FERRUM, Virginia -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) has named its Athletes of the Week, and Ferrum College senior Zach Beckner has been named ODAC Lighter Weight Wrestler of the Week. This is Beckner's first league honor.

A senior from Front Royal, Virginia, Beckner won a pair of ODAC matches last week, most notably a 6-0 upset of No. 3 ranked Mason Barrett of Averett University February 6 at home. He then posted a 15-0 tech fall over Matthew Papa of Southern Virginia University in a time of 5:11 February 8 during Senior Night.

Currently ranked No. 9 in the nation by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, Beckner is now 15-1. His only loss this season came at the hands of an NCAA Division I wrestler from West Virginia University at the Southeast Open, hosted by Virginia Tech in early November.

Of Beckner's 16 matches this season, 14 have been for bonus points with four pins, nine 9 nine tech falls and a major decision. Beckner was a national runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. He is Ferrum's second-ever NCAA All-American wrestler. Beckner wrestled two years before leaving school and returning for the 2023-24 season, in which he once again qualified for the wrestled in the NCAA Tournament.

Beckner is one of three Ferrum wrestlers to have qualified twice for the NCAA Tournament. Current Head Coach Logan Meister made three trips to the national championships in 2014, 2016 and 2017, while fellow senior Rayshawn Dixon has qualified twice, in 2023 and 2024.