NDSU's Julson and Wyoming's McCulley Share WWC Weekly Award

Courtesy: NDSU Athletic Media Relations

February 05, 2013

North Dakota State University 174-pound sophomore Kurtis Julson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) and University of Wyoming 157-pound sophomore Andy McCulley (Rock Springs, Wyo./Rock Springs HS) have been named Co-Western Wrestling Conference Wrestlers of the Week after both had outstanding performances on the mat last weekend. The conference award was announced Tuesday by the league.

Julson helped spark a Bison rally in their dual with No. 20 Northern Iowa on Sunday by posting a 3-2 decision over No. 19 Cody Caldwell of UNI.

Julson used a takedown with 33 seconds remaining in the third period to knock off the ranked Caldwell, 3-2. The NDSU sophomore's decision closed the NDSU deficit to 14-11 with three matches remaining, ultimately giving the 25th-ranked Bison a chance for their fourth win over a ranked opponent this season going into the heavyweight match.

McCulley got Wyoming off to a great start in UW's last dual versus Northern Colorado. He improved his record to 7-0 against conference opponents when he pinned UNC's Mitchell Polkowske just 48 seconds into their 157-pound match.

The pin was McCulley's team-leading 11th fall of the season, and his second pin of Polkowske this season The sophomore's win sparked a 21-0 run to begin the dual, and the 21st-ranked Cowboys eventually won their eighth dual of the year, 34-10.

Ranked 13th in the nation, McCulley now is 24-6 this season with 14 bonus-point victories.

The conference honor is both wrestlers' first of the season of first of their careers.

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its seventh year of competition, is comprised of six schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

2012-13 WWC Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 6 - Alfonso Hernandez (Wyoming)
Nov. 13 - Josh Wilson (Utah Valley)
Nov. 20 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Nov. 27 - Trent Sprenkle (North Dakota State)
Dec. 4 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Dec. 11 - Brandon Richardson (Wyoming)
Dec. 18 - Tyler Cox (Wyoming)
Jan. 1 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Jan. 8 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Jan. 15 - Trent Sprenkle (North Dakota State)
Jan. 22 - Dylan Hyder (AFA)/Jade Rauser (UVU)
Jan. 29 - Josh Martinez (Air Force)
Feb. 5 - Kurtis Julson (NDSU)/Andy McCulley (Wyoming)