Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa./Team USA) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week.

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.

Retherford won a gold medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in men’s freestyle action at the FILA Cadet World Championships this past Wednesday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Retherford won four matches on the way to his title, including a victory over Supian Burmagomedov of Russia, 0-1, 4-3, 2-1 in the gold-medal finals.

He opened with a second-period pin over 2012 Asian Cadet silver medalist Hossein Rouzbehmaleh of Iran, dropping the first period but coming back with the fall. In the quarterfinals, he stopped Sapar Kubandykov of Kyrgyzstan, 3-0, 1-6, 2-0. His semifinal win came over 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist Ilyas Zhumay of Kazakhstan, 1-0, 6-0.

Retherford won titles at the FILA Cadet Nationals in Akron and the Junior Nationals in Fargo this year.

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