SPARTANBURG, S.C. - UNCG sophomore Ivan Lopouchanski has been named Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for all competitions this season through November 23.

Lopouchanski is currently 11-1 through the first three weeks of the season. He began his season by going 5-0 at the Third Annual Hokie Open Wrestling Tournament where he won the 149 pound title. He picked up four wins, two by pin and one by major decision to advance to the finals. In the finals, he defeated No. 16 Brian Stephen's from Virginia Tech, 9-4.

The sophomore followed that up with the 149-pound title at the NC State Open the next weekend. He had a pair of 16-0 technical falls to begin the tournament and then received an injury default into the finals where he defeated Duke's AJ Guardado.

The Spartans opened the dual season this past Friday against No. 4 Wisconsin and Lopouchanski once again rose to the occasion as he defeated Cole Schmitt, who was ranked 16th-nationally. UNCG then competed at the ACC Challenge on Sunday against No. 15 Virginia Tech and North Carolina. Lopouchanski dropped his first match of the season against Virginia Tech as he lost the rematch to Brian Stephens, who was ranked 19th-nationally at the time. He then defeated North Carolina's Jake Vonderbruegge, 6-2, in the other dual match.

After not being ranked in the preseason, Lopouchanski has moved to No. 16 in the Intermat poll at 149 pounds and as high as No. 11 on WrestlingReport.com.

Other nominees: Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (The Citadel) and Prescott Garner (Chattanooga).

2010-11 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week

Nov. 24     Ivan Lopouchanski, UNCG