Kopnisky Earns Big 12 Wrestler of the Week Honors
2/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 1, 2001
Columbia, Mo. - Junior captain John Kopnisky has been named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for the week of Jan. 29.
Kopnisky ran his season record at 174 pounds to 26-2 and 15-0 in dual meets after posting wins over Central Missouri State's Matt Johnson (9-4) and Eastern Illinois' Louis Taylor (10-3) last week.
"Kop is definitely our most consistent wrestler," said Head Coach Brian Smith. "He keeps improving every week, which isn't really a big surprise. He works as hard as anyone in the room. He's always the first one in to practice and the last one to leave. The goals he has set are for the NCAA's in March."
The Carmel, Ind., native has not lost since Dec. 9 and currently has a 10-match win streak. Kopnisky is rated sixth nationally by Amateur Wrestling News. As a team captain, he led the Tigers to a 30-10 win over CMSU on Jan. 25 and a 28-12 victory over Eastern Illinois on Jan. 28.
Missouri, 6-8-1 overall, returns to the mat at Oklahoma on Sunday. Action begins at 7 p.m.
