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FROM STAFF REPORTS

GREENVILLE, S.C. – University of Montevallo Wrestling’s Gabe Hixenbaugh has been named the Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week as the league office announced Tuesday.

Hixenbaugh earns the program’s first Player of the Week award this week after going 5-0 in the UIndy Midwest Classic to win the 133 bracket.

The redshirt junior from Alabaster, Alabama improved to 17-0 on the year this week when he defeated the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 ranked wrestlers in NCAA Division II in route to his third open tournament Championship Title of the year.

Hixenbaugh earned a bye in the first round and defeated Collin Creach from Newman by major decision 13-0. In round three, Hixenbaugh won by tech fall over Ryan Ripplinger from McKendree.

In the quarterfinals, the 133-pounder topped defending national champion and No.1 Gavin Quiocho from Glenville State, 4-2 – marking the highest-ranked win for Hixenbaugh in his career and in UM’s program history.

Hixenbaugh faced No. 5 Elijah Lusk of Lander in the semifinals and earned a win 11-4 to move on to the finals.

In the 133-championship match, Hixenbaugh faced 2023 National Runner Up and No.2, Quentrevion Campbell from Chadron State, winning 9-2.

With this week’s performance Hixenbaugh, currently ranked No. 7/10, is now 17-0, 6-0 versus ranked opponents, has two major decision wins, seven tech fall wins, and three pin victories.

Hixenbaugh and the Falcons will return to action after the holiday break to take on Emory & Henry and Bluefield State in Emory, Va., Jan. 10.