SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced today that UNC Greensboro’s Daren Burns has been named the Wrestler of the Week.

Burns, a senior from Catawba, N.C., helped the Spartans to an 18^th place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.  Burns placed third at 197- pound weight class.  His Cliff Keen Invitational record was 8-1.  Burns lost to Michigan’s Anthony Biondo, who is ranked No.18, 5-4 in his first contest and then went on to win eight straight matches to claim in third place.  He defeated Mike Bossetts of Columbia 17-2, Jordan Taghvia of UC-Davis 11-2, David Mendoza of Old Dominion 16-1, Logan Brown of Purdue 5-4, Justin Schlecht of Dickinson State 6-2, Patrick Bond of Illinois 5-4 and Anthony Biondo of Michigan 7-5. Burns defeated Jared Villers of West Virginia by pin fall to take third place. 

Burns is 12-1 with two pins this season.  He defeated four wrestlers ranked in the top 20 at the Cliff Keen Invitational.  Burns is ranked 11^th in the USA Today/Intermat/NWCA poll at 197- pound weight class.

Other top performers include Appalachian State’s Scott Ervin, Davidson’s Sam ?O Hair and VMI’s Tyler Anthony.