Luke Smith (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Central Michigan University) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Dec. 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.

Smith, a senior 125-pounder, was one of four Central Michigan wrestlers to claim individual titles in leading the Chippewas to the team title on Dec. 18 at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

Smith entered the tournament seeded second at 125 pounds. He defeated the No. 3 seed, Cal Poly's Boris Navochkov, 3-1 in the semifinals before claiming a 4-3 decision over No. 1 seed Tanner Gardner of Stanford in the championship match. Gardner, a 2007 All-American, entered the tournament ranked fourth nationally at 125.

Smith was joined by fellow CMU champions Brandon Sinnott (174), Christian Sinnott (184) and Wynn Michalak (197) in Reno. The Chippewas outdistanced second-place Oklahoma State 152.5-128 for the team title.

Smith is a three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time Mid-American Conference champion at 125. Smith competed at the University World Championships in 2006 and placed fourth at the 2006 U.S. World 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