A one-two punch of victories over ranked wrestlers from both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State helped earn Cyclone Chris Bono Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honors.

Bono, a senior in physical education from Ponte Vedra, Fla., is ranked second in the nation at 150 pounds. He major-decisioned No. 6 Rod Jones of Oklahoma on Friday and didn’t allow his opponent a single takedown.

Against Oklahoma State, Bono pounded ninth-ranked Jimmy Arias by a score of 11-4, a performance that pleased Head Coach Bobby Douglas.

“His performance against Oklahoma State in a very tough match was superb,” Douglas said. “He’s certainly making progress.”

Bono’s achievement is evident in his list of accomplishments. In high school, he triumphed over all the competition with three individual Florida state championships. Amateur Wrestling News ranked him the nation’s top 145-pounder.

During his first year as a varsity wrestler, Bono finished third in the Big Eight Championship. His record has steadily improved during his tenure at Iowa State, earning All-American status by placing fifth at the NCAA tournament in 1995.

Last year, Bono clawed his way to the top of the heap with a win in the final match of the NCAA tournament. He also snagged his first Big Eight title, defeating Biff Jones of Oklahoma in overtime, 4-3.

He’s well on his way to beating last year’s 37-4 tally; with this weekend’s two victories, Bono upped his season record to 24-2.

“Chris hasn’t skipped a beat since he’s been at Iowa State,” Douglas said. “He continues to improve, he continues to work hard, and he’s getting good results. He’s most deserving of the honor.”

Even when the rest of the team may be having a hard time, Bono seems to somehow pull out a victory. He was the only Cyclone to come home after the National Duals with an unblemished record.

“He’s not only one of the most consistent wrestlers on the team, he’s one of the most consistent in the country,” Douglas said.