Ryan Churella (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for May 1-7.

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.

Churella landed a spot in the U.S. World Team Trials by winning a Northern Plains Regional freestyle title on Saturday, May 5 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Churella beat 2007 NCAA champion Trent Paulson of Iowa State 6-0, 2-2 in the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Paulson won the Greco-Roman title at the Northern Plains Regional the previous day.

Churella downed three-time U.S. National Team member Ramico Blackmon 1-3, 2-1, 6-0 in the semifinals of the Northern Plains Regional.

Churella, by virtue of winning the Northern Plains Regional, now will compete at the U.S. World Team Trials on June 9 in Las Vegas. Churella was an NCAA runner-up for Michigan in 2006.

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