Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
 
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Ali Wahab, Old Dominion—Sophomore, Dearborn, Mich. (Crestwood High School)
 
Old Dominion sophomore Ali Wahab at 285 lbs. had a 2-0 weekend, including a 9-0 major decision to clinch the match for ODU over Duke, 24-17 on Sunday. To start off the weekend, the heavyweight defeated SIUE’s McKiernan by a 2-1 decision to close out of the Monarchs 28-13 win.

Additional Nominees:
Alex Smythe, Buffalo—Senior, Eden, N.Y. (Eden High School)
 
Buffalo senior Alex Smythe at 157 lbs. was dominant in a 24-9 technical fall win over Kent State’s Richard Jackson in a 28-13 win over last Saturday. Smythe had an impressive 11 takedowns in the match. He had two early takedowns in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. He added four more takedowns in the second period. The senior grappler finished off Jackson by taking him down five times in the third period to complete the tech fall victory.

Dresden Simon, Central Michigan—Sophomore, Dansville, Mich. (Dansville High School)
 
Central Michigan sophomore Dresden Simon at 149 lbs. posted two dual-meet victories, the first of which was a 12-4 major decision in the Chippewas’ MAC win over SIUE. He followed that up with an exciting 13-9 victory over North Dakota State. Simon’s win over SIUE snapped a five-match losing streak and his win over North Dakota State lifted him to 5-9 on the season.
 
Brock Mauller, Missouri—Freshman, Columbia, Mo. (Tolton High School)
 
Missouri freshman Brock Mauller at 149 lbs. won his 13th consecutive bout by earning an 18-0 technical fall over Northern Illinois’ McCoy Kent on Friday, Jan. 25. Mauller is a perfect 10-0 since his redshirt was pulled, including a perfect 5-0 against MAC competition, outscoring MAC wrestlers 46-10 over the five bouts. His technical fall was his fourth of the season and helped Missouri secure a perfect 7-0 dual record in MAC competition Friday, the fourth time that the Tigers have accomplished that feat. Missouri has also secured the MAC regular season title, its eighth consecutive season with a regular season or conference tournament title.

Will Feldkamp, Northern Illinois—Redshirt Freshman, Dexter, Mich. (Dexter High School)
 
Northern Illinois redshirt freshman Will Feldkamp at 184 lbs. went 1-1 in a pair of matches last week. He stepped up a weight class in NIU's first match of the weekend falling to Missouri's Wyatt Koelling at 197. He made quick work of Ohio's Arsen Ashughyan in Sunday's matinee with Ohio. Feldkamp pinned his opponent in 49 seconds for his third victory in four matches.
 
Alec Hagan, Ohio—Redshirt Freshman, Eureka, Mo. (Eureka High School) 
 
Ohio redshirt freshman Alec Hagan at 149 lbs. delivered a thrilling 21-18 road victory over Northern Illinois last Sunday, Jan. 27 at NIU’s Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill. With the match tied at 18-all heading into the final bout at 149 pounds, Hagan came away victorious in an 8-6 tiebreaker over redshirt junior McCoy Kent. The Bobcats erased a 12-point deficit by tallying wins in the final four bouts.
 
Justin Ruffin, SIU-Edwardsville—Freshman, McDonough, Ga. (Union Grove High School)
 
SIU-Edwardsville freshman Justin Ruffin at 157 lbs. earned a major decision, 9-1, over Kenan Carter of Old Dominion last Friday.  Ruffin is ranked No. 25 at the 157 lb. weight class in the first NCAA Coaches’ ranking.