season, this time winning 25-12. In Friday's match at Virginia, he pinned Cavalier Kellon Balum at the 4:17 mark as the Wolfpack won 25-13. In Saturday's non-conference action at George Mason, he tallied his seventh pin of the season, just 26 seconds into the match. NC State won the match 30-13. Caldwell becomes just the fourth Wolfpack wrestler since the 1992 season to tally seven or more pins in a season. Dating back to the 1988 season, there has only been one NC State freshman match that feat. Caldwell and the Wolfpack travel to UNC Greensboro on Thursday night and then to Virginia Tech on Sunday.