MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Ryan Loder, Northern Iowa—Junior, Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay High School)
Northern Iowa junior Ryan Loder beat another ranked opponent, No. 11 Boaz Beard of Iowa State, to remain undefeated in dual competition. It was a scoreless first period, but Loder’s escape and takedown had him leading going into the third. A final takedown and 1:04 riding time secured his 6-1 win. Earlier in the year, he upset Missouri’s No. 8 Mike Larson at the Panthers’ first MAC dual of the year. He was ranked ninth at the time. He has six pins, three technical falls and six major decision wins so far this season. He was fourth at Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30. He has the fifth-highest winning percentage among Panthers who have had at least 50 wins and competed at least two seasons. His career record is 91-20. His overall record for the season is 26-3. He is 1-0 in the MAC.
Additional Nominees:
Nick Whitenburg, Eastern Michigan—Junior, Temperance, Mich. (Bedford High School)
Eastern Michigan junior Nick Whitenburg posted the lone victory for the Eagles against Central Michigan Friday, Feb. 8, with a pin over Jackson Lewis at the 1:16 mark of the 197 lbs. match. Since returning from injury, Whitenburg has salvaged his season by winning three consecutive MAC matches to finish the year 3-0 in conference tussles. Overall he is 7-6 on the year and 7-2 since he was re-inserted into the lineup. Friday's pin was his second of the season.
Casey Newburg, Kent State—Senior, Union, Ohio
Kent State senior Casey Newburg went 2-0 on the weekend with a technical fall and a major decision. He helped the Golden Flashes to a 31-10 victory over Cleveland State, needing just 20 seconds into the third period to complete a 19-3 tech fall victory over the Vikings’ Corbin Boone. Newburg also blanked Edinboro’s Vince Pickett 10-0, helping turn a 17-4 Kent State deficit into a 19-17 lead. Newburg improved 31-5 on the year with 14 bonus-point victories.
Rob Jillard, Northern Illinois—Junior, Franklinville, N.J. (Delsea High School)
Northern Illinois junior Rob Jillard posted a key win Friday in Northern Illinois Senior Night dual against Big Ten foe Northwestern. The junior from Franklinville, N.J., earned a pin of Dylan Marriott at the 2:43 mark. The stick was Jillard's third of the season and the first since Northern Illinois season opener at the Eastern Michigan Open on Nov. 3.