Minnesota and Penn State Share Weekly Wrestling Honors
Wrestler of the Week
Josh Barr, Penn State
197 pounds – So. – Davison, Mich. – Davison
· Rolled to Penn State’s fifth championship of the day at 197 at the 2026 Southern Scuffle at Chattanooga
· Posted a 5-0 record, all for bonus points with a major, two tech falls and two pins
· Dominated No. 3 Stephen Little of Little Rock in the finals, posting a 9-1 major decision
· Pinned No. 15 Branson John of Maryland in the semifinals after he teched Adam Ortega of The Citadel 18-2 (4:10), pinned Kendric Curtis of Chattanooga (1:25) and teched Payton Thomas of Navy 20-5 (2:46)
· Last Penn State Wrestler of the Week: Shayne Van Ness (Dec. 23, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Koy Hopke, Minnesota
285 pounds – Fr. – Amery, Wis. – Amery
· Went 4-0 last week to capture the heavyweight title at the Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa
· Opened with a 2-0 shutout of Sampson Stillwell of Missouri, Hopke's third straight shutout
· Defeated Iowa State's Daniel Herrera in the quarterfinals, 5-1, before taking care of No. 10 Christian Carroll of Wyoming, 6-1, in the semifinals
· Avenged an earlier season loss to Nebraska's Cade Ziola in the finals by registering a 5-3 decision
· Outscored his opponents 18-5 and was not taken down en route to his second tournament title of the season
· Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week Award: Koy Hopke (Nov. 6, 2025)
2025-26 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Nov. 6
W: Koy Hopke, Fr., Minnesota
F: Koy Hopke, Minnesota
Nov. 13
W: Stoney Buell, Sr., Purdue
F: Isaiah Schaefer, Purdue
Nov. 20
W: Angelo Ferrari, Fr., Iowa
F: Ben Davino, Ohio State
Nov. 28
W: Massoma Endene, Gr., Iowa
F: Cameron Catrabone, Michigan
Dec. 4
W: Ryder Block, So., Iowa
F: Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
Dec. 11
W: Joey Blaze, Jr., Purdue
F: Eddie Enright, Northwestern
Dec. 18
W: Carson Kharchla, Gr., Ohio State
F: PJ Duke, Penn State
Dec. 23
W: Shayne Van Ness, Jr., Penn State
F: Marcus Blaze, Penn State
Jan. 8
W: Josh Barr, So., Penn State
F: Koy Hopke, Minnesota