SAN FRANCISCO – Joseph Bianchi has been selected as the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week, the first-ever weekly conference honor for the Little Rock wrestling program in just its third year competing. The Two Rivers, Wisconsin native earned a 5-0 decision as the Trojans battled #4 Oklahoma State at home this past weekend, bringing his record to 10-4 on the season.
Bianchi collected up a takedown and two-point near fall in the first period of his bout before a two-minute rideout in the second period to pick up the riding time point and eventual 5-0 victory. In addition to elevating his win percentage to the best on the team at 71%, it also marks his sixth straight win at home this season, lifting him to 6-0 at the Jack Stephens Center this year.
It's a fitting accolade for Bianchi, who has been putting in the work during his time at Little Rock. The redshirt sophomore spent last season splitting duals at 149 pounds before moving up a weight class to fill in at 157 at the Pac-12 Championships. This year, he has taken the role as the sole starter at 149 in stride.
"Joey has improved significantly since stepping foot on campus," added head coach Neil Erisman. "He continuously critiques himself and finds ways to get better. Joey has established himself as a team leader with his work and consistency. I am very happy for his honor and expect several more to come for him."Â
Bianchi and Little Rock wrestling team will now travel to Oregon State and Stanford this weekend for back-to-back road duals to kick off the conference slate. It will be the first pair of duals out of five-straight away matches for the Trojans before they return home to the Jack Stephens Center on January 30.
For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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