Ohio State and Rutgers Claim Weekly Wrestling Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its wrestling weekly awards for competition taking place February 4-11, 2026.

Wrestler of the Week
Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State

125 pounds – Jr. – Tampa, Fla. – Wyoming Seminary

·       Contributed to No. 2 Ohio State's 24-point unanswered scoring run over No. 5 Iowa with the Buckeyes' 24-9 win over the Hawkeyes

·       Recorded a 9-5 win by decision over No. 6 Dean Peterson

·       The victory, in a sold out Covelli Center, secured an undefeated (7-0) home season for Ohio State, who is off to a program record 17-0 start to the 2025-26 season

·       Improved to 12-1 on the season and 7-0 against ranked opponents

·       Last Ohio State Wrestler of the Week honoree: Nick Feldman (Jan. 30, 2026)

Freshman of the Week
Ayden Smith, Rutgers

125 pounds – Allentown, Pa. – Notre Dame – Green Pond

·      Defeated No. 10 Jore Volk, a 2024 All-American, by 7-2 decision in Rutgers' 23-15 dual win over No. 6 Minnesota

·      Landed two takedowns on Volk, including one with under 10 seconds remaining to secure the highest-ranked win of his career

·      Helped the Scarlet Knights secure the program's highest-ranked win since it defeated No. 7 Lehigh, 18-15, on Feb. 20, 2016 and its first over a top-six opponent since it defeated Nebraska, 17-17, on Dec. 12, 2015

·      Earns the program’s first Freshman of the Week honor

2025-26 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Nov. 6
W: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota
F: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota

Nov. 13
W: Stoney Buell, Sr., Purdue
F: Isaiah Schaefer, Fr., Purdue

Nov. 20
W: Angelo Ferrari, R-Fr., Iowa
F: Ben Davino, R-Fr., Ohio State

Nov. 28
W: Massoma Endene, Gr., Iowa
F: Cameron Catrabone, R-Fr., Michigan

Dec. 4
W: Ryder Block, So., Iowa
F: Angelo Ferrari, R-Fr., Iowa

Dec. 11
W: Joey Blaze, Jr., Purdue
F: Eddie Enright, Fr., Northwestern

Dec. 18
W: Carson Kharchla, Gr., Ohio State
F: PJ Duke, Fr., Penn State

Dec. 23
W: Shayne Van Ness, Jr., Penn State
F: Marcus Blaze, Fr., Penn State

Jan. 8
W: Josh Barr, So., Penn State
F: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota

Jan. 15
W: Zan Fugitt, R-So., Wisconsin
F: e'Than Birden, R-Fr., Ohio State

Jan. 22
W: Rocco Welsh, So., Penn State

F: Cole Mirasole, R-Fr., Penn State

Jan. 30

W: Nick Feldman, R-Jr., Ohio State

F: Marcus Blaze, Penn State

Feb. 5

W: Joseph Zargo, Sr., Wisconsin

F: Charlie Millard, Minnesota

Feb. 12

W: Nic Bouzakis, Jr., Ohio State

F: Ayden Smith, Rutgers