Ybarra chosen as GPAC Wrestler of the Week

By Jacob Knabel on Nov. 24, 2021 in Wrestling

GPAC Release

SEWARD, Neb. – For his performances at the Younes Hospitality Open, Mario Ybarra has been chosen as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the conference on Wednesday (Nov. 24). This marked the first weekly honor handed out this 2021-22 season by the GPAC. Ybarra has collected a GPAC Wrestler of the Week award for the first time in his career.

As part of the Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 20, Ybarra placed as the 133-pound runner up in the elite bracket. The native of Scottsbluff, Neb., started his day with three-straight victories, including wins over NAIA 14th-ranked Taylor Vasquez of Morningside and NCAA Division II 14th-ranked Collin Metzgar of Colorado Mesa University. Ybarra then narrowly lost (sudden victory) in the championship match while up against Air Force’s Nick Krug. Ybarra is currently ranked eighth in the NAIA at 133.

Ybarra is coming off an All-America national tournament place finish of seventh at 133 pounds last season. A two-time national qualifier and the 2020 GPAC champion at 125, Ybarra owns a career record of 65-26. He’s also been named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and NWCA Scholar All-American.

Ybarra and the Bulldogs will return to action next Wednesday (Dec. 1) with a pair of duals in Sioux City, Iowa, where they will take on Dakota Wesleyan and Morningside.