John Velez

Class: Senior Hometown: Kings Mills, Ohio High School: Kings

Height / Weight: 5-4 / 125

2005-06: Posted a 27-10 overall record, including a 12-2 dual and 6-2 Big Ten mark ... Earned his first-career All-America honor, becoming the 30th NU wrestler to do so ... Earned his third-straight NCAA Championships appearance ... Began the season by winning his first eight matches (11/12-12/18) ... Won four-straight matches in the consolation bracket at the NCAA Championships ... Earned a fourth-place finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions, going 5-2 ... Recorded two pins on the season, good for seventh on the team ... Had six wins by major decision ... Tallied one technical fall ... Pinned Illinois' then-No. 3 Kyle Ott to give Northwestern a 6-0 lead, eventually leading NU to its 19-16 victory over the No. 3 Illini ... Went 2-2 at the Big Ten Championships, placing fourth ... Posted a 2-1 record at the Midlands Wrestling Championships, but had to withdraw due to injury ... Ranked top-10 according to all four major wrestling polls, reaching as high as No. 7 in the NWCA poll.

2004-05: 19-7 overall, 6-1 in duals and 5-1 in Big Ten ... Posted 3-2 mark in his second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, narrowly missing All-America status by one win ... Finished sixth at Big Ten Championships, posting a 2-3 record ... Posted 2-0 record at Michigan State Open before getting injured ... One of six 'Cats to go perfect 4-0 at Beast of the East Invitational, claiming first place ... Went 2-1 at 42nd Midlands Championships ... Broke a 19-19 tie in the final bout against Iowa (1/29) by earning a 10-8 decision over Charlie Falck to edge the `Cats past the Hawkeyes, 22-19, for NU's first win over Iowa in 33 years ... Upset second-ranked Kyle Ott of Illinois (2/17) ... Recorded two major decision victories.

2003-04: Had 28-13 overall record ... Went 2-2 at NCAA Championships ... Held to an 0-3 mark at the Big Ten Championships ... Claimed fourth place at MSU Open with a 5-2 record ... Went 3-0 at NU Duals ... Put up a 3-0 record at NIU Duals ... Took first place at the Beast of the East Invitational ... Went 5-2 at the Midlands Championships for a fourth-place finish ... Had a 14-match winning streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 29 ... Had a 10-0 record in non-conference dual action.

2002-03: Had 19-20 record, good for fourth-most wins on team ... His 19 wins ranked in the top-10 in the nation among freshmen at 125 pounds ... Placed sixth at MSU Open after going 6-2 ... Went 4-2 at Northern Iowa Open ... Went 1-2 at Missouri Open ... Had 6-10 dual record ... Owned team-best 8-2 major decision mark ... Went 0-2 at Big Ten Championships.

2001-02: Went 0-4 in limited action.

High School: Four-year letterwinner ... State champion in 2001--first ever for high school ...High school's Athlete of the Year ... Three-time sectional champ ...Two-time district champ ...Earned four letters in track and cross country.

Personal: Born John Alexander Velez on 5/31/83 ...Son of Alberto and Jean Velez ...Majoring in electrical engineering.