Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Aug. 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.

Varner won three matches to capture the title at the Ion Corneanu Memorial on Sunday.

Varner downed past World silver and bronze medalist Krassimir Kotchev of Bulgaria 4-0, 0-1, 1-0 in the freestyle finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Varner, a quarterfinalist at the 2009 World Championships, will compete at next month’s Worlds in Istanbul, Turkey.

Kotchev, 37, was second in the World in 2001 and third in 2003. He is a two-time Olympian.

Varner opened the tournament by sweeping Macedonia’s Dejan Bogdanov 6-0, 7-0 before downing Germany’s William Harth 6-0, 2-0.

Varner was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Iowa State.

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