UNI's Bonin shares WWC Wrestler of the Week honor

University of Northern Iowa 157-pounder David Bonin earned Wrestler of the Week honors from the Western Wrestling Conference on Tuesday. He shared the award with Wyoming 184-pounder Joe LeBlanc.

Bonin scored a 4-3 victory over Nebraska's sixth-ranked James Green last week. It was his 11th straight dual win and his second over a ranked foe. It is the second time in three weeks he has shared the honor and the fourth straight week a Panther wrestler has been recognized by the conference

Below is the news release from UNI:

http://www.unipanthers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26200&ATCLID=205384515

OREM, Utah -- University of Northern Iowa 157-pound redshirt junior David Bonin (Broussard, La./Comeaux HS) and University of Wyoming 184-pound senior Joe LeBlanc (Meeker, Colo./Meeker HS) have been named Co-Western Wrestling Conference Wrestlers of the Week after both had outstanding performances on the mat last weekend. The final 2011-12 weekly award was released Tuesday by the league.

Bonin continued his recent streak of impressive wins last weekend with arguably his biggest victory of the season as he upset No. 6 James Green of Nebraska with a 4-3 decision.

The UNI junior had a 3-1 lead going into the final 30 seconds of the match but a one-point penalty paired with a Green escape notched the score. Riding time ended up being Bonin's friend in the end, however, as it offset the match's 3-3 tie at the end of the third period.

The win was Bonin's 11th-straight dual victory and his second over a ranked opponent during the span. Bonin broke into the InterMat rankings for the first time of the season last week and he is currently rated No. 16 at 157 pounds.

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its sixth year of competition, is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

Other Nominees:

Air Force: Greg Rinker, 125 pounds, So., (Northampton, Pa./Northampton HS)

Northern Colorado: Gabe Burak, 165 pounds, Sr., (Colorado Springs, Colo./Penn)

2011-12 WWC Wrestlers of the Week

Nov. 9 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)

Nov. 15 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)

Nov. 22 - Kasey Garnhart (Wyoming)/Steven Monk (North Dakota State)

Nov. 29 - Ryan Loder (Northern Iowa)

Dec. 6 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)

Dec. 13 - Zach Zehner (Wyoming)

Dec. 20 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)

Jan. 4 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State)

Jan. 10 - Pat Martinez (Wyoming)

Jan. 17 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)

Jan. 24 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)

Jan. 31 - Joe Colon (Northern Iowa)

Feb. 7 - David Bonin (Northern Iowa)/Clayton Gable (Air Force)

Feb. 14 - Joe Colon (Northern Iowa)

Feb. 21 - David Bonin (Northern Iowa)/Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)