Metcalf Named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week

March 12, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Hawkeye sophomore 149-pounder Brent Metcalf has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for March 4-10.

The Davison, MI, native earned the national honor after winning his first Big Ten title last weekend in Minneapolis. Metcalf knocked off two-time Big Ten champion Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota, 5-3 in the finals. He also scored the most team points (24) of any competitor in the 110-man field. For his efforts, Metcalf was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships. He is one of only four Hawkeyes in school history to earn both honors in the same season.

Metcalf is ranked first in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, Intermat/NWCA/NWMA and W.I.N. Magazine. He is 30-1 in collegiate matches and 21-1 in duals in his first season with the Hawkeyes. Since his lone loss – a 1:40 pin by North Carolina State’s Darrion Caldwell at the St. Edward duals on Nov. 24 – Metcalf has gone on a 27-match winning streak. He posted an undefeated 8-0 mark in Big Ten duals, scoring team bonus points in all but one bout. The 2007 Midlands champion and 2008 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Division I Outstanding Wrestler leads the team in several statistical categories, including collegiate wins (30), collegiate winning percentage (.968), dual wins (21), dual winning percentage (.954), team points scored in dual competition (100), falls (10) and technical falls (6). He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week Jan. 16 and Jan. 23, becoming the first wrestler in conference history to earn the honor in consecutive weeks. He was also named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week Jan. 16.

Each week, TheMat.com selects 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.

Metcalf and the Hawkeyes will head to the 2008 NCAA Championships Mar. 20-22 in St. Louis, MO.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete’s name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org

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