Joe Heskett (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Oct. 2-8.

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.

Heskett's wrestling career came to an end last week after he underwent heart surgery in Columbus, Ohio. Just two weeks earlier, Heskett had placed fifth at the World Championships in freestyle wrestling at 74 kg/163 lbs. The heart condition was discovered during a workout shortly after Heskett returned home from the Worlds.

Heskett has drawn high praise for being a class act on and off the mat, and for how well he has handled a very difficult and life-threatening situation. Following the successful surgery, Heskett is expected to go on to live a normal life with his wife, Tara, and his two daughters, Olivia and Ava.

Heskett was a three-time Ohio state high school champion and four-time NCAA All-American for Iowa State. He was a three-time NCAA finalist, winning the national title for the Cyclones in 2002.

Heskett won the U.S. Nationals and the U.S. World Team Trials for the first time in 2007. He won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games. By placing in the top eight at the 2007 Worlds, Heskett qualified the U.S. in his weight class for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

This was the fifth year that Heskett has made the U.S. National Team with a top-three finish at the U.S. World or Olympic 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