By Colin McDonough Western Wrestling Conference University of Wyoming sophomore 125-pounder Michael Martinez (Pagosa Springs, Colo./Pagosa Springs HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Wrestler of the Week as announced by league officials. Martinez, a returning NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds, started his season in a big way this past weekend by going 5-0 and getting a huge win over No. 9 ranked Ben Kjar of Utah Valley in the final of the Cowboy Open. On Friday, Martinez, ranked No. 17, opened the Cowboys' home dual with Northwest College (24-13 team win) by cruising to a technical fall victory. He used four takedowns, three nearfalls and a reversal to beat Phillip Grout, 18-3. Then on Saturday at the 37th annual Cowboy Open tournament, Martinez won the 125-pound Elite weight class. He was 4-0 and recorded three major decisions on the day. In the finals he got one of the biggest wins of his young career, over Kjar by sudden victory decision 5-3. After forcing the pace in the closing minutes, Martinez earned the decisive takedown near the edge of the mat late in the overtime period. 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 and Wyoming. Other nominees: Air Force - Cole VonOhlen, Fr., 141, Jackson, Minn. (Jackson County Central) North Dakota State - Tyler Johnson, 165 lbs, So., Bismarck, N.D (Bismarck H.S.) Northern Colorado - Justin Gaethje, 165, lbs., Jr., Safford, Ariz. Northern Iowa - Charlie Ettelson, 149 lbs., Sr., Hudson, Iowa (Hudson HS) South Dakota State - Tyler Sorenson, 197 lbs., Sr., Garretson, S.D. Utah Valley - Jeff Newby, 133 lbs., Sr., Brigham City, Utah (Box Elder HS) Penn State's Cyler Sanderson named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week By Pat Donghia PSU Sports Information STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for action ending Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Sanderson, a transfer from Iowa State who made his Penn State debut this past weekend, is the first Penn State Wrestler of the Week since February of 2008. Sanderson entered last week ranked No. 5 at 157, and made his Rec Hall dual meet debut with a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 2 Matt Moley of Bloomsburg. The victory helped spark the Nittany Lions to a 23-15 win over the visiting Huskies in head coach Cael Sanderson's home dual debut. Two days earlier, he beat Lehigh's Sean Bilodeau (5-2) in his PSU dual debut. In two bouts, Sanderson did not get taken down. Penn State is now 1-1 on the year while Bloomsburg falls to 2-1. The Nittany Lions trek to Binghamton, N.Y., to take part in the Sprawl and Brawl Duals on Sunday, Nov. 22. Penn State will face Rutgers (9:45 a.m.), Harvard (11:30 a.m.) and Edinboro (3 p.m.) at Binghamton University. Single event tickets will cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $5 in advance and $6 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC (1390 AM) or 3WZ (95.3 FM) and on www.GoPSUsports.com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. Virginia's Brent Jones named ACC Wrestler of the Week By Andy Fledderjohan Virgina Sports Information CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia's Brent Jones (R-Sr., Burke, Va.) has been named the ACC Wrestler of the Week following his three wins Sunday at the ACC Challenge. The honor is the second for Jones, who also won the award as a freshman in February 2006. Jones helped the No. 19 Cavaliers to a sweep at the ACC Challenge with wins over No. 19 American (20-19), Bucknell (20-13) and Gardner-Webb (50-0). In his final match of the day at 197 pounds, Jones recorded a key major decision against American's Kenneth Clessas. The bonus point from that match was crucial as UVa won by a point against American - the Cavaliers' first-ever win over a ranked team. Jones added to his school pins record, notching his 36th career fall against Gardner-Webb's Travis Porter. Jones also scored a 9-7 decision vs. Bucknell's Joe McMullan, helping Virginia to the team win in that match. With his trio of victories, Jones now has 85 victories in his career as he moved into an 11th-place tie with Derek Capanna (1985, 1987-89) on the all-time UVa wins ledger. Jones is ranked 14th nationally this week at 197 pounds by InterMat. Virginia is off from team competition this week. UVa returns to action Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Northeast Duals. The Cavaliers will take on No. 11 Central Michigan, Hofstra and Sacred Heart. Kilgore named MAC Wrestler of the Week By Aaron Chimenti Kent State Sports Information The first Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week honor for the 2009-10 season went to Kent State's Dustin Kilgore Wednesday. A redshirt sophomore, Kilgore has already claimed the award three times in his career. Kilgore is off to a 6-0 start with four pins and three wins over nationally-ranked opponents. On Saturday (Nov. 14), he won a 184-pound championship at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament by defeating 2008 national champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the finals. Kilgore recorded a first period pin of 18th ranked Pat Bradshaw (Edinboro) in the semifinals, before defeating the nation's top ranked wrestler 5-2. He totaled three pins on the day and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. On Nov. 7 with his team trailing Virginia Tech 18-7, Kilgore sparked a KSU comeback victory by defeating 16th ranked Tommy Spellman 9-6. The Flashes went on win the dual meet 20-18. The 2009 MAC Freshman of the Year also helped KSU defeat Chattanooga in a dual meet (22-15) later that day. With his team trailing 15-10, Kilgore pinned the Mocs' Jason McCroskey in the first period to give the Flashes the lead for good. In this week's latest polls, the two-time Oklahoma Gold champion is ranked fifth by both Division 1 College Wrestling and InterMat. Kilgore and the Flashes return to the mat Saturday (Nov. 21) at the Body Bar Invitational hosted by No. 4 Cornell.