SPARTANBURG, S.C. – App State’s Codi Russell has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for all competition from Jan. 27-Feb. 2. The selection is made by the league office.
 
No. 23 Russell remains undefeated in SoCon duals with six wins after a 4-3 decision in a top-25 matchup against Chattanooga’s No. 21 Fabian Gutierrez. The Atlanta, Georgia, native also had a pin just 71 seconds into his match against Presbyterian’s Benny Gomez. Russell came back from a 3-2 deficit against Gutierrez on a takedown with 53 seconds left and prevented a tying escape the rest of the way, despite several close calls from his opponent. The redshirt senior is 9-1 overall this season and has improved to 70-36 in his App State career, including 22-4 in SoCon duals.
 
App State (5-2, 5-1 SoCon) travels to Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 5 for its last two conference matchups of the 2020-21 season against VMI and The Citadel, before the Mountaineers host the 2021 SoCon Wrestling Championship on Feb. 28 in Boone, North Carolina.
 
Also nominated: Benjamin Barton (Campbell), Anthony Perrine (Gardner-Webb), Colton Landers (Chattanooga) and Job Chishko (VMI).
 
2020-21 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week
Jan. 6         Benjamin Barton, R-Sr., 157, Campbell
Jan. 13       Will Formato, R-So., 165, App State
Jan. 20       Caleb Hopkins, R-So, 184, Campbell
Jan. 27       Austin Murphy, Jr., 174, Campbell
Feb. 3        Codi Russell, R-Sr., 125, App State