Burroughs named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
By Scott Pulverenti
Nebraska Sports Information

Nebraska senior Jordan Burroughs was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week on Monday, Dec. 13, for his performance during the second week of December. The honor marks the third time in Burroughs’ career that he has been named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, and the first time since the 2008-09 season. The last Husker wrestler to earn the conference honor was last season when Craig Brester was named Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 14.

Burroughs earned the honor after going 2-0 during the week with two technical fall victories to improve his season record to 13-0 and 8-0 in dual play. Burroughs defeated No. 6 Cody Yohn (Minnesota) by technical fall, 23-7 (5:54), in the Huskers’ dual against Minnesota on Dec. 9, before defeating Jon Brascetta (Oregon State) by technical fall, 26-9 (5:17), on Dec. 11. In the Huskers’ dual against Oregon State, NU trailed the Beavers 9-12 before Burroughs brought the Huskers back to give them a 14-12 lead with two matches remaining in the dual. Nebraska won the dual, 17-16.

On the season, Burroughs has recorded 54 takedowns through eight duals and has yet to give up a takedown. The Sicklerville, N.J., native has been dominant all season having won seven out of his last eight matches by fall or technical fall, while racking up a team-leading 41 team dual points.

Burroughs and the Huskers return to the mat on Dec. 29-30, when they travel to the Midlands Wrestling Championships in Evanston, Ill. 

Bloomsburg University Wrestler Josh Veltre Sweeps Weekly Wrestling Honors
By Tom McGuire
Bloomsburg Sports Information

BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University wrestler Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY, Greece Olympia) has been named both the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) and the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Wrestler of the Week for his performance this past weekend.

Veltre, wrestling at 165 pounds, won both of his matches on the day. He first decisioned John-Martin Cannon of Buffalo, 4-3, ranked 15th by the Wrestling Report.com; then scored a 3-2 win over 16th-ranked Joe Booth of Drexel. Both Cannon and Booth were NCAA-qualifiers a year ago.

With his two wins Veltre improved to 11-3 on the season. As a team the Huskies improved to 8-2 on the season. Bloomsburg will return to action on Dec. 28-29 at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, NC.

St. Cloud State’s Jacob Kahnke Named NSIC Wrestler of the Week
By Tom Nelson
St. Cloud State Sports Information

St. Cloud State University redshirt sophomore Jacob Kahnke (Shakopee/Prior Lake H.S.) was named as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 13.

Kahnke gained the league thanks to a first place finish at the 2010 Holiday Inn & Suites/Husky Open in the 285-pound bracket on Dec. 11.  Kahnke rolled to a 4-0 record in the tournament, which moves his 2010-11 season record to 10-2 overall.

Kahnke earned two consecutive pins in the opening two rounds of the tournament on Dec. 11, and then charted an 8-2 victory over UW-Parkside's James Malecheck in the semi-finals.  In the championship match, Kahnke notched a 4-0 victory over Minnesota's Jacob Kettler.

Of note, Kahnke is currently ranked #2 at 285-pounds in the latest NCAA Division II national coaches' poll.  As a team, the Huskies are also ranked #2 in the nation in the latest Division II coaches' poll.  At the 2010 Husky Open, Kahnke was joined in the winners' circle by teammates junior Tad Merritt (165-pounds) and junior Lucas Munkelwitz (197-pounds) who both earned first place finishes in their respective weight brackets.

The Huskies will enjoy a break for the holiday before returning to action on Jan. 1 with a trip to the Grand Canyon Duals in Phoenix, Ariz. 

Steinhaus named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
By Brian Deutsch
Minnesota Sports Information

Minnesota redshirt freshman Kevin Steinhaus has been honored as the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after leading the No. 3 Golden Gophers to three wins over the weekend.

Steinhaus, now ranked ninth in the country at 184 pounds by Intermat, earned a 3-2 decision win over then-No. 8 Josh Ihnen of Nebraska, helping Minnesota score a 26-8 victory over the then No. 15 Cornhuskers on Thursday. The 184 pounder followed with an 18-6 major decision over Cal State Bakersfield's Brady Garner in a 26-6 Minnesota win on Sunday afternoon. Steinhaus concluded his week by tallying another major decision over Cal State Fullerton's Todd Noel, winning by a 12-3 score in the Gophers' 39-0 triumph over the Titans on Sunday evening.

Steinhaus, now 14-2 overall this season and 6-1 in duals, has rocketed up the national rankings in the last two weeks from unranked to No. 15 last week to No. 9 in the latest poll following the redshirt freshman's three-win weekend.

The award is the first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor for Steinhaus and the first for Minnesota since Ben Berhow was honored with the accolade on Dec. 15, 2009.

Minnesota returns to action later this month at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C. The two-day event begins on Wednesday, Dec. 29.