Feb. 10, 2009
PARK RIDGE, IL — Iowa 133-pound wrestler Daniel Dennis has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. It is the first time the junior from Ingleside, IL, has earned the honor.
Dennis, who is ranked number one in the nation in the Intermat/NWCA/NWMA poll and by W.I.N. Magazine, posted two Big Ten road wins against ranked opponents last weekend. He scored a 3-2 victory over defending Big Ten champion Franklin Gomez of Michigan State Friday night in East Lansing. It was only the second loss of the season for Gomez, who was ranked first by Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine at the time. Dennis followed with a 6-3 victory over #9 Jake Strayer of Penn State Sunday afternoon at University Park. The Hawkeye junior is 21-2 in collegiate competition this season, 16-2 in dual matches and 4-0 in Big Ten duals. He has won his last six bouts.
Dennis is the third Hawkeye to earn the honor this season. Senior Alex Tsirtsis (141) was named Dec. 9 after the Iowa-Iowa State dual, and junior Dan Erekson (Hwt.) followed on Jan. 27 after wins against Wisconsin and Illinois.
With only two weeks left in the 2008-09 regular season, the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (20-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will host its final Big Ten duals in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this weekend. Iowa will put a 34-match winning streak on the line when it hosts #25 Purdue (11-4-1, 0-3-1 Big Ten) Friday at 7 p.m. and #8/#13 Minnesota (14-5, 4-1 Big Ten) Sunday at 2 p.m. The Iowa-Minnesota dual will be aired live on Iowa Public Television and taped delay at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Tickets are available from the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com.