MAC Wrestler of the Week
Alex Cramer, Central Michigan, 174 lbs.
Junior, Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)
Central Michigan junior Alex Cramer ran his win streak to nine matches with a perfect 4-0 week, improving to 21-8 on the season. Wrestling at 174 pounds, Cramer opened the week with an 8-2 victory over Duke’s Conor Becker and then followed with three impressive wins at the Chippewa Challenge at Campbell. His first came on a 7-2 decision over Albert Urias of Cal State Bakersfield; he then won on a dominant 18-5 major decision over Lucas White of American and then an even-more-dominant 16-1 technical fall over Patrick Adams of Campbell. The match ended with three seconds remaining in the first period. Cramer has scored bonus points in four of his last six victories.
Other Nominees
Eli Sherren, Buffalo, 197 lbs.
R-Freshman, Klein, TX
Normally, Eli Sheeren wrestles at 197, but was bumped up to 285 for Sunday's dual against Kent State. The redshirt-freshman responded by earning a 6-2 decision over Jacob Cover. Sheeren got a takedown and four-point nearfall in the first period and that's all he needed to earn the victory. He helped the Bulls defeat the Golden Flashes, 22-13.
John Worthing, Clarion, 174 lbs.
R-Sophomore, Owego, N.Y. (Tioga)
John Worthing went 2-0 with a pair of decisions last weekend, helping the Golden Eagles to dual victories over George Mason (W 25-12) and reigning MAC champion Lock Haven (W 22-14). On Friday night Worthing held on to defeat the Patriots' Logan Messer by a 6-5 decision in what was the second bout of the evening, contributing to a stretch where Clarion won five straight individual bouts en route to a dual victory. On Sunday he worked the Bald Eagles' Tyler Stolzfus for a 15-8 decision, coming up just shy of picking up the bonus points and setting the team up for a dual win over their longtime rival. Worthing has now won five straight matches and has improved to 5-1 in MAC duals.
Daniel Bucknavich, Cleveland State, 285 lbs.
Sophomore, Grafton, Ohio, Midview HS
Bucknavich went 2-0 on the week and improved to 15-6 on the year and 4-1 in MAC matches. He started the week with a 6-1 victory over Isaac Reid of Lock Haven and then pinned Drew Harris of Ohio in 1:45.
Markel Baker, George Mason, 125 lbs.
Freshman, Freeport, Ill (Freeport)
In his first two MAC action duals, freshman Markel Baker went 2-0 on the road. On Friday night, Baker earned a 4-0 decision against Clarion's Joey Fischer, a 2022 MAC Championships finalist. The Freeport, Illinois native blanked Edinboro's Aiden Lewis, 5-0, on Saturday night. The freshman has the second-most wins on the Patriots, with a 19-9 record.
Blake Schaffer, Kent State, 197 lbs.
Freshman, Canton, OH (Louisville)
Schaffer dominated his match up with Sam Mitchell, who came in ranked 2nd in the latest MAC ranking at 197 (Schaffer was 9th)...Schaffer had a trio of takedowns in the match and led 7-3 when he caught Mitchell pressing and recorded his first collegiate pin with 108 remaining in the third period...Schaffer picked up his 12th win of the year and improved to 2-0 in MAC duals.
Anthony Gibson, NIU, 157 lbs.
R-Senior, St. Johns, Mich. (St. Johns)
In the Huskies' 23-10 triumph over Ohio last Friday, Anthony Gibson won NIU's fifth-straight bout of the day against No. 27 Peyten Kellar (No. 22 in coaches' poll) at 157. After a tight first period, Gibson grappled Kellar to a 2-2 tie heading into the next two minutes. Each wrestler again posted two points in the period, marking another 4-4 stalemate with one more frame to go. Gibson exploded on a seven-point swing in the final two minutes, logging an 11-7 win and propelling the Huskies in front 15-0 .
Zayne Lehman, Ohio, 184 lbs.
Sophomore, Akron, Ohio (Revere)
Lehman kicked off the weekend with a 5-2 decision over Northern Illinois' Matt Zuber, marking Ohio's second victory of the match. The sophomore won a hard-fought battle on Sunday (Jan. 22) against Cleveland State's DeAndre Nassar, coming out on top with a 3-1 decision.
Caleb Tyus, SIUE, 149 lbs.
Sophomore, Bethalto, Ill. (Civic Memorial HS)
Improved to 17-4 this season at 149 pounds ... Recorded his second technical fall of the season against Lindenwood in a lopsided 47-0 victory over the Lions ... Has won 14 of his last 16 matches, including a 10-match winning streak at one point.
