2006 Athletes of the Week

Week of Feb. 6 - 12
Mitch Szwet, Sophomore (Coleman), 197 pounds of UW-Stevens Point
Szwet went 3-0 during the week as the Pointers finished the regular season with a 33-10 win over UW-Eau Claire and tight losses to highly-ranked opponents UW-La Crosse and Augsburg (Minn.). In a 21-16 loss to No. 5-ranked UW-La Crosse on February 7, Szwet defeated the Eagles' Jim Swanson 4-3. He also upended Wally O'Conner of No. 2-ranked Augsburg (Minn.), 5-0, on February 10 and Justin McAuly of UW-Eau Claire, 5-3, on February 11.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Andy Miller, Freshman, 133 pounds, Appleton (North)
UW-La Crosse, Kevin Barber, Freshman, 133 pounds, Port Washington
UW-Oshkosh, Jacob Stebnitz, Freshman, 285 pounds, Manitowoc (Lincoln)
UW-Platteville, Ryan Higgins, Freshman, 149 pounds, Oconomowoc

Week of Jan. 30 - Feb. 5
Derek Sikora, Senior (Neillsville), 165 pounds of UW-Eau Claire
Sikora was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler after earning the 165-pound title at the 28th annual Blugold Invitational on February 4. Sikora began the weekend with a 10-1 major decision over UW-Oshkosh's Kevin Luedtke in a dual meet. At the invitational, Sikora started the day by defeating Luedtke again, this time winning by pin at 2:21, followed by a 12-3 major decision over UW-La Crosse's Jake Heuston. Sikora would beat Ben Youel of North Central (Ill.) by major decision in the semifinals and advance to the championship match against top-seeded Ryan Volek, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 165 pounds. Overtime was needed as Sikora defeated Volek 3-1.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Ryan Allen, Senior, 285 pounds, Livingston (Iowa-Grant)
UW-Oshkosh, Jacob Stebnitz, Freshman, 285 pounds, Manitowoc (Lincoln)
UW-Platteville, Alex Knipp, Freshman, 184 pounds, Racine (Park)
UW-Stevens Point, Al Stacilauskas, Senior, 174 pounds, Escanaba, Mich.
UW-Whitewater, Andy Livingston, Freshman, 133 pounds, Janesville (Craig)

Week of Jan. 23 - 29
Ryan Higgins, Freshman (Oconomowoc), 149 pounds of UW-Platteville
Higgins won the 149-pound title at the 24th annual Al Hanke Invitational on January 28. He won four matches, including a 5-4 championship decision over Joe Ruiawitz from NCAA Division II Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Higgins advanced to the championship match with a 3-1 over No. 2 seed Larry Amedio from Augustana (Ill.). Higgins also upended UW-La Crosse's Adam Kuchnia, 6-5, in dual meet competition earlier in the week.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Derek Sikora, Senior, 165 pounds, Neillsville
UW-La Crosse, Ross Needham, Junior, 157 pounds, Marshfield
UW-Oshkosh, Derek Koenig, Freshman, 141 pounds, Cleveland (Manitowoc Lincoln)
UW-Stevens Point, Mitch Szwet, Sophomore, 197 pounds, Coleman
Lawrence, Ben Dictus, Senior, 184 pounds, Kimberly

Week of Jan. 16 - 22
Mike Hayes, Senior (Beaver Dam), 285 pounds of UW-Stevens Point
Hayes led UW-Stevens Point with two pins on January 21 over Wartburg (Iowa) and Loras (Iowa). He recorded the only Pointer victory of the Wartburg match by pinning the nation's top-ranked heavyweight Blake Gillis in the first period. Hayes, ranked fourth nationally, trailed 4-1 and was underneath Gillis when he had a reversal and the pin. Hayes also opened the Loras match with a pin to improve to 11-1 on the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Justin McAuly, Junior, 197 pounds, Clintonville
UW-La Crosse, Adam Kuchnia, Senior, 149 pounds, Twin Lakes (Wilmot Union)
UW-Oshkosh, Jacob Stebnitz, Freshman, 285 pounds, Manitowoc (Lincoln)
UW-Platteville, Ryan Rozek, Junior, 285 pounds, Plymouth
Lawrence, John Budi, Junior, 174 pounds, Kimberly

Week of Jan. 9 - 15
Jason Lulloff, Junior (Kiel), 184 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Lulloff went 4-0 at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He defeated Dan White of Wilmington (Ohio) by fall (2:49); Brian Stueve of Buena Vista (Iowa) by fall (4:45); third-ranked Brad Tupa of Augsburg (Minn.) by decision (6-3) and AJ Gregg of Luther (Iowa) by decision (9-3). Lulloff is currently ranked second in the country and boasts a 27-5 overall record.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Derek Sikora, Senior, 165 pounds, Neillsville
UW-Oshkosh, Derek Koenig, Freshman, 141 pounds, Cleveland (Manitowoc Lincoln)
UW-Platteville, Carsten Carlson, Sophomore, 157 pounds, Madison (East)
Lawrence, Ben Dictus, Senior, 184 pounds, Kimberly

Week of Jan. 2 - 8
Ryan Rozek, Senior (Plymouth), 285 pounds of UW-Platteville
Rozek won the 285-pound title at the 28th annual Cornell (Iowa) Matman Invitational on January 7, leading UW-Platteville to a fifth-place finish among 17 teams. Rozek, seeded fourth, won all five matches, including shutouts of the top two seeds. He also won two via pinfall. Rozek beat top-seeded John Miller of Luther (Iowa), 3-0, in the semifinals and second-seeded Jordan Wall of William Penn (Iowa), 2-0, in the championship.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Derek Sikora, Senior, 165 pounds, Neillsville
UW-La Crosse, Jake Larsen, Junior, 149 pounds, Turtle Lake
UW-Oshkosh, Adam Dorner, Junior, 174 pounds, Casco (Luxemburg-Casco)

Week of Dec. 12 - Jan. 1
Karl Voeck, Sophomore (Madison/Memorial), 197 pounds of UW-Whitewater
Voeck went 4-0 during the week to improve his record on the season to 19-6. Competing in the F.I.T.E Duals in Park Forest, Ill. on December 18, he defeated Derrick Hunsinger of Northern Illinois 12-4, then beat Sean Tyns of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 9-7. Voeck finished tournament with a 16-5 major decision over Louis Gouletas of Indiana University. Voeck also received a forfeit victory in a dual match against North Central (Ill.) on December 13.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Ryan Allen, Senior, 285 pounds, Livingston (Iowa-Grant)

Week of Dec. 5 - 11
Jacob Stebnitz, Freshman (Manitowoc/Lincoln), 285 pounds of UW-Oshkosh
Stebnitz won all five of his 285-pound matches, including two by a pin and one by major decision during the week. In a dual meet against UW-Whitewater on December 6, he defeated Derik Johnson by major decision, 9-1. In UW-Oshkosh's 34-7 loss to Buena Vista (Iowa), Stebnitz defeated the Beavers' Wade Hammen, 3-1. In UW-Oshkosh's 24-15 win over UW-Eau Claire, Stebnitz defeated the Blugolds' Nick Hoeft, 3-0. In UW-Oshkosh's 25-18 loss to Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.), Stebnitz pinned the Cobbers' Nate Stumpf in 4:49. In UW-Oshkosh's 37-6 loss to Dubuque (Iowa), Stebnitz pinned the Spartans' James Mundy in 5:38.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Josh Holforty, Sophomore, 197 pounds, Bloomington, Minn. (Kennedy)
UW-La Crosse, Ryan Allen, Senior, 285 pounds, Livingston (Iowa-Grant)
UW-Platteville, Ryan Higgins, Freshman, 149 pounds, Oconomowoc
UW-Stevens Point, Tyler Wozniak, Junior, 184 pounds, Stanley

Week of Nov. 28 - Dec. 4
Josh Chelf, Sophomore (Irma/Tomahawk), 174 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Chelf went 6-0 during the week. He opened the week with a win by fall (5:30) over John Budi of Lawrence. Chelf then won the 174-pound title at the Wisconsin Open at UW-Parkside. He was 5-0 with two wins by fall. Chelf defeated John Salter of Lindenwood (Mo.) (:29) and Nate Kurszewski of UW-Stevens Point (:45) by fall before defeating Jesse Linczmaier, Unattached (8-5), Adam Dorner of UW-Oshkosh (11-3) and A.J. Morgan of UW-Parkside (3-0) in the championship match.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Tony D'Antuono, Senior, 141 pounds, Waukesha (South)
UW-Oshkosh, Adam Dorner, Junior, 175 pounds, Casco (Luxemburg-Casco)
UW-Platteville, Zach Chambers, Junior, 141 pounds, Mineral Point
UW-Stevens Point, Mike Hayes, Senior, 285 pounds, Beaver Dam

Week of Nov. 21 - 27
None selected.

Week of Nov. 14 - 20
Tim Palmer, Sophomore (Mankato, Minn./West), 165 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Palmer won the 165-pound title at the Kaufman-Brand Open at Nebraska-Omaha after compiling a 5-0 record. He defeated Decota Cotton (Iowa Central) 9-3; Isaac Copeland (Dana) 3-1; Brett Hunter (Chadron State) 5-4; Ross Taplin (Nebraska-Omaha) 3-2 to advance to the final. Palmer defeated Brett Ambrosino of Northern Illinois, 5-2, in the championship match.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Joey Miller, Sophomore, 184 pounds, Lake Tomahawk (Lakeland Union)
UW-Oshkosh, Kevin Luedtke, Sophomore, 165 pounds, Two Rivers
UW-Platteville, Justin Seichter, Senior, 174 pounds, Boyd (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-Stevens Point, Tyler Wozniak, Junior, 184 pounds, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)

Week of Nov. 7 - 13
Lance Valiquette, Junior (Auburn, Wash.), 165 pounds of UW-Eau Claire
Valiquette went 4-0 at the Lakeland Duals on November 12 by scoring two pins and two major decisions. He started the day defeating Matt Letto of Milwaukee School of Engineering 13-4. Against Manchester (Ind.), he pinned John Musie in 1:13 and followed that performance with a 13-2 decision over Cody Klopp of Lakeland. Valiquette completed his day by pinning Ryan Gehringer of Concordia (Wis.) in 43 seconds.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Jason Lulloff, Junior, 184 pounds, Kiel
UW-Oshkosh, Adam Dorner, Junior, 174 pounds, Casco (Luxemburg-Casco)
UW-Platteville, Justin Seichter, Senior, 165 pounds, Boyd (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-Stevens Point, Eric Bath, Sophomore, 174 pounds, Pulaski