Derek Elmore Named MAC Wrestler of the Week

Sophomore recorded two pins and a major decision at last weekend’s Huskie Duals
 
CLEVELAND – Northern Illinois sophomore Derek Elmore (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem HS) was named the Mid-American Conference’s Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.
 
Elmore played a large part in a big weekend for the Huskies, posting a 3-0 record with two pins and a major decision to help Northern Illinois sweep the Huskie Duals and get the program's 500th win. The sophomore got things off with a fast start with a first period pin of Tiffin's Jordan Shoemaker, putting the Dragon on his back at 1:17. He kept that pin streak going against South Dakota State on Aaron Pickrel for a pin at 1:38.
 
Elmore completed his day with a dominant 15-3 win over Indiana's Joe Duca. Northern Illinois 19-13 win over Indiana was also the program's first over a Big Ten school since 2009 and their first over the Hoosiers since 2002.
 
This was Elmore’s first time taking the conference-wide honor. In addition, the Loves Park, Ill., native became the first Huskie to win the award since Dec. 1, 2011, when Brad Dieckhaus took home the weekly honor.
 
NIU returns to the mats Saturday when they host Purdue, Loras and Calumet College of St. Joseph in the NIU Duals. The action starts at 10 a.m. in Victor E. Court.

UVU's Wilson Named WWC Wrestler of the Week

The senior won the 149-pound title at NC State's Wolfpack Open last Sunday.

OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University 149-pound senior Josh Wilson (Morgan, Utah/Morgan HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week. The conference honor was announced Tuesday by the league. 

Wilson, who was ranked 18th by InterMat last week, began his season by winning the 149-pound title at NC State's Wolfpack Open last Sunday. 

UVU's lone returning NCAA Qualifier went a perfect 5-0 en route to his title. Wilson began his day with a 10-1 major decision over Matt Buckworth (unattached). He then defeated Campbell's Cory Wagner (8-1), Appalachian State's Dylan Cottrell (4-2) and Virginia's Gus Sako, a 2012 NCAA Qualifer, (5-1) to reach the finals. In the title bout Wilson then topped North Carolina's Christian Barber by decision, 3-1. 

A day earlier he helped UVU pick up its first dual victory of the season as he defeated Campbell's Ryan Krecker by medical forfeit for six team points in a 32-6 Wolverine rout. 

Wilson is off to a strong start during his senior campaign as he is now 6-1. The weekly award was his first of the season and his first of his career. 

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its seventh year of competition, is comprised of six schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming. 

Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Michael McClure, Michigan State
Hwt – Jr. – Holland, Mich. – Holland West Ottawa

· Won the heavyweight title at the Michigan State Open
· Pinned unattached grappler Jory Hamilton in 0:57 in the first round, followed by 6-1 decisions over Olivet’s Jake Ceslick and Lindsey Wilson’s Theodore Furnish in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively
· Earned a 4-2 decision against 19th-ranked Ernest James of Edinboro in the semifinals before taking a 3-1 overtime decision over No. 8 Jeremy Johnson of Ohio to win the title 
· Currently the 13th-ranked heavyweight in the country
· Earns the first weekly award of his career
· Last Michigan State Wrestler of the Week: David Cheza (Jan. 26, 2010)

2012-13 Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 6 - Tony Dallago, Jr., ILL
Nov. 13 - Michael McClure, Jr., MSU

Fortune honored by Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

This week's RMAC Wrestler of the Week is junior Tyrell Fortune in the 285 lb. weight class from Grand Canyon University. 

Josh Etzel Named PAC Wrestler Of The Week

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College junior Josh Etzel (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) was selected as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week following his 157-pound championship performance at the Presidents’ annual home invitational on Saturday.

Etzel posted victories during all five of his matches, including a pair of technical falls. He opened the meet with a 15-0 decision against Case Western Reserve’s Evan McDowell and then edged Dan Igel of Washington & Lee 4-2. Etzel earned his second technical fall of the day with a 16-0 victory over Middlesex Community College’s Dylon Mussina. He moved into the finals by downing Austin Rice of Mercyhurst North East 4-2 and claimed the 157-pound title by medical forfeit.

Etzel, who owns an 8-2 record this fall, was the 2012 PAC and NCAA Mideast Regional 149-pound champion last year. He became the first President since 2003 to compete at the NCAA Division III National Championships. During his career, Etzel has posted a 39-8 record and seven falls.

W&J returns to action on Saturday when it competes at the Mount Union Duals in Alliance, Ohio (10:00 am).

SCSU's Shamus O'Grady Named NSIC Wrestler of the Week

St. Cloud State University redshirt senior Shamus O'Grady (Coon Rapids) has been named as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 11. 

O'Grady earned the NSIC weekly award by winning the top spot in the 184-pound bracket at the 2012 Iowa State Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on Nov. 10. 

O'Grady scored a perfect 4-0 record at the tournament, which opened the year for the Huskies.  A three-time All-American, O'Grady won the title with a 6-3 decision over Jeff Koepke of Division I rival University of Illinois. 

On the way to the title, O'Grady started his day with an 18-3 tech fall win over unattached Jahusa Marsh. In the quarterfinals, O'Grady charted a 10-2 major decision win over returning All-American Mark Fiala of #1 ranked Nebraska-Kearney.  In the semi's, O'Grady scored a huge 11-6 victory over the University of Illinois' Tony Dallago, who entered the meet ranked ninth in the nation at the NCAA Division I level.

The #2 ranked Huskies will continue their season on Nov. 17 with a trip to the Finn Griniker Open in Moorhead, Minn.  Of note, this marks the first Husky in 2012-13 to win NSIC Wrestler of the Week honors.