Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Heil Named to Preseason Hodge Trophy Candidate List
December 13, 2016 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State junior 141-pounder Dean Heil is one of eight wrestlers that have been named to the preseason WIN Magazine/Culture House Hodge Trophy candidate list.
Â
The WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS, is considered the Heisman Trophy for amateur wrestling and has been presented to the nation's best wrestler since 1995. Created by WIN founder Mike Chapman, the award is named after the former three-time University of Oklahoma national champion (1955-57) who never allowed a takedown in his college career.
Â
Criteria for the award include a wrestler's record, number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship and heart.
Â
Heil has racked up a 67-11 overall record in his two-plus seasons of competition at Oklahoma State, including a 32-1 campaign last year that was capped with his first career NCAA Championship. The Brunswick, Ohio, native won 13 matches against ranked opponents as a sophomore, including six against top-five opponents. Heil is off to a nice start for his junior year, posting an 8-0 mark thus far with five of his eight wins coming with bonus points.
Â
With two former wrestlers having won the award, Oklahoma State is one of five programs to boast multiple Hodge Trophy winners. Last season, Alex Dieringer hoisted the trophy following a dominant 33-0 senior campaign to join Steve Mocco on the list of former Cowboy recipients.
Â
The winner of the 2017 Hodge Trophy will be named following the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 16-18 in St. Louis, Mo., at the Scottrade Center.
Â
2017 WIN Magazine/Culture House Hodge Trophy Candidate List
J'den Cox (Missouri, Sr., 197)
Gabe Dean (Cornell, Sr., 184)
Dean Heil (Oklahoma State, Jr., 141)
Myles Martin (Ohio State, So., 184)
Isaiah Martinez (Illinois, Jr. 165)
Zain Retherford (Penn State, Jr. 149)
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State, Jr., HWT)
Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State, Jr., 133)
Â
Â
The WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS, is considered the Heisman Trophy for amateur wrestling and has been presented to the nation's best wrestler since 1995. Created by WIN founder Mike Chapman, the award is named after the former three-time University of Oklahoma national champion (1955-57) who never allowed a takedown in his college career.
Â
Criteria for the award include a wrestler's record, number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship and heart.
Â
Heil has racked up a 67-11 overall record in his two-plus seasons of competition at Oklahoma State, including a 32-1 campaign last year that was capped with his first career NCAA Championship. The Brunswick, Ohio, native won 13 matches against ranked opponents as a sophomore, including six against top-five opponents. Heil is off to a nice start for his junior year, posting an 8-0 mark thus far with five of his eight wins coming with bonus points.
Â
With two former wrestlers having won the award, Oklahoma State is one of five programs to boast multiple Hodge Trophy winners. Last season, Alex Dieringer hoisted the trophy following a dominant 33-0 senior campaign to join Steve Mocco on the list of former Cowboy recipients.
Â
The winner of the 2017 Hodge Trophy will be named following the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 16-18 in St. Louis, Mo., at the Scottrade Center.
Â
2017 WIN Magazine/Culture House Hodge Trophy Candidate List
J'den Cox (Missouri, Sr., 197)
Gabe Dean (Cornell, Sr., 184)
Dean Heil (Oklahoma State, Jr., 141)
Myles Martin (Ohio State, So., 184)
Isaiah Martinez (Illinois, Jr. 165)
Zain Retherford (Penn State, Jr. 149)
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State, Jr., HWT)
Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State, Jr., 133)
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Cowboy Wrestling
/ Cowboy Wrestling
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
