UNI’s Joe Colon Named WWC Wrestler of the Week

OREM, Utah — University of Northern Iowa 133-pound redshirt sophomore Joe Colon (Clear Lake, Iowa/Clear Lake HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week after an outstanding performance on the mat last weekend. The conference award was announced Tuesday by the league.

Colon, currently ranked 11th at 133 pounds, picked up two WWC dual victories for the Panthers last week. The UNI grappler topped Utah Valley’s Blake Mangum with a 16-3 major decision during Northern Iowa’s 24-18 dual victory over UVU last Friday. Colon’s more impressive win came Sunday, however when the redshirt sophomore earned a 21-4 technical fall victory over No. 17 Zach Zehner of Wyoming.

Colon is now 3-1 versus ranked opponents this season, as well as the only remaining Panther to have an undefeated dual record at 5-0. He has also not lost in over a month, riding a 10-match win streak. In those matches, Colon has compiled four falls, two technical falls, three major decisions and just one regular decision.

The conference honor is Colon’s first of the season and first of his career.

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its sixth year of competition, is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

Other Nominees:

Air Force: Clayton Gable, 174 pounds, Jr., (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown Area HS)
North Dakota State: Evan Knutson, Heavyweight, Fr., (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West HS)
Northern Colorado: Henry Chirino, Heavyweight, Fr., (Brandon, Fla./Miami Dade CC)
South Dakota State: Aaron Pickrel, 125 pounds, RJr., (Watertown, S.D./Watertown HS)
Utah Valley: Monte Schmalhaus, 174 pounds, RSo., (Tooele, Utah/Tooele HS)
Wyoming: Joe LeBlanc, 184 pounds, Sr., (Meeker, Colo./Meeker HS)

2011-12 WWC Wrestlers of the Week

Nov. 9 – Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Nov. 15 – Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
Nov. 22 – Kasey Garnhart (Wyoming)/Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Nov. 29 – Ryan Loder (Northern Iowa)
Dec. 6 – Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)
Dec. 13 – Zach Zehner (Wyoming)
Dec. 20 – Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
Jan. 4 – Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Jan. 10 – Pat Martinez (Wyoming)
Jan. 17 – Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Jan. 24 – Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)
Jan. 31 – Joe Colon (Northern Iowa)