



Ronna Heaton (Brookings, S.D./Team USA) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week.Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level.Heaton captured a gold medal for the U.S. at the United World Wrestling Cadet World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia.Heaton scored takedowns on counters in each period to defeat Japan’s Saki Igarishi 4-0 and win a Cadet World title in women’s freestyle wrestling on Thursday night.Heaton ran around the mat carrying an American flag in celebration of her big win.Heaton countered a leg attack midway through the first period and powered behind Igarishi for the first takedown at 49 kg/108 lbs.Leading 2-0 midway through the second period, Heaton countered another leg attack and scooted behind Igarishi for a second takedown.From there, Heaton stayed strong defensively and kept Igarishi at bay as time ran out.Heaton got off to a fast start, stopping Esra Pul of Turkey 12-3 then defeating Anastasia Sizenko of Russia 10-6. In the semifinals, she fell behind Yevgenia Pavlova of Ukraine 4-0, but she came back to reverse Pavlova to her back and record a fall.Heaton was a Fargo Junior Nationals champion this summer.Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org