2001-02 WIAC Wrestling
Athletes of the Week

Week of Feb. 4 - 10
Yan White, Sophomore (Antigo), 197 pounds of UW-Stevens Point
White defeated the top ranked wrestler in the country at 197 pounds on Friday night. He won an 8-4 decision over Kevin Rasmussen of Augsburg (Minn.) at the Pointers' dual meet at Augsburg. White also pinned Larry Moen of River Falls in 4:20 and defeated Adam Kolo of Eau Claire 6-1 in leading the Pointers to a 2-1 dual meet record over the weekend.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Davey Starks, Junior, 125 pounds, Stoughton
UW-La Crosse, Brady Cudd, Senior, 141 pounds, River Falls
UW-Whitewater, Jeff Zastrow, Junior, 174 pounds, Watertown

Week of Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
Nathan Preslaski, Senior (Pulaski), 157 pounds of UW-Stevens Point
Preslaski claimed the individual championship in the 157-pound weight class at the Eau Claire Invitational. He was 3-0 on the day, advancing to the final by defeating Shane Spensley of Augsburg (Minn.) 8-5 and Chris Muller of Eau Claire 11-4. In the championship match, he defeated Tade Kemnitz of La Crosse 7-1. The Pointers won the team title at the invitational.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Davey Starks, Junior, 125 pounds, Stoughton
UW-La Crosse, Brady Cudd, Senior, 141 pounds, River Falls
UW-Oshkosh, Luke Madson, Sophomore, 141 pounds, Clinton
UW-Platteville, Dan Coburn, Sophomore, 125 pounds, Beloit (Memorial)
UW-Whitewater, Jeff Zastrow, Junior, 174 pounds, Watertown

Week of Jan. 21 - 27
Josh Habeck, Senior (Schofield/D.C. Everest), 133 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Habeck went 3-0 on the week and became La Crosse’s career leader in wins. He opened the week with a technical fall over Platteville’s Cory Stenjen at 2:50. He then became the school’s career leader in wins with a fall over Troy Hudsptih of Lawrence at 1:31. Habeck finished the week with a fall over Mark Manchio of Northern Iowa at 6:46. Northern Iowa is ranked 15th in NCAA Division I. Habeck is now 26-4 this year and 114-28 in his career. He broke the record previously held by Ron Vorpahl (1977-81).

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Matt Renkas, Freshman, 149 pounds, Wabeno
UW-Oshkosh, Mike Kratz, Sophomore, 174 pounds, Oconto Falls
UW-Platteville, Chris Vogel, Junior, 149 pounds, Mayville
UW-Stevens Point, Justin Geitner, Freshman, 149 pounds, Kaukauna

Week of Jan. 14 - 20
Chris Vogel, Junior (Mayville), 149 pounds of UW-Platteville
Vogel won the 149-pound weight class at the Cornell (Iowa) Invitational Friday and Saturday. He beat opponents from Wartburg (Iowa), Central (Iowa) and Coe (Iowa) before defeating St. John’s (Minn.) Tim Anderson in the finals. Vogel improved to 18-3 with the four victories.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Adam Kolo, Junior, 197 pounds, Vesper (Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln)
UW-La Crosse, Brady Cudd, Senior, 133 pounds, River Falls
UW-Oshkosh, Luke Madson, Sophomore, 141 pounds, Clinton
UW-Platteville, Chris Vogel, Junior, 149 pounds, Mayville
UW-Stevens Point, Jamie Schultz, Sophomore, 174 pounds, Loyal

Week of Jan. 7 - 13
Justin Nelsen, Freshman (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), 125 pounds of UW-Whitewater
Nelsen won four matches at the North Central (Ill.) Invitational to win the 125-pound bracket. He entered the invitational as the No. 6 seed and defeated the No. 1 seed, Rodriguez of Millikin (Ill.), 8-1. Nelsen improved his overall record to 14-5 on the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Chris Muller, Junior, 157 pounds, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
UW-La Crosse, Matt Morris, Sophomore, 197 pounds, Brown Deer
UW-Oshkosh, Tim DeMars, Sophomore, 125 pounds, Neenah

Week of Dec. 31 - Jan. 6
Josh Habeck, Senior (Schofield/D.C. Everest), 133 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Habeck placed second at 133 pounds with a 3-1 record at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. Habeck, the tournament’s fifth seed, defeated #4 seed Luke Shaw of Central Missouri State by major decision (11-3) in the quarterfinals. He then defeated #1 seed Ben Sprunger of Carson-Newman 12-6 in the semifinals before falling 5-3 to #2 seed Chris Peretti of Ashland in the championship. Over Christmas break, Habeck placed eighth at 133 pounds at the Midlands Tournament in Evanston, Illinois. He went 5-3 overall and defeated opponents from VMI, Central Michigan, North Carolina, Northern Illinois and Iowa. Habeck is 16-4 on the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Chris Muller, Junior, 157 pounds, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
UW-River Falls, Larry Moen, Freshman, 197 pounds, Madison (East)
UW-Stevens Point, Cody Koenig, Freshman, 165 pounds, Underwood, Iowa

Week of Dec. 10 - 16
Nathan Muckerheide, Freshman (Oostburg), Heavyweight of UW-Oshkosh
Muckerheide helped the Titans to a 5-1 record at the Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Duals over the weekend. He notched five pins in six matches. Muckerheide had pins in 1:39, 2:46, 1:37, 1:17 and 1:12 and also won another match 9-4 to account for 33 of the Titans’ 173 total points on the weekend. He has won his last 12 matches to improve his overall record to 12-1.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Rob Rodriguez, Senior, 184 pounds, Morrisonville (DeForest)
UW-Stevens Point, Yan White, Sophomore, 197 pounds, Antigo

Week of Dec. 3 - 9
Jason Ott, Senior (Elroy/Royall), Heavyweight of UW-La Crosse
Ott went 4-0 last week at heavyweight, recording all wins by fall. He defeated Clayton Neske of Luther (Iowa) at 2:35 in La Crosse’s 20-18 win over the Norse Dec. 6. Ott then pinned three opponents at the Central (Iowa) Duals Dec. 8. He defeated Dillon Ward of Simpson (Iowa) at 3:28, Dax Doran of Buena Vista (Iowa) at 5:47 and Nick Brooks of Central at 1:22. Ott is 8-1 on the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Adam Kolo, Junior, Vesper (Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln)
UW-Oshkosh, Nathan Muckerheide, Freshman, Heavyweight, Oostburg
UW-Platteville, Jim Hamilton, Junior, 174 pounds, Rewey (Iowa Grant)
UW-River Falls, Nate Demulling, Senior, Heavyweight, Osceola
UW-Stevens Point, Cody Koenig, Freshman, 165 pounds, Underwood, Iowa
UW-Whitewater, Jason Krueger, Junior, 165 pounds, Bonduel

Week of Nov. 26 - Dec. 2
Troy Fabry, Sophomore (Ashwaubenon), 149 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Fabry won the 149-pound title at the UW-Parkside Open. He defeated Ken Schmidt of UW-Parkside by one point in the championship match. Fabry had lost to Schmidt, the defending NAIA champion, earlier in the week in a dual meet. Fabry was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the UW-Parkside Open as he went 4-0 at the tournament.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Greg Burzynski, Sophomore, 165 pounds, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-Oshkosh, Luke Madson, Sophomore, 141 pounds, Clinton
UW-Platteville, Chris McDaniel, Freshman, 157 pounds, Kaukana
UW-River Falls, Nate Demulling, Senior, Heavyweight, Osceola
UW-Stevens Point, Joe Bavlnka, Senior, 184 pounds, Germantown
UW-Whitewater, Jason Krueger, Junior, 165 pounds, Bonduel

Week of Nov. 19 - 25
Troy Seubert, Sophomore (Maple Grove, Minn.), 174 pounds of UW-Eau Claire
Seubert earned one of three Blugold wins against nationally-ranked (No. 4) Luther (Iowa) in a dual meet. He got a first period takedown, a second period escape and riding time to notch a 4-1 decision over Ron Robinson at 174 pounds.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Jason Gruszynske, Freshman, 165 pounds, Pickett (Laconia)
UW-River Falls, Nate Demulling, Senior, Heavyweight, Osceola

Week of Nov. 12 - 18
Tony Austin, Senior (Belmont), 184 pounds of UW-Platteville
Austin went undefeated during the week, including winning the 184-pound title at the Concordia Open Saturday. He beat Rory Heiring from UW-Parkside in the finals to win the tournament. The UW-Parkside wrestler had been ranked in Division II. Austin also moved up to 197 pounds and beat Eau Claire’s Nick Campbell 12-3 Thursday in the Platteville’s 37-6 win over the Blugolds.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Greg Burzynski, Sophomore, 165 pounds, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-Oshkosh, Mike Kratz, Sophomore, 174 pounds, Oconto Falls
UW-Stevens Point, Nathan Preslaski, Senior, 157 pounds, Pulaski

Week of Nov. 5 - 11
Yan White, Sophomore (Antigo), 197 pounds of UW-Stevens Point
White won the Gold Division championship at the Golden Eagle Open in Stevens Point Saturday. He recorded two pins in three matches on his way to the championship match. In the final, he shutout Jack Dennis of Division I Northern Illinois, 9-0 to claim the title.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Davey Starks, Junior, 125 pounds, Stoughton
UW-Oshkosh, Mike Kratz, Freshman, 180 pounds, Oconto Falls
UW-Platteville, Mark Meyers, Freshman, 157 pounds, La Crosse (West Salem)


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