INDIANAPOLIS – Upper Iowa redshirt-freshman Braxten Westendorf and Grand Valley State senior Sage Mortimer haverespectively been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Athletic Solutions Wrestler of the Week in men’s and women’s wrestling, it was announced by the league office Wednesday.
MEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Braxten Westendorf, #21 Upper Iowa
R-Fr. | 184 | Waverly, Iowa
Major: Business
Team Results: 16-22 L vs. #6 Tiffin, 19-24 L vs. #8 McKendree, 21-18 W vs. #25 King (TN), 14-25 L vs. West Liberty at NWCA National Duals (1/9-10)
- Recorded 4-0 record at NWCA National Duals, including one ranked victory
- Defeated No. 12-ranked David Davis from Tiffin (9-1) and King’s Luke Justice (10-2) by major decision
- Beat McKendree’s Ridge Schutte (21-6) via tech fall
- Emerged victorious by sudden victory against West Liberty’s Gabe Blissenbach (7-4)
- Improved to 19-4 on the season
- Earns first career Wrestler of the Week Award
- Last Peacocks’ Wrestler of the Week: Matthew Marcum (12/10/25)
WOMEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
#1 Sage Mortimer, #3 Grand Valley State
Sr. | 117 | Springville, Utah
Major: Integrative Studies
Team Results: 43-2 W vs. Sioux Falls, 24-17 W vs. #5 Presbyterian, 13-25 L vs. #1 McKendree, 15-26 L vs. #2 Iowa at NWCA National Duals (1/9-10)
- Went 4-0 at NWCA National Duals, including one ranked win
- Beat Sioux Falls’ Abigail Wilfong (10-0) and No. 2-ranked Yu Sakamoto from McKendree (14-3) via tech fall
- Won by default against Presbyterian’s Jenna Anderson
- Moved up to 124-lb division against Iowa and pinned Isabella Gonzales in just 37 seconds
- Earns first career Wrestler of the Week Award
- Last Lakers’ Wrestler of the Week: Libby Roberts (11/12/25)