Greisheimer named EWL Wrestler of the Week By Bob Shreve Edinboro Sports Information Edinboro University’s Johnny Greisheimer (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) has been named the Eastern Wrestling League Wrestler of the Week for the week ending January 30. The sophomore picked up a pair of wins at 157 lbs. as Edinboro won a pair of EWL matches, defeating Bloomsburg 23-15 and Cleveland State 35-7. The Fighting Scots have now won four straight dual matches and are 8-8-1 overall and 3-1 in the EWL. Greisheimer won by fall over Bloomsburg’s Frank Hickman, pinning the former PSAC champion at 2:40. The next day he won a 9-1 major decision over Cleveland State’s Matt Donohoe. The two wins boosted Greisheimer’s record to 19-10. He has now won four straight matches and seven of his last eight. Edinboro returns to action on Saturday, February 5 at North Carolina.
Copsey named NSIC Wrestler of the Week By Nick Kornder Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Ty Copsey notched two wins for No. 2-ranked Augustana last week, guiding the Vikings to conference wins over #3 St. Cloud State and #7 Minnesota State. Both of his victories at 197 pounds locked up a win for Augustana, putting the Vikings up by more than six points. On Thursday against SCSU, Copsey blanked Luke Munkelwitz 4-0. He followed that by taking a 6-3 decision from MSU’s Pat Mahan on Friday. The senior is currently ranked No. 2 in Division II.
Cocozzo named EIWA Wrestler of the Week By Matt Haas Rutgers Sports Information Rutgers senior 157-pounder Daryl Cocozzo (River Edge, N.J.) has been named the EIWA Wrestler of the Week, the Conference announced Sunday. Cocozzo becomes the second Scarlet Knight to take home Wrestler of the Week honors this season joining fellow senior DJ Russo (Netcong, N.J.) who took home the honor during the week of Nov. 29. Cocozzo, ranked No. 16 in the nation by InterMat, earned the honor after earning a 3-2 decision over No. 6 Bryce Saddoris of Navy. The victory, which was the 96th of Cocozzo’s career, helped spark a 23-9 victory over the Midshipmen. Cocozzo and the rest of the Scarlet Knights return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9, when they host EIWA rival American in a 6:30 dual at College Ave. Gym.
Reader named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week By Taylor Wilson Big 12 Conference Reader remained unbeaten after a pair of victories in New York. Against Cornell, the senior faced his toughest test of the season in 2010 NCAA runner-up Mack Lewnes. The Davison, Mich.-native controlled the match from the start, getting a pair of takedowns in the first and a quick reversal to start the second before going on to win, 7-6. It was only the second loss of the season for Lewnes. After a short trip west to Binghamton, Reader made quick work of the Bearcats' 174-pound wrestler Ryan McGarity. Reader was up 9-2 after one period and 15-2 after two before getting the decisive takedown and technical fall nine seconds into the third. The two-time All-American has earned bonus points for the Cyclones in 19 of his 28 victories this season. Reader is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 174-pound class.
Caldwell, Giorgio named ACC Wrestlers of the Week By Steve Phillips Atlantic Coast Conference NC State’s Darrion Caldwell and North Carolina’s Antonio Giorgio have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Wrestlers of the Week after both scored victories over highly ranked non-conference opponents and wins by fall in ACC matches. Caldwell, a 149-pound senior from Rahway. N.J., pinned Duke’s A.J. Guardado in 1:38 to help the Wolfpack to a 30-15 ACC win last Thursday. In Sunday’s match at fifth-ranked Oklahoma, the No. 1-ranked Caldwell outlasted No. 7 Jamal Parks for a 3-1 decision. Caldwell, a 2009 NCAA champion who missed all of last season and the early part of this season rehabbing from a shoulder injury, is 8-0 since returning to the lineup in January. Caldwell is now 102-12 for his career and stands 16-4 vs. top-10 opponents, including eight straight victories. Giorgio’s week included a 4-2 win over Navy’s 11th-ranked Luke Rebertus at 184 pounds, followed by a pin of Maryland’s Corey Peltier in 6:54 in last Saturday night’s ACC match. Giorgio, a freshman from Lititz, Pa., scored his second win of the season vs. a ranked opponent with the decision victory over Rebertus. Giorgio avenged a loss to Rebertus at the Reno Tournament of Champions in December, when the Navy junior won 7-5. Giorgio improved to 18-12 with the two wins, and his pin of Peltier evened his ACC record for the season at 2-2.
Bonin, Martinez named WWC Wrestlers of the Week By James Warnick Utah Valley Sports Information/Western Wrestling Conference Northern Iowa sophomore 157-pounder David Bonin (Broussard, La./Comeaux HS) and Wyoming junior 125-pounder Michael Martinez (Pagosa Springs, Colo./Pagosa Springs HS) have been named the Western Wrestling Conference's Co-Wrestlers of the Week as announced Tuesday by the league. Both Bonin and Martinez were recognized after defeating ranked opponents on the mat this past week. Bonin scored a big victory over Northern Illinois’ No. 18‑ranked Bryan Deutsch Friday evening, picking up a 14‑4 major decision win in the Panthers 23‑15 dual win over the Huskies. After two quick takedowns from Deutsch to start the bout, Bonin scored a reversal and a three‑point nearfall to take a 6‑4 lead after the first period. That was the last time Bonin would allow Deutsch to score, as Bonin scored an escape, takedown and secured a second three‑point nearfall along with a stalling point and a riding time point to earn the 14‑4 victory. With the win over Northern Illinois last Friday, Bonin's Panthers improved to 8-8 overall and remain unbeaten in conference at 2-0. Ranked 18th, the 125-pound Martinez went 2-0 over the weekend versus Western Wrestling Conference opponents. On Friday, Martinez beat South Dakota State’s Aaron Pickrel in a 7-3 decision. He followed that up with an upset win over North Dakota State’s Trent Sprenkle, ranked 17th, on Saturday. Martinez battled Sprenkle and took a 3-1 decision to open the dual Sunday. Martinez helped Wyoming go 2-0 over the weekend, beating SDSU 49-0 and NDSU 35-3 to move to 9-4 overall and 3-0 in WWC action. The conference award is the first of the season for both Bonin and Martinez.
Carey named RMAC Wrestler of the Week By Sarah Meier Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Carey pinned Michael Hawkins of Arizona State highlighting a week where he finished 5-0. He also defeated opponents from Grand Canyon, Colorado Mines, Western State, and Chadron State on his way to winning the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open heavyweight division.
McDonough named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week By Bob Healy Big Ten Conference Iowa sophomore Matt McDonough takes home his first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week award after pinning both of his opponents over the weekend, including the top-ranked grappler in his weight class, en route to two Hawkeye wins. McDonough, ranked second at 125 pounds entering the weekend, pinned No. 1 Brandon Precin of Northwestern in 6:11 on Friday, handing Precin his first loss of the season. McDonough’s pin led the eighth-ranked Hawkeyes to a 31-9 win over the No. 18 Wildcats. The Marion, Iowa, native then pinned Penn State’s Nate Morgan in 4:16 on Sunday, pushing Iowa to a 22-13 win over the top-ranked and previously unbeaten Nittany Lions. McDonough improved to 16-1 overall and 12-0 in dual bouts this season, while the Hawkeyes moved to 11-0-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten.