CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois redshirt junior Emery Parker has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the Big Ten office on Tuesday afternoon. The 184-pounder earned the honor by winning two matches this past weekend, defeating No. 6 Taylor Venz (Nebraska) and No. 18 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern), to help the Illini win both dual meets.
Boasting an eight-match winning streak, Parker (13-1) is now the consensus No. 6 wrestler at 184-pounds, according to InterMat, WIN Magazine and OpenMat weekly rankings.
During the eight consecutive victories, Parker has outscored his opponents 63-30, and has recorded five wins over Big Ten opponents. Of the eight wins, four came on the way to a 2017 Midlands title last month, becoming the 11th Illini to win the holiday tournament.
Friday night's victory over Venz came in comeback fashion, as Parker closed the match on an 8-0 run in the final minute. Trailing Venz, 7-1, midway through the final period, Parker used a takedown and six back points to take the lead with nine seconds remaining.
The wins by Parker against Venz and Sliga are his second and third wins over ranked opponents this season.
The Big Ten weekly accolade is the first of Parker's career, and the first for an Illini grappler since Zac Brunson was named the conference's Wrestler of the Week on December 22, 2015.
The 12th ranked Illini are back in action on Sunday, November 14, when they wrestle No. 14 Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota at 1 p.m. central time. The dual can be streamed live on BTN Plus or FloWrestling with a subscription to either platform.
Big Ten Wrestlers of the Week:
Nov. 7 Javier Gasca, Michigan State
Nov. 14 Adam Coon, MICH // Te'Shan Campbell, OSU
Nov. 21 Youssif Hemida, Maryland
Nov. 28 Michael Kermerer, Iowa
Dec. 5 Kollin Moore, OSU // Alec Pantaleo, MICH
Dec. 12 Alex Marinelli, Iowa
Dec. 19 Patrick Gerish, Maryland
Jan. 3 MIchael Kemerer, Iowa
Jan. 9 EMERY PARKER, ILLINOIS
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini wrestling, go to FIGHTINILLINI.com and follow @IlliniWrestling on Twitter and Instagram.
