SAN FRANCISCO – Matty Bianchi has been named the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week, the first weekly conference honor for the Little Rock wrestling program this season and the second ever in the program's young history. The Two Rivers, Wisconsin native earned a 8-5 decision over the #18 wrestler in the country as the Trojans took on Stanford at home this past weekend, collecting a win over a ranked opponent.
In his individual match at 157 pounds, Bianchi and #18 Darracott from Stanford entered the third period tied 3-3. The redshirt freshman collected another takedown, claiming a lead he wouldn't relinquish on the way to an exciting 8-5 victory.
It's a well-deserved accolade for Bianchi, who has stepped into his role as the starter at 157 pounds for the Trojans with confidence and poise. The win, also his first in a Pac-12 dual, brings him to an even 9-9 on the season.
The talent runs in the family, as the program's first-ever weekly conference honor was earned by older brother and current 149-pound starter Joseph Bianchi in January of 2022.
"I'm super excited for Matty," said head coach Neil Erisman. "He's been right on the cusp of some really big wins. It's cool to see him finally gaining some confidence so he can go into this weekend looking for some more, and I believe he can and will."
Bianchi and Little Rock wrestling team will now travel to #19 Arizona State, Cal Poly and CSU-Bakersfield this weekend for a series road duals to conclude the conference slate, with only five total dual left on the table ahead of the Pac-12 Championships on March 5.
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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