MAC Wrestler of the Week
Ashton Eyler, Lock Haven, 157 lbs.
R-Sr., Millersburg, Ohio (Claymont High)
Eyler opened his week with a pin when he jumped all over Bloomsburg's John Reho in the first period. Eyler secured an early takedown and muscled his way into position for the fall at the 2:31 mark, The Haven's fastest pin of the night. In the Bald Eagles' win over Navy, he put on a show as he rolled to a 15-0 tech fall (5:55) over Devon Deem. Eyler led 4-0 with over two minutes of riding time after one period and he led 9-0 after two, before putting things away quickly in the third. On Sunday at the Edinboro Open, the Bald Eagle rolled to the crown at 157 pounds behind a 4-0 record including one major decision to cap a 6-0 week, to improve his unbeaten streak to eight bouts.
Other Nominees
Josh Mason, Bloomsburg, 141 lbs.
Redshirt Senior, New Ringgold, Pa. (Blue Mountain)
Mason went 2-0 on the week in a pair of dual meets with Lock Haven and Sacred Heart. Mason opened the week with a hard-fought 8-3 decision over Ty Lisenbigler of LHU. Lisenbigler came into the match ranked #11 in the MAC standings while Mason sits at #5. The redshirt senior followed his win on Thursday with a pin against Dakota Asuncion of Sacred Heart on Sunday. Mason built a 10-0 lead with a takedown and pair of four-count near falls in the first period. He had a three-count near fall and got a penalty point to open the second period before the fall came at 3:49.
Tracy Hubbard, Central Michigan, 165 lbs.
Redshirt Senior, Macomb, Mich./Warren Michigan Collegiate
Central Michigan redshirt senior Tracy Hubbard pinned Kent State's Enrique Munguia in the opening bout of a MAC dual on Sunday, setting the tone in the Chippewas' 22-15 victory as they improved to 4-1 in conference duals. Hubbard pinned Munguia, who entered the week ranked 33rd nationally (Intermat) and fourth in the MAC coaches rankings, as the buzzer sounded to end the first period. Hubbard, who is ranked sixth in the MAC, trailed 2-0 and then reversed Munguia and took him to his back to score the pin, winning his fifth consecutive match and his sixth in his last seven to improve to 13-12 on the season.
Jacob Cover, Kent State, 285 lbs.
Senior, Hilliard, Ohio (Darby)
Cover recorded a 2-0 week for the Golden Flashes. In the Friday night grudge match, Cover poured it on in the third period against Jacob Padilla in a 8-1 run away victory. On Sunday against CMU, Cover dominated Simon Lato in a 3-0 win. Cover controlled all two minutes of riding time in the second period, even earning a stalling point for his efforts. After an escape put him up 2-0 (with riding time bonus looming), he put on a defensive clinic, preventing any late shot by Lato and preserving the shutout win.
Terrese Aaron, NIU, 285 lbs.
Redshirt senior, Mexico, Mo. (Mexico)
Redshirt senior heavyweight Terrese Aaron helped lift NIU above Buffalo 15-14 last Saturday with a critical 9-6 win over Gregory Hodulick. With NIU trailing 14-12 after the Bulls won three consecutive bouts, the Huskies needed Aaron to pull through for a dual win. With the pair locked 3-3 heading into the second frame, Hodulick took bottom and scored an escape, then a takedown to open up a 6-3 lead. Aaron closed the gap with an escape and went into the third period trailing by two, 6-4. Choosing bottom to open the third, Aaron pulled to within a point after executing an escape and then went to work. With time winding down, Aaron logged his second takedown of the match and added two near fall points to take a three-point lead. The Huskie veteran rode out the rest of the period, securing the bout and dual win.
Jordan Slivka, Ohio, 165 lbs.
R-Jr., Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral)
Slivka was dominant against Kent State on Friday, Feb. 4, securing a senior night victory over Enrique Munguia. Munguia was a formidable opponent; he started the season ranked 26th by FloWrestling and WrestleStat and 24th by InterMat with victories at the Navy Classic and Clarion Open. When the two met at the Navy Classic, Slivka lost by a 3-0 decision to place second, but that wasn't the story at the annual grudge match. Slivka controlled the entire dual, winning with an 18-1 technical fall.
