MAC Names Wrestler of the Week
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Matt Manley, Missouri—Junior, Perry, Okla. (Perry High School)
Missouri junior Matt Manley has solidified himself as one of Mizzou’s most consistent wrestlers in his first full season in the 141-pound weight class. The Tiger junior picked up two more wins over the weekend, helping the No. 5-ranked Tigers improve to 11-1 and increase his win total to a team-high 24 wins. Manley defeated Trae Blackwell of Oklahoma with a first-period pin (2:40) on Saturday, then beat returning All-American and No. 13-ranked (Intermat) Chris Mecate of Old Dominion, 4-1, on Sunday. On the season, Manley is 24-5 overall and 10-1 in dual competition, tallying 36 dual points. Following a fourth place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Manley has gone 8-1 in nine dual starts, posting three wins with bonus points and three wins over opponents ranked in the top-20.
Additional Nominees:
Justin Oliver, Central Michigan—R-Freshman, Davison, Mich. (Davison High School)
Central Michigan redshirt freshman Justin Oliver’s star continued to rise last weekend, as he went 2-0 in tough road meets at Northern Iowa and Iowa State, upping his win streak to eight consecutive. On Friday, Oliver, wrestling at 149 lbs., scored a 12-4 major decision over UNI’s Jake Hodges. On Sunday, Oliver dominated again, pinning the Cyclones’ Blayne Briceno at the 2:53 mark of the second period. Oliver, who moved into the AWN rankings this week at No. 19, owns an impressive 21-4 overall record with a 2-0 mark in MAC duals. He is tied for second on the team with four falls this season.
Dakota Juarez, Eastern Michigan—R-Freshman, Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven High School)
Eastern Michigan Dakota Juarez won his matchup in Eastern Michigan's only dual action of the week against Northern Illinois, Jan.30. The 165 pounder defeated No. 4 ranked MAC grappler Shaun'Qae McMurtry by 10-3 decision, narrowly missing the major decision. Juarez used four takedowns, an escape and riding time to take the win. It was Juaraz's second win over a MAC ranked opponent this season, and the win moved his dual record to 6-3 on the season, including 4-2 in MAC dual's.
Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois—Junior, Holly, Mich. (Holly High School)
Northern Illinois senior Shawn Scott won a top-20 matchup and protected his perfect dual record this season when he defeated No. 20 Anthony Abro of Eastern Michigan by a 6-1 decision on Saturday in Ypsilanti. The clutch victory also clinched NIU’s first MAC dual victory of the season, with the Huskies eventually defeating the Eagles by a 21-9 final. Scott controlled the pace throughout his match and improved to 11-0 individually in duals this season for the Huskies with his third win over a wrestler ranked in the top 33 at 197 pounds by the NCAA Coaches’ Panel rankings.
Blaize Cabell, Northern Iowa—Senior, Independence, Iowa
Northern Iowa senior Blaize Cabell earned bonus points in both of his duals over the weekend. The senior was explosive in his heavyweight match against Ohio’s Jesse Webb. He notched 11 takedowns and earned nearly four minutes in riding time to earn a 25-9 tech fall in 6:46. Cabell also won by major decision (15-5) against Central Michigan’s Newton Smerchek. Cabell remains undefeated in the MAC at 6-0. He is 14-6 overall.
Cameron Kelly, Ohio—Freshman, Bellbrook, Ohio
Ohio freshman Cameron Kelly posted another outstanding performance this weekend shutting out then-ranked No. 11 Josh Albers, 6-0 to help the Bobcats win its fourth straight dual and improve his season record to 18-5 and 11-1 in dual competition. It was a revenge of sorts as Albers put Kelly out of the main bracket at the Midlands Championship and went on to finish second overall. In the match, Kelly landed a takedown and a two-point near fall in the opening frame and then hit another takedown in the third to seal the 6-0 score. in the Kelly is now 6-1 in MAC competition and was ranked No. 14 in the nation in the latest Intermat Rankings and has wins over three current top 20 wrestlers.
