CLEVELAND - The first Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week honor for the 2009-10 season went to Kent State's Dustin Kilgore Wednesday. A redshirt sophomore, Kilgore has already claimed the award three times in his career.

Kilgore is off to a 6-0 start with four pins and three wins over nationally-ranked opponents. On Saturday (Nov. 14), he won a 184-pound championship at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament by defeating 2008 national champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the finals. Kilgore recorded a first period pin of 18th ranked Pat Bradshaw (Edinboro) in the semifinals, before defeating the nation's top ranked wrestler 6-2. He totaled three pins on the day and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

On Nov. 7 with his team trailing Virginia Tech 18-7, Kilgore sparked a KSU comeback victory by defeating 16th ranked Tommy Spellman 9-6. The Flashes went on win the dual meet 20-18. The 2009 MAC Freshman of the Year also helped KSU defeat Chattanooga in a dual meet (22-15) later that day. With his team trailing 15-10, Kilgore pinned the Mocs' Jason McCroskey in the first period to give the Flashes the lead for good.

In this week's latest polls, the two-time Oklahoma Gold champion is ranked fifth by both Division 1 College Wrestling and InterMat.

Kilgore and the Flashes return to the mat Saturday (Nov. 21) at the Body Bar Invitational hosted by No. 4 Cornell.