MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
For Immediate Release-Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Ben Bennett, Central Michigan - Freshman, Rockford, Mich. (Rockford High School)
Redshirt freshman Ben Bennett, ranked 10th nationally at 174 pounds, shut out both of his opponents in a pair of victories last week. Bennett was a 5-0 winner over Michigan State's Ian Hinton on Friday, and posted a 17-0 technical fall against Northern Illinois' Joe Clothier on Sunday. Bennett scored a total of 15 points via near fall: three in the third period against Hinton, and 12 in just 4:58 against Clothier. Sixth-ranked Central Michigan defeated Michigan State, 23-10, and Northern Illinois, 29-6, to improve to 14-2 overall, 2-0 in the MAC.
Additional Nominees:
Dan Bishop, Buffalo - Senior, Whitehall, N.Y. (Whitehall High School)
Senior Dan Bishop posted a 2-0 record for the week earning victories against Eastern Michigan and #19 Kent State. With the Bulls looking to capture their first conference victory, senior Dan Bishop pinned Eastern Michigan's Greg Egbert at 3:37 off a reversal to give Buffalo a 6-0 lead. Bishop's fall marked his team-leading fourth dual victory by fall and 15th overall fall of his career. In the Bulls' fall to #19 Kent State, Bishop opened the day with a decision over #19 Kent State's Troy Opfer. In Bishop's victory over Opfer, the senior scored a late third period takedown to improve his MAC dual record to 3-0 for the season.
Phillip Joseph, Eastern Michigan - Freshman, Lapeer, Mich. (Lapeer East High School)
Freshman Phillip Joseph went 2-0 this past week including a decisive 15-7 major decision over Buffalo's Josh Peters on Wednesday and a hard-fought 13-12 decision over Zach Benzio of Northern Illinois on Friday. Joseph is now 20-13 (2-1 MAC) on the season and is the first Eastern Michigan wrestler to reach the 20-win plateau since the 2007-08 campaign. Joseph was the only Eastern Michigan wrestler to win both matches this week.
Adam Cogar, Kent State - Freshman, Barberton, Ohio (Barberton High School)
Redshirt freshman Adam Cogar defeated Buffalo's Jimmy Hammel 3-1 in overtime last weekend. Cogar competed in his first career MAC dual and earned a quick escape in the second period and scored with a single leg takedown in sudden victory. After missing Kent State's last two events due to illness, Cogar improved to 17-6 on the year and 9-2 in dual meets. His victory helped the Golden Flashes to a 31-6 win over Buffalo.
Previous Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 18: Dustin Kilgore - Kent State
Nov. 24: Danny Mitcheff - Kent State
Dec. 2: Scotti Sentes - Central Michigan
Dec. 8: Quentin Keyes - Ohio University
Dec. 15: Jacob Ison - Ohio University
Dec. 22: Steve Brown - Central Michigan
Jan. 12: Desi Green - Buffalo
Jan. 19: Sean Clair - Eastern Michigan
Jan. 26: John-Martin Cannon - Buffalo
Feb. 2: Jimmy Hamel - Buffalo
Feb. 9: Ben Bennett - Central Michigan