photo by Ben Barnhart

The d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week is Hunter Ayen of Springfield. Dropping to 197 for the first time this season, Ayen won the Doug Parker Invitational in front of his home crowd. After a first round bye, Ayen pinned Mark Howard of Coast Guard in the second period before a quarterfinal pin of 2013 NCAA qualifier Josh Roometua of Wesleyan in the first period. He defeated another Coast Guard wrestler, Phillip Azzari, in the semifinals before taking on NCAA qualifier Shane Parcel of Roger Williams. Ayen came out on top of an 8-0 major decision to claim his first college tournament title. Ayen’s big day increased his season and career records to 7-3 while helping Springfield to the tournament title.

Ayen, a freshman from Gouveneur, New York, began the year at 285 and placed 6th at the Ithaca Invitational to start his career in his only other action prior to this weekend. Ayen was a New York state champion last year in the Division II 195 lbs. bracket and was a two time state qualifier. Springfield takes this week off before hitting the road and heading to the Messiah Petrofes Invitational on December 6th and 7th to finish out their 2013 competition slate.