Dec. 6, 2006
IOWA CITY, IA –
The following story was written by Craig Sesker for USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.
Ryan Morningstar (Lisbon, Iowa/University of Iowa) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Nov. 28-Dec. 4.
Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.
Morningstar, a redshirt freshman at Iowa who was ranked No. 15 nationally, upset two-time All-American and top-ranked Trent Paulson of Iowa State 3-2 at 157 pounds to cap Iowa’s 24-6 win over Iowa State on Dec. 3 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The meet drew a crowd of 13,732, the 11th-largest crowd for a dual meet in NCAA history.
Morningstar has compiled a 6-3 record this season. He was a three-time Iowa state champion in high school and a Junior Nationals champion.
Morningstar, whose father Scott wrestled for Northern Iowa, posted a 12-1 record in open tournaments while competing unattached during his redshirt year at Iowa.