SPARTANBURG, S.C. – SIUE junior Freddie Rodriguez has been named the Arby’s Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for all competition from Feb. 17-23. The selection is made by the league office and is the final one of the 2015-16 campaign.
Rodriguez went 4-1 last week, picking a dual win and finishing third at 125 pounds at the U.S. Collegiate Championships hosted by Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rodriguez opened his week with a 16-10 win over Luke Schroeder of 23rd-ranked Purdue on Friday.
On Sunday, the Lansing, Mich., native went 3-1 in Colorado, with his lone loss coming to No. 16 Drew Templeman of Wyoming. Rodriguez picked up an 18-8 major decision over Arizona State’s Josh Kramer to open his tournament before falling to Templeman to drop to the consolation bracket. There, he pinned New Mexico Highlands’ Victor Munoz in 2:49 before topping Kramer again in the third-place match, 5-3.
Rodriguez finished the regular season with a 12-1 mark. The weekly award is the first of his Cougar career.
SIUE (5-11, 3-3 SoCon), along with the other seven league teams, is back in action at the Arby’s Southern Conference Wrestling Championship on March 5 at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C. The Cougars, who turned in their best-ever SoCon regular-season finish at fourth this year, won two individual titles last year, including one by tournament MVP Connor McMahon at 165 pounds. McMahon, as well as 197-pounder Jake Tindle, will return to try to defend their titles this season.
Also nominated: Michael Longo (Appalachian State), Alex Vosburgh (Campbell) and Aaron Walker (The Citadel).
2015-16 Arby’s SoCon Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 4 Paul Duggan, Campbell
Nov. 11 John Fahy, SIUE
Nov. 18 Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
Nov. 25 Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
Dec. 9 Nick Kee, Appalachian State
Dec. 16 Forrest Przybysz, Appalachian State
Dec. 23 Marshall Haas, The Citadel
Jan. 6 Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
Jan. 13 Nathan Kraisser, Campbell
Jan. 20 Aaron Walker, The Citadel
Jan. 27 Austin Trott, Gardner-Webb
Feb. 3 Dalton Henderson, VMI
Feb. 10 Boyce Cornwell, Gardner-Webb
Feb. 17 Scottie Boykin, Chattanooga
Feb. 23 Freddie Rodriguez, SIUE
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