Wrestling Southern Conference

Khishignyam Repeats as Wrestler of the Week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel’s Ugi Khishignyam has been named the Southern Conference wrestler of the week for all competition Dec. 12-19. The award is his second in a row. The selection is made by the league office.

Khishignyam went 5-0 on the week, winning the 141-pound title and earning Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev., on Sunday.

The redshirt freshman from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, started the tournament off with a pin of SoCon foe Chris Johnson of Appalachian State. He followed that up with a technical fall over Stanford’s Peter Russo  before earning a major decision over Adams State’s Max Ortego in the quarterfinals.

A pair of ranked opponents fell next, with Khishignyam earning an 8-4 decision over West Virginia’s 18th-ranked Nathan Pennesi in the semifinals before dropping No. 4 Michael Mangrum of Oregon State, 4-3, in the title bout. The tournament title was Khishignyam’s second of the year, as he also took the 141 crown at the Navy Classic on Nov. 17.

Khishignyam moved up one spot in the national rankings to No. 6 in his weight class after the big weekend. He improved to 19-2 on the year.

The weekly award is the second of Khishignyam’s young career. The Citadel has earned the honor three times this season, as Odie Delaney took the award on Nov. 21.

The Citadel (1-1, 1-0 SoCon) is back in action at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Jan. 1-2.

Also nominated: Jesse Johnson (Appalachian State), Eric Montoya (Campbell), Alex Medved (Gardner-Webb), Kyle Lowman (SIUE) and Nick Soto (Chattanooga).


2012-13 SoCon wrestlers of the week
Nov. 7    Nick Soto, Chattanooga
Nov. 14    Niko Brown, Chattanooga
Nov. 21    Odie Delaney, The Citadel
Dec. 5    Patrick Myers, SIUE
Dec. 12    Ugi Khishignyam, The Citadel
Dec. 19    Ugi Khishignyam, The Citadel
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