IOWA CITY – University of Iowa redshirt freshman Alex Marinelli has been named Big Ten Conference Co-Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
Marinelli upset top-ranked Vincenzo Joseph at Penn State on Feb. 10, using a six-point move in the third period to grab a 9-5 lead and end the defending NCAA champion’s 23-match winning streak.
The win boosted Marinelli from No. 7 to No. 2 in the 165-pound national rankings. He is 13-0 overall with seven wins against ranked opponents, including five inside the top 10.
Marinelli shares the weekly conference honor with Michigan’s Adam Coon. In a battle of one vs. two, Coon upset Olympic champion and Ohio State heavyweight Kyle Snyder, 3-1.
The Big Ten Conference weekly honor is Marinelli’s second and the Hawkeyes’ fifth this season. He was previously recognized Dec. 12. Michael Kemerer earned the honor Nov. 28 and Jan. 3, and Spencer Lee earned the honor Jan. 23.
The seventh-ranked Hawkeyes return to the mat Sunday at Iowa State in their final dual of the season. The annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup begins at 2 p.m. (CT) at Hilton Coliseum.
