Nov. 23, 2010
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin junior Travis Rutt (184 lbs.) was named Big Ten Conference Wrestler of the Week, it was announced Tuesday.
The New Prauge, Minn., native helped the No. 4 Badgers win their first four duals of the 2010-11 season last weekend by winning four individual bouts.
Ranked No. 12 last week, three of his four victories were over ranked opponents including one via major decision.
As the Badgers faced UNC-Greensboro Nov. 19, Rutt notched an 8-6 decision over No. 16 Andrew Saunders to help the Badgers earn a 34-12 dual win over the Spartans.
Wisconsin wrapped up the weekend Nov. 21 in Chapel Hill, N.C., where they competed against then-No. 15 Virginia Tech, UT-Chattanooga and North Carolina in the ACC Challenge.
Rutt started the ACC Challenge with a major decision over No. 11 Tommy Spellman of Virginia Tech. It was a statement win as Rutt defeated Spellman, 9-1, to help Wisconsin garner a 24-19 victory over the Hokies.
In the Badgers’ second dual of the day against challenge host, North Carolina, Rutt captured an 8-3 decision over Antonio Giorgio. Wisconsin nearly swept the Tarheels with a score of 27-3.
The junior wrapped up the weekend with his fourth victory, this time earning a 13-6 decision over No. 15 Jason McCroskey of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. With the help of Rutt’s final win, the Badgers defeated Chattanooga, 25-16.
Rutt is the first Badger to earn the accolade since then-redshirt junior Trevor Brandvold earned the award for the week of Feb. 9, 2010.
