Kellen Russell (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) 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.

The unseeded Russell beat the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds en route to winning a U.S. Open freestyle title this past Friday in Las Vegas.

Russell, a two-time NCAA champion for Michigan, capped his improbable two-day run by downing two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver 0-1, 2-2, 1-0 in the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Russell won three matches in the qualifying tournament on Thursday while the top eight seeds sat out. He then won four more matches Friday in the championship tournament to earn the U.S. Open title.

Russell also beat No. 2 seed Chase Pami and No. 3 seed Adam Hall en route to the finals. With his win in Vegas, Russell clinches a spot in the best-of-3 finals at June's U.S. World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla.

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