Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
 
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Colin Heffernan, Central Michigan—Junior, Cleveland, Ohio (St. Edward High School)
 
Central Michigan junior Colin Heffernan recorded an 8-6 victory at 157 pounds over Virginia’s Andrew Atkinson, a key victory in the Chippewas 22-10 dual victory over the Cavaliers on Sunday. Heffernan recorded four takedowns in his win, improving to 6-0 on the season. Heffernan entered the match ranked 12th by InterMat, while Atkinson, a junior, came into the match 5-1 and ranked 20th.

Additional Nominees:
Sa’Derian Perry, Eastern Michigan—R-Freshman, Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson High School)
Eastern Michigan redshirt freshman Sa’Derian Perry made his dual debut against Olivet College on Nov. 11. The redshirt freshman 133 pounder opened with a pin of his opponent in the first period in just 1:43. The win put the team score at 37-0, with the dual ending in a 42-0 shutout in favor of Eastern Michigan. It was the first shutout for Eastern Michigan since blanking Michigan State last season on Dec. 2, 2015.
 
Lane Hinkle, Kent State—Freshman, Mount Vernon, Ohio (Mount Vernon High School)
Kent State freshman Lane Hinkle was dominant in all three of his matches, winning a 174-pound title at the Ohio Intercollegiate Open last Sunday. Hinkle blanked Findlay’s Nathan Vandermeer 16-0 in his opening bout, before scoring a 14-3 major decision over Pitt’s Cameron Jacobson.  Hinkle notched his second tech fall of the day in the finals with an 18-2 victory over Notre Dame’s Tony Dailey.
 
Trace Engelkes, Northern Illinois—Senior, Winnebago, Ill. (Winnebago High School)
Northern Illinois senior Trace Engelkes was a major contributor to the Huskies’ two wins over Bloomsburg (23-12) and UIndy (31-6) at last weekend’s Purdue Duals in West Lafayette, Ind. Engelkes started off his undefeated run with a win by decision over Bloomsburg’s Trevor Allard, 7-4. Engelkes continued his day with a pin in 3:53 in the second match-up where NIU took on the University of Indianapolis. In the final dual of the day, Engelkes was victorious over Purdue Boilermaker Peter Andreotti in major decision fashion, 10-2. Trace currently hold a 4-1 record for the season.
 
Drew Foster, Northern Iowa—Sophomore, Burlington, Iowa (Mediapolis High School)
Northern Iowa sophomore Drew Foster notched a tech fall and a major decision in two different weight classes in the same day. Foster took the mat at 197 pounds to earn a 20-4 tech fall over Nebraska Kearney’s Corey Van Dorn in 6 minutes, 15 seconds. A couple of hours later, he returned to beat a Big 12 opponent in a double dual. Foster toppled Will Sumner of Utah Valley in a 13-5 major decision, earning 3:15 in riding time. Foster is undefeated this year at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in duals. He started the season with a tournament title at the Grand View Open at 184 pounds.
 
Noah Forrider, Ohio—Junior, Marysville, Ohio (Marysville High School)
Ohio junior Noah Forrider captured the 141-pound title at the Bearcat Open last Sunday going 6-0 in the tournament. Forrider started the open competition on a hot-streak taking his first three matches by major decision, 8-0 against Harvard’s Samuel Goldman, 12-4 over Franklin and Marshall’s Nicholas Maher, and 14-0 over Binghamton’s unattached competitor Jacob Nicholson. He took down unattached William Koll (tie-breaker 1, 3-2) and Binghamton’s Dylan Caruana by decision (3-2) before taking the first-place match over unattached Rutgers wrestler Mikey Van Brill with a 3-2 decision. Forrider is now 9-0 this season.
 
Jack Dechow, Old Dominion—Senior, Richmond, Ill. (Richmond-Burton High School)
Old Dominion senior Jack Dechow entered last Sunday's match with Missouri ranked No. 13 but pulled an upset over No. 7 Willie Miklus, a two-time All-American, 6-5. Dechow surrendered a first-period takedown but stormed back with takedowns of his own in the second and third periods to clinch the exciting victory.