Jimmy Sheptock named ACC Wrestler of the Week For the second time this season, Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland earned ACC Wrestler of the Week honors. At the "Grapple at the Garden" Jimmy topped then sixth ranked Josh Ihnen from Nebraska, a returning All American from 2012, starting the comeback that led to the dual win for Maryland. Mizzou’s Senior-Captain McCormick Claims MAC Wrestler of Week The 133-pounder is 15-1 in 2012 with his only loss coming against top-ranked Logan Steiber of Ohio State. COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mid-American Conference named Missouri’s Nathan McCormick ‘Wrestler of the Week’ for the week of December 10th. McCormick, a senior from Leawood, Kansas, was a perfect 2-0 at the inaugural Grapple at the Garden this past weekend in New York. McCormick defeated No. 8 Naryman Arujau of Cornell by major decision, 11-3 in Mizzou's first dual, followed by a 5-2 decision over No. 19 Nick Wilcox of Bloomsburg at MadisonSquare Garden this past weekend. The Mizzou senior got off to a quick startagainst Arujau, with 2 takedowns in the first period, and added another takedown in the third period along with four back points. The No. 8 Arujau was only able to muster a few escapes in the bout. In his match against Wilcox,McCormick tallied two takedowns in the first period once again en route to the victory. McCormick is now 15-1 on the young season, with his only loss coming at the hands of No. 1-ranked Logan Steiber of Ohio State. Steiber defeated McCormick by major decision in the championship round at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitationalback on December 1st. McCormick started the 2012-13 campaign ranked 8th in most polls and has since climbed his way to 6th place. He holds a 72-40 career record as a Missouri Tiger. This is McCormick’s first weekly conference honor in his collegiate career. Recently, he graduated with a degree in in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. He plans to attend graduate school to further his degree and receive his MBA. Missouri’s wrestling program joined the Mid-American Conference prior to the 2012 season after the University left the Big 12 and joined the Southeastern Conference. Cornellʼs Kyle Dake Named EIWA Wrestler of the Week Cornell senior Kyle Dake has once again been named EIWA Wrestler of the Week following his performance at the Grapple in the Garden on Sunday. Dake, ranked first in the nation at 165, first shut out #13 Zach Toal of Missouri. In the nightcap, he faced #3 Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State. After a scoreless first period, Dake took bottom and reversed his man after just seven seconds and rode him out. Caldwell chose bottom to begin the third period, but was hit with a penalty point for an illegal hold before escaping with about 30 seconds left in the bout. Dake added a riding time point for his 3:13 riding time. Michigan State’s McClure Earns Weekly Wrestling Award Spartan junior wins heavyweight title at Reno Tournament of Champions Wrestler of the Week Michael McClure, Michigan State Hwt – Jr. – Holland, Mich. – Holland West Ottawa · Won the heavyweight title at the Reno Tournament of Champions · Defeated Stanford’s Brendan TerWee by major decision, 9-0, in the first round, followed by a 6-0 decision over Grand Canyon’s Peter Angiuano in Round 2 and a 4-2 decision against ninth-ranked J.T. Felix of Boise State in Round 3 · Posted a 5-2 decision over sixth-ranked Chad Hanke of Oregon State in the semifinals before pinning 16th-ranked Odie Delaney of The Citadel (3:40) to win the title · Currently the seventh-ranked heavyweight in the country · Earns his second weekly award of the season and of his career · Last Michigan State Wrestler of the Week: Michael McClure (Nov. 13, 2012) 2012-13 Wrestlers of the Week Nov. 6 Tony Dallago, Jr., ILL Nov. 13 Michael McClure, Jr., MSU Nov. 20 Matt McDonough, Sr., IOWA Nov. 27 Daryl Thomas, Sr., ILL Dec. 4 Logan Stieber, So., OSU Dec. 11 Derek St. John, Jr., IOWA Dec. 18 Michael McClure, Jr., MSU Wyoming Sophomore Cox Named WWC Wrestler of the Week The 125-pounder won his first tournament of the season to earn the nod OREM, Utah (Dec. 18, 2012) Fresh off a Reno Tournament of Champions title, University of Wyoming 125-pound sophomore Tyler Cox was named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week after an outstanding performance on the mat last weekend. The conference honor was announced Tuesday by the league. Cox won his first tournament of the season Dec. 16 at the Reno Tournament of Champions. Seeded third in the 36-man field, the Wyoming sophomore earned three bonus-point wins over Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State), Joaquin Marquez (Citadel) and Joey Palmer (Oregon State) to advance to the semifinals. Cox then defeated Miguel Comparan of CSU Bakersfield, who had knocked off 20th-ranked Dominic Parisi of Appalachian State in the quarters, in an 11-5 decision to head to the finals. In the title bout, Cox met CSU Bakersfield's Tyler Iwamura, who had been in the national rankings earlier in the season. Cox bested Iwamura in a 6-5 decision to win the RTOC crown for the first time in his career. The Wyoming grappler now has 19 wins this season, including nine bonus-points victories. The conference honor is the Cox's first of the season and first of his career. It was the second week in a row and third time this season that a University of Wyoming wrestler earned the conference honor. Other winners include sophomore Brandon Richardson (Dec. 11) and senior Alfonso Hernandez on Nov. 6. 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. 2012-13 WWC Wrestlers of the Week Nov. 6 - Alfonso Hernandez (Wyoming) Nov. 13 - Josh Wilson (Utah Valley) Nov. 20 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force) Nov. 27 - Trent Sprenkle (North Dakota State) Dec. 4 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State) Dec. 11 - Brandon Richardson (Wyoming) Dec. 18 - Tyler Cox (Wyoming) Khishignyam Earns Second Consecutive SoCon Wrestler of the Week Award Spartanburg, S.C. – The Citadel's 141-pounder, Ugi Khishignyam, was tabbed with his second straight Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week award on Wednesday for his performance at the Reno Tournament of Champions on Sunday. The selection is made by the league office. Ugi continued his domination in his respective weight class as the redshirt freshman went 5-0 and downed two ranked wrestlers en route to capturing his second individual title of the season at the competitive Reno Tournament of Champions. Ugi, who holds an overall record of 19-2, collected two falls (one pin and one technical fall) and a major decision before meeting 18th-ranked Nathan Pennesi from West Virginia in the semifinals. The Mongolia native dominated Pennesi in an 8-3 decision to move him into the championship match against Oregon State's fourth-ranked Michael Mangrum. In the final bout the Bulldog grappler used two takedowns while allowing just three escapes to narrowly edge out Mangrum and earn the title at 141. He did not allow a single takedown or reversal in his five bouts. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Ugi was named the Reno Tournament of Champions' Most Outstanding Wrestler award. A.J. SCHOPP NAMED EWL, PSAC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK EDINBORO, Pa. – Edinboro University sophomore A.J. Schopp (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone Area) has been named the EWL and PSAC Wrestler of the Week following an outstanding performance in Sunday’s tri-match with Northwestern and Clarion. Edinboro, ranked 20th in the latest USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I poll, upset Northwestern, 22-15, then followed with a 28-12 triumph over Clarion in the first Eastern Wrestling League match for both teams. Schopp opened the day against Northwestern’s Levi Mele in a matchup of two nationally-ranked competitors at 133 lbs. Schopp came in ranked fourth by both InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News, while Mele ninth by Amateur Wrestling News and 16th by InterMat. Schopp opened with a takedown just over a minute into the bout, and would add three near fall points late in the period for a 5-0 lead. He added an escape in the second period to lead 6-0, and would add an escape and a takedown in the third period. With 2:31 in riding time he finished with a 10-2 major decision over Mele. Against Clarion, Schopp needed just 1:11 to record his sixth fall of the season, pining Joe Waltko. He opened with a takedown less than 30 seconds into the match and worked his way for the fall. Schopp improved to 11-0 on the season, giving him 50 wins for his career (50-6). The fall over Waltko was the 25th of his career, tying him for 12th in career falls at Edinboro. The Fighting Scots return to action on December 29-30 in the prestigious Midlands Invitational.