Wrestling | January 4

CLEVELAND - In addition to his Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week award. No. 9 redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik of the Northern Illinois University wrestling team earned his inaugural MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor, the conference office announced Wednesday.
 
Last week, No. 10 Izzak Olejnik at 165 pounds took fourth place at the historic 58th Midlands Championships. He won his first two boutsvia pin over Blaine Bergey (Princeton) and Kendall Norfleet (Triton). Olejnik blanked Lehigh's Luca Frinzi 4-0, setting up a bout against No. 8 Justin McCoy of Virginia. The redshirt-senior won the match 3-2 to reach the semifinals on day two. In the semis, Olejnik dropped a decision to Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) but bounced back in the consolation semifinals with a 5-2 win over Nathan Lackman of Rhode Island College to reach the third place match.
 
The MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition.  Each week schools are asked to nominate one female and one male among the sports that are in season at the time.  The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.
 
Olejnik is the third Huskie to win the award this academic year. Previously, A'Jah Davis and Chelby Koker of the women's basketball team were named MAC Scholar Athlete in weeks 12 and 13.