UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Nittany Lion sophomore Vincenzo Joseph has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2018. He becomes Penn State’s first Big Ten weekly honoree of the year and shares this week’s honor with Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello.
Joseph, defending NCAA champion at 165 and ranked No. 1 nationally, continued his unbeaten start to the 2017-18 season by dominating All-American Logan Massa of Michigan and pinning Michigan State's Austin Hiles. Joseph posted a convincing 12-3 major over Massa on Friday night in Ann Arbor, using a six-point move in the third period to ice a bout he was in control of from the get go. Two days later, the nation's top-ranked 165-pounder notched a first period pin (2:48) over Hiles in East Lansing. Joseph improved to 11-0 on the year and his performance helped Penn State to a 25-12 win at No. 4 Michigan and a 48-3 victory at Michigan State.
Joseph's unbeaten start to the season has helped Penn State run its record to 7-0 (3-0 in the Big Ten) and its dual unbeaten streak to 38-0 dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. He is currently 11-0 on the year with two pins, three tech falls and four majors.