MAC Names Wrestler of the Week
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
MAC Wrestler of the Week:
J’Den Cox, Missouri—Junior, Columbia, Mo. (Hickman High School)
Missouri junior J’Den Cox recorded bonus points for the 16th time in 26 matches with a 16-7 major decision win over Nebraska’s No. 10-ranked (NCAA Coaches Panel) Aaron Studebaker on Feb. 21. The major decision clinched a 19-14 win for the Tigers over Nebraska in the NWCA National Duals Series and was Cox’s 100th career victory. Cox reached 100 wins in record fashion, doing so in 105 matches, quicker than any other wrestler in program history. Cox also now stands as the wrestler with the best win percentage among wrestlers with over 100 wins. The hometown hero has a career win percentage of .952 (100-5), slightly ahead of Ben Askren’s mark of .950 (153-8).
Additional Nominees:
Justin Oliver, Central Michigan—R-Freshman, Davison, Mich. (Davison High School)
Central Michigan redshirt freshman Justin Oliver continued his torrid pace to finish out the regular season, going 2-0 last week in team dual meet victories over Wisconsin and Old Dominion, upping his win streak to 13 consecutive. On Thursday, Oliver had a decision over the Badgers’ Andrew Crone, 9-4, contributing three key points in helping up the Chippewas record versus Big Ten teams to 3-1 this season. On Sunday, at Old Dominion, Oliver claimed a 5-4 decision over 2015 All-American and ninth-ranked Alex Richardson. For the season, Oliver, who is ranked ninth nationally by Intermat, has compiled an impressive 26-4 overall record with an undefeated 6-0 mark in MAC duals. Oliver leads Central Michigan in two-point takedowns this season with 79 and is third on the team with 271 match points earned.
Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois—Junior, Holly, Mich. (Holly High School)
Northern Illinois junior Shawn Scott recorded a key third period pin at Old Dominion against Kaleab Fetahi at 197 pounds to give the NIU wrestling team a 19-13 lead with two matches remaining at the time. Scott’s first fall of the season lifted the NIU junior back into the top 20 of several national polls this week, improving the junior 197-pounder to 19-8 overall this season heading into the MAC Championships.
Leighton Gaul, Northern Iowa—Sophomore, New Hampton, Iowa (New Hampton High School)
Northern Iowa sophomore Leighton Gaul earned his first dual win of the season at the Panthers’ final dual. It was also Gaul’s first career MAC win. Gaul opened the dual for Northern Iowa at 125 pounds with a fall against Buffalo’s No. 33 Kyle Akins in 3 minutes, 42 seconds. It was his sixth fall of the year and set the tone of the meet for the Panthers. Gaul is 10-8 overall and finishes the year 1-5 in duals. He was 1-3 in MAC duals this year.
