TheMat.com Athlete of the Week program heads into fifth year

TheMat.com's popular Athlete of the Week program, which recognizes the best performance each week in the sport of wrestling, enters its fifth season this week.

TheMat.com Athlete of the Week began with the selection of Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who received the award for the week of January 20-26, 2004, after winning a gold medal at the Olympic Testing Event held in Athens, Greece.

The most recent TheMat.com Athlete of the week was Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Univ. of Iowa), who received the award for the week of January 8-14, 2008, for winning the Outstanding Wrestler at the NWCA National Duals and helping lead Iowa to the team title.

Each week, the selection committee considers any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement is made each week on Wednesday.

Over the last four years, 161 different winners have been named.

Two athletes have won the award four times: freestyle wrestler Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) and Greco-Roman wrestler Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC). Hrovat received the award once in 2004, twice in 2006 and once in 2007). Vering was a winner two times in 2004 and two times in 2007.

There have been five three-time winners: Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids), Clark Glass (Brandon, Fla./Brandon WC), Joe Heskett (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC), Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Univ. of Iowa) and Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC).

Three of these three-time winners have won the award competing at different levels of the sport. Askren has been honored for his achievements in college wrestling, as well as in international freestyle wrestling. Glass has won award based on his youth wrestling, as well as his high school successes. Metcalf won awards as a high school wrestler and now as a college star.

There have been a total of 26 two-time winners.

There have been four sets of brothers who have both won TheMat.com Athlete of the Week:
- Spenser and Ryan Mango
- Travis and Trent Paulson
- C.P. and Dustin Schlatter
- Bill and Mike Zadick.

Winners have included athletes in Veterans competition, Grapplers, Sombo athletes and competitors at every level of USA Wrestling competition. An entire team was recognized during the week of June 21-27, 2005, as Team Missouri was honored for winning the Cadet National Duals in freestyle and placing second in Greco-Roman.

To review the Athletes of the Week, broken down by year, click on the year at the following page:
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=athleteofweek2008

THEMAT.COM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Four-time Winners:
Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich., New York AC (Nov. 20-26, 2007, Nov. 14-20, 2006, May 23-29, 2006, Apr. 13-19, 2004)
Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (July 24-30, 2007, May 15-21, 2007, Nov. 2-8, 2004, Aug. 2-9, 2004)

Three-time Winners:
Ben Askren, Columbia, Mo., Sunkist Kids (Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2007, March 14-20, 2006, Mar. 2-8, 2004)
Clark Glass, Brandon, Fla., Tampa Baptist/Brandon WC (Feb. 13-19, 2007, Oct. 11-17, 2005, Mar. 29 - Apr. 4, 2005)
Joe Heskett, Columbus, Ohio, Gator WC (Oct. 2-8, 2007, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2007, Nov. 21-27, 2006 )
Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich., Univ. of Iowa/Davison HS (Jan. 8-14, 2008, July 19-26, 2005, Apr. 27 - May 3, 2004)
Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (Sept. 19-25, 2006, May 30-June 5, 2006, Dec. 14-20, 2004)

Two-time Winners:
Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army (Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2007, Aug. 16-22, 2005)
Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich., New York AC (May 1-7, 2007, Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 2004)
Jacob Clark, Okinawa, Japan, U.S. Marines (Feb. 20-26, 2007, May 4-19, 2004)
Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla., Gator WC (Sept. 5-11, 2006, June 8-14, 2004)
Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids (Aug. 22-28, 2006, June 14-20, 2005)
Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (June 12-18, 2007, July 12-18, 2005)
Adam Frey, Pittsburgh, Pa., Cornell Univ. (Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2006, Apr. 19-25, 2005)
Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah, Sunkist Kids (Sept. 7-13, 2004, July 13-19, 2004)
Matt Gentry, Grants Pass, Ore., Stanford (Dec. 28 (04) - Jan. 3, 2005, Mar. 16-22, 2004)
Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo., Sunkist Kids (Mar. 22-28, 2005, Feb. 22-28, 2005)
Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, CO, Gator WC (Jan 16-22, 2007, Feb. 7-13, 2006)
Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio, Gator WC/USOEC (Sept. 11-17, 2007, April 17-23, 2007)
Marcus LeVesseur, Minneapolis, Minn., Augsburg College (Jan. 23-29, 2007, Jan. 4-10, 2005)
Spenser Mango, Flourissant, Mo., USOEC/Gator WC (June 13-19, 2006, May 24-30, 2005)
Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (Sept. 18-24, 2007, Oct. 3-9, 2006)
Sara McMann, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids (May 16-22, 2006, Jan. 20-26, 2004)
Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn., Sunkist Kids (July 4-10, 2006, March 21-27, 2006)
Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks, N.Y. (May 31 - June 6, 2005, July 27 - Aug. 2, 2004)
Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC (Oct. 5-11, 2004, May 25-31, 2004)
Chris Pendleton, San Jose, Calif., Oklahoma State (Mar. 15-21, 2005, Nov. 16-22, 2004)
Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (Aug. 7-13, 2007, May 17-23, 2005)
Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich., Michigan WC/Michigan State (Nov. 7-13, 2006, Feb. 28 - March 6, 2006)
Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army (Oct. 23-29, 2007, Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2005)
Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunkist Kids (Sept. 21-28, 2005, Aug. 23-29, 2005)
Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids (Jan. 24-30, 2006, June 1-7, 2004)
Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md., Team Maryland (July 17-23, 2007, Aug. 29-Sept. 4, 2006)

One-time Winners:
Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids (Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 2004)
Riley Adamson, Rio Rancho, N.M. (June 29 - July 5, 2004)
Ernie Aguilar, Santa Ana, Calif., Santa Ana College (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4, 2004)
Shirzad Ahmadi, Coventry, Conn., Wrestling for Peace (Aug. 1-8, 2006)
Pat Bennett, Syracuse, N.Y., SUNY Brockport (Jan. 25, 2006)
Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn., Univ. of Regina (July 5-11, 2005)
Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill., USOEC/New York AC (Oct. 18-24, 2005)
Seth Bregman, Aurora, Colo., Colorado BJJ (April 10-16, 2007)
Anthony Brooker, Santa Barbara, Calif., U.S. Air Force (Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2005)
Mark Budd, Orville, Ohio, Univ. of Buffalo (Dec. 6-12, 2005)
Jeff Buxton, Blairstown, N.J., Blair Academy (May 9-15, 2006)
Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif., Cataline's Wildcats (Apr. 5-11, 2005)
Caitlyn Chase, Naperville, Ill. (July 6-12, 2004)
Gordon Connell, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sept. 14-20, 2004)
Kenny Courts, Harrisburg, Pa., Central Dauphin HS (Dec. 11-17, 2007)
Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill., Gator WC/USOEC (July 10-16, 2007)
Phil Davis, Harrisburg, Pa., Penn State Univ. (Nov. 13-19, 2007)
Joe Dennis, Urbana, Ohio, Cleveland State (Feb. 8-14, 2005)
Jake Dieffenbach, House Springs, Mo., Oklahoma State Univ. (Jan. 1-7, 2008)
C.B. Dolloway, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, Arizona State (Jan. 9-15, 2006)
Gabriel Dretsch, Frazee, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota (Dec. 5-11, 2006)
Joe Ellenberger, Omaha, Neb., Nebraska-Kearney (Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2007)
Angel Escobedo, Griffith, Ind., Indiana Univ. (May 22-28, 2007)
Zack Esposito, Three Bridges, N.J., Oklahoma State (Jan. 11-17, 2005)
Nik Fekete, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (Nov. 22-28, 2005)
Jacob Fisher, Platte City, Mo., USOEC (May 10-16, 2005)
Chris Fleeger, Trout Run, Pa., New York AC (Oct. 10-16, 2006)
Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore., Peninsula WC (March 28 - April 3, 2006)
Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC (Apr. 6-12, 2004)
Tyler Graebner, Hutchinson, Kansas (Dec. 21-27, 2004)
Eric Grajales, Brandon, Fla., Team Florida (July 18-25, 2006)
Mike Grey, Rockaway, N.J., Delbarton HS (March 7-13, 2006)
Adam Hall, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Team Idaho (July 11-17, 2006)
Dennis Hall, Plover, Wis., Sunkist Kids (May 18-24, 2004)
Zac Hall, Ithaca, Mich., Team Michigan (July 3-9, 2007)
Dennis Hastert, Yorkville, Ill. (May 11-17, 2004)
Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla., Gator WC (April 3-9, 2007)
Dany Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii, USOEC/New York AC (May 2-8, 2006)
Ronald Hughes, Hollister, Calif. (Sept. 21-27, 2004)
Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska, Skyline HS (Jan. 31- Feb. 6, 2006)
Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 6-12, 2005)
Jesse Jantzen, Brookline, Mass., New York AC (Aug. 9-15, 2005)
Bubba Jenkins, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State WC (Aug. 21-27, 2007)
Michael Johnson Jr., Downers Grove, IL, (April 4-10, 2006)
Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla., Gator WC (Aug. 10-16, 2004)
Mary Kelly, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (March 20-26, 2007)
Joey Knox, Dublin, Ga., Univ. of Tennessee-Chattanooga (Nov. 6-12, 2007)
Cole Konrad, Kewaunee, Wis., Minnesota (Nov. 15-21, 2005)
Matthew Kyler, Clearfield, PA, Nittany Lion WC (April 18-24, 2006)
Casey LaNave, Binghamton, N.Y., Team Worldwide WC (May 29-June 4, 2007)
Ryan Lang, North Royalton, Ohio, Northwestern (Nov. 8-14, 2005)
Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz., Sunkist Kids (Feb. 3-9, 2004)
Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm (Feb. 1-7, 2005)
Ryan Lewis, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm (Mar. 9-15, 2004)
Tyrone Lewis, El Reno, Okla., Oklahoma State (Feb. 10-16, 2004)
Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla., Sunkist Kids (Apr. 26 - May 2, 2005)
Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif., Univ. of the Cumberlands/NYAC (Oct. 17-23, 2006)
Ricky Lundell, Orem, Utah, Pedro Sauer Team (Sept. 4-10, 2007)
Ryan Mango, St. Louis, Mo., Whitfield HS (March 27-April 2, 2007)
Mark McKnight, McDonald, Pa., Penn State Univ. (Jan. 2-8, 2007)
Wynn Michalak, Caro, Mich., Central Michigan Univ. (Dec. 13-19, 2005)
Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC Feb. 6-12, 2007
T.J. Miller, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Wartburg College (Feb. 27-March 5, 2007)
Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC (Oct. 16-22, 2007)
Nate Moore, Durango, Iowa (Mar 30 - Apr. 5, 2004)
Ryan Morningstar, Lisbon, Iowa, Univ. of Iowa (Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2006)
Ian Murphy, Corona, Calif., Cal-State Fullerton (Dec. 19-25, 2006)
J.D. Naig, Emmetsburg, Iowa, Nebraska-Omaha (March 6-12, 2007)
Stephen Neal, Foxboro, Mass. (Oct. 19-25, 2004)
Mike O'Hara, Redlands, Calif., Santa Ana College (Oct. 25-31, 2005)
Roye Oliver, Oceanside, Calif., No Mercy (July 31-Aug. 6, 2007)
B.J. Padden, Reno, Nev., Sunkist Kids (Oct. 24-30, 2006)
Travis Pascoe, Ruthdrum, Idaho, Nebraska (Feb. 15-21, 2005)
Brandon Paulson, Coon Rapids, Minn., Minnesota Storm (Feb. 24 - Mar. 1, 2004)
Travis Paulson, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Iowa State Univ. (Dec. 12-18, 2006)
Trent Paulson, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Cyclone WC (April 25-May 1, 2006)
Matt Pell, Luxemburg, Wis., Missouri (Apr. 12-18, 2005)
Mark Perry, Stillwater, Okla., University of Iowa (March 13-19, 2007)
Jared Platt, Blairstown, N.J., Blair Academy (June 19-25, 2007)
Donny Pritzlaff, Northport, N.Y., New York AC (April 11-17, 2006)
Ben Provisor, Stevens Point, Wis., Dennis Hall's World Gold WC (June 20-26, 2006)
James Ravannack, Metarie, La. (June 7-13, 2005)
Jon Reader, Davison, Mich., Team Michigan (July 25-31, 2006)
Mack Reiter, Gilbertville, Iowa, Minnesota (Jan. 18-24, 2005)
Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (July 27 - Aug. 1, 2005)
Brett Robbins, Bloomington, Ill., Panther WC (Aug. 8-14, 2006)
John Roberts, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 13-19, 2005)
Mike Roberts, Albany, N.Y., Boston Univ. (Dec. 25-31, 2007)
Clayton Rush, Aledo, Ill., Team Illinois (June 26-July 2, 2007)
Kellen Russell, High Bridge, N.J., Univ. of Michigan (Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2007)
Ivan Sanchez, Santa Ana, Calif., Santa Ana College (Sept. 12-18, 2006)
Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa, Sunkist Kids (Aug. 24-30, 2004)
Steve Schantin, Santa Ana, Calif., Santa Ana College (Oct. 4-10, 2005)
C.P. Schlatter, Massillon, Ohio, Univ. of Minnesota (Jan. 9-15, 2007)
Dustin Schlatter, Massillon, Ohio, Univ. of Minnesota (Jan. 16, 2006)
Cole Schmitt, New Glarus, Wis., New Glarus HS April 24-30, 2007
Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa, Gator WC (June 5-11, 2007)
Coleman Scott, Waynesburg, Pa., Gator WC (June 6-12, 2006)
T.J. Sebolt, Centerville, Iowa, Centerville HS (Feb. 21-27, 2006)
Jose Serrato, Santa Ana, Calif., Santa Ana College (Oct. 9-15, 2007)
Les Sigman, Sturgis, S.D., Nebraska-Omaha (Mar. 8-14, 2005)
Luke Silver, Dallas, Texas (Nov. 1-7, 2005)
Aaron Simpson, Tempe, Ariz., Sunkist Kids (Apr. 20-26, 2004)
Jon Sioredas, Chesapeake, Va., Tennessee-Chattanooga (Nov. 9-15, 2004)
Chris Skretkowicz, Hamburg, N.J., Hofstra (Nov. 23-29, 2004)
Joey Slaton, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Univ. of Iowa (Dec. 4-10, 2007)
Mitch Sliga, Noblesville Ind. (June 28 - July 4, 2005)
Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis., Central Michigan Univ. (Dec. 18-24, 2007)
Jon Spires, Lancaster, Ohio, Ohio Univ. (Dec. 7-13, 2004)
Mike Tamillow, Oak Park, Ill., Northwestern (Jan. 25-31, 2005)
Team Missouri, Missouri USA Wrestling (June 21-27, 2005)
Alex Tirapelle, Clovis, Calif., Illinois (Mar. 1-7, 2005)
Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids (June 27-July 3, 2006)
Rene Torres, Tucson, Ariz. (July 20-26, 2004)
Jon Trenge, Orefield, Pa., New York AC (Mar. 23-29, 2004)
Alex Tsirtsis, Griffith, Ind. (Feb. 17-23, 2004)
Terrean Tyus, Rocklin, Calif., Sierra College (Oct. 12-18, 2004)
Tommy Vargas, Highland, Calif, Cal-State Bakersfield (Jan. 2-8, 2006)
Michael Watts, Riverton, Utah, Univ. of Michigan (Feb. 14-20, 2006)
Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids (Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2004)
Toby Willis, Ashland City, Tenn. (May 3-9, 2005)
Oscar Wood, Fountain, Colo., U.S. Army (June 22-28, 2004)
Frank Workman, Spotsylvania, Va., U.S. Marine Corps (Aug. 15-21, 2006)
Derrick Yant, Delta, Ohio, Delta HS May 8-14, 2007
Sonny Yohn, Alamosa, Colo., Alamosa HS (Dec. 26 - 31, 2005)
Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC (Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2006)
Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa, Gator WC (Aug. 14-20, 2007)
Jeff Zastrow, Whitewater, Wis., Warhawk WC (Oct. 31 - Nov. 6, 2006)