Marion's winning return garners award

University of Iowa wrestler Montell Marion was named Themat.com's Wrestler of the Week on Monday for his performance in the No. 8 Hawkeyes' 22-13 win at top-ranked Penn State Sunday.

Marion, who made his first official appearance in competition for Iowa since the finals of 2010 NCAA Championships, posted a come-from-behind 11-9 win over No. 5 Andrew Alton at 141 pounds. Marion, the NCAA runner-up at 141 last season, fell into an early deficit when Alton threw him to his back for a 5-0 lead. Marion chipped away at the lead and then dominated the final period with three takedowns, including the decisive score in the final 40 seconds.

Marion's victory gave Iowa a big 12-0 lead and propelled them to the victory at State College, Pa., in front of more than 6,500 fans wearing white for a "White Out" promotion.

Marion, who was "permanently suspended" in the spring after an OWI arrest, was reinstated to the team the first week of January, but had not wrestled for Iowa until Sunday. Marion did compete and won the Flash Flanagan Open Jan. 22, but was unattached and not as a member of the Hawkeye team.

Marion was a four-time state finalist and two-time state champion, winning one title each at West Des Moines Valley and Des Moines Roosevelt.