Dieringer, Heil Win National Titles

Thursday, March 17

New York, N.Y.

All Day

Oklahoma State University

NCAA Championships

March 19, 2016 | Cowboy Wrestling

OSU finishes second as a team; Dieringer becomes OSU’s 16th three-time champion

NEW YORK - Alex Dieringer and Dean Heil added another chapter to Oklahoma State's impeccable wrestling history Saturday night, each winning a national championship in front of a national television audience and a sold-out crowd in Madison Square Garden. The pair led the way to the Cowboys' second-place finish in the team standings, their highest since they were also second in 2013.

Dieringer, who wrestles at 165 pounds, finished off an even more impressive feat as he became OSU's 16th three-time national champion in school history and the first since Jake Rosholt won three titles from 2003-2006. It marks the first time a Cowboy has won three consecutive NCAA championships since now-assistant coach Eric Guerrero won three from 1997-1999.

After storming through the bracket without letting an opponent even threaten defeat, the finals were not much different for Dieringer. Facing No. 2-seeded and previously undefeated Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin, Dieringer got the first takedown in the opening period and then jumped out to a 5-0 lead with an escape and another takedown midway through the second period. After riding for most of the final period, Dieringer sealed it and finished his career and perfect 33-0 season with a 5-2 decision.

"There's a lot of emotions there," Dieringer said. "I was kind of a little conservative, but in the situation I was in, it was hard to get overaggressive. But I'm very pleased with 82 matches in a row with a third national title in the most historic arena in the world. So it's a pretty amazing feeling."

Dieringer's outstanding career includes a 133-4 overall record with an 19-1 record at the NCAA tournament. He leaves behind an impressive legacy, becoming the 14th four-time All-American and the seventh four-time conference champion at OSU, in addition to the 16th three-time NCAA champion. He has written his name among nearly all of Oklahoma State's individual records.

The Cowboy notched his second-consecutive undefeated season and a streak of 82-consecutive wins, which is the third-longest win streak in school history. During his senior campaign, 27 of his 33 matches resulted in bonus points, giving him 97 career wins with bonus points, the third-highest in program history. Included in those wins are 45 falls, 36 major decisions and 16 technical falls. His 133 wins is the second most wins in school history, behind legendary coach John Smith, who had 152 wins.

Heil's national championship performance came against No. 14 Bryce Meredith of Wyoming, who had upset the Nos. 3, 6 and 2 seeds on his way to the finals. Heil grabbed a takedown in the first period and held a 2-1 lead heading into the second. He and Meredith exchanged takedowns in the final two periods and Heil held off a late effort from Meredith to claim his first national championship.

I knew Bryce was going to be tough and I knew he was going to be a goer," Heil said. "To be honest, the first day of weigh-ins I was looking through the line, and I looked at him and I was like, 'deep down he's a dark horse.' And I had a feeling he was going to make it through. He's a tough match, but one takedown was enough to seal the deal."

The match finishes an incredible sophomore campaign for Heil as the 2016 NCAA champion at 141 pounds. Ranked No. 1 all season long, Heil went 32-1 on the season while taking out 12 ranked opponents, nine of which were in the top 10. The Cowboy is also a two-time Big 12 champion to go along with his two All-America honors.

With the pair's NCAA titles Saturday night, Oklahoma State wrestling now holds a total of 141 individual national championships, with 31 champions coached by Smith.

Oklahoma State's two champions in 2016 tied Penn State, Ohio State and Cornell, while no other school claimed more than one.

NCAA Championships Finals
March 19, 2016 :: Madison Square Garden :: Attendance - 19,270

Team Standings (top five)
1: Penn State – 123.0
2: Oklahoma State – 97.5
3: Ohio State – 86.0
4: Virginia Tech – 82.0
5: Iowa – 81.0

Championship Bracket
Finals results
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. No. 14 Bryce Meredith (WYO), 4-3
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. No. 2 Isaac Jordan (WISC), 6-3

Championship semifinals results
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. No. 4 Anthony Ashnault (RUT), 8-3
149: No. 2 Brandon Sorenson (IOWA) dec. No. 11 Anthony Collica (OSU), 4-2
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) MD No. 4 Daniel Lewis (MIZ), 14-4

Championship quarterfinal results
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. No. 8 Joey Ward (UNC), 8-3
149: No. 11 Anthony Collica (OSU) dec. No. 3 Lavion Mayes (MIZ), 3-2
157: No. 3 Jason Nolf (PSU) MD No. 6 Joe Smith (OSU), 11-3
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. No. 9 Tanner Weatherman (ISU), 11-5
174: No. 1 Bo Nickal (PSU) MD No. 9 Chandler Rogers (OSU), 15-4
184: No. 1 Gabe Dean (CORN) dec. No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU), 10-4
285: No. 5 Adam Coon (MICH) dec. No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU), 3-2

Championship second round results
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. No. 10 Randy Cruz (LEH), 4-1
149: No. 11 Anthony Collica (OSU) dec. No. 6 Jason Tsirtsis (NW), 3-2
157: No. 6 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Bryce Steiert (UNI), 6-2
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) fall No. 16 Devon Gobbo (HARV), 3:26
174: No. 9 Chandler Rogers (OSU) fall Casey Kent (PENN), 6:59
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. No. 9 Matt Miller (NAVY), 10-3
285: No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU) MD William Miller (EDIN), 12-3

Championship first round results
125: Conor Youtsey (MICH) dec. No. 6 Eddie Klimara (OSU), 7-6
133: No. 15 Josh Alber (UNI) dec. Gary Wayne Harding (OSU), 10-6
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. Javier Gasca (MSU), 4-1
149: No. 11 Anthony Collica dec. Joey Delgado (ORST), 11-8
157: No. 6 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Jake Ryan (OHST), 11-9
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) fall Austin Trott (GW), 2:22
174: No. 9 Chandler Rogers (OSU) MD Rustin Barrick (BUCK), 10-2
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. Alex Utley (UNC), 8-5
197: No. 3 Brett Pfarr (MINN) dec. Preston Weigel (OSU), 5-0
285: No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU) dec. Riley Shaw (CSU), 5-1

Consolation bracket
Third-place match results
149: No. 3 Lavion Mayes (MIZ) dec. No. 11 Anthony Collica (OSU), 3-2
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) TF No. 13 Pete Renda (NCST), 18-3

Fifth-place match results
285: No. 7 Amarveer Dhesi (ORST)fall No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU), 1:29

Seventh-place match results
157: No. 5 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. No. 2 Tommy Gantt (NCST), 6-3

Consolation semifinals results
149: No. 11 Anthony Collica (OSU) fall No. 10 Mike DePalma (KENT), 5:00
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. No. 14 Willie Miklus (MIZ), 6-0
285: No. 3 Ty Walz (VT) dec. No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU), 9-4

Consolation quarterfinals results
157: No. 5 Dylan Palacio (CORN) fall No. 6 Joe Smith (OSU), 4:38
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. No. 10 Nate Brown (LEH), 6-4
285: No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU) dec. No. 8 Max Wessell (LEH), 8-2

Consolation fourth round (blood round) results
157: No. 6 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Dylan Cottrell (WVU), 5-3
174: No. 13 Alex Meyer (IOWA) dec. No. 9 Chandler Rogers (OSU), 7-2
184: No. 8 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. No. 6 Blake Stauffer (ASU), 6-4
197: No. 7 Brett Harner (PRINCE) fall Preston Weigel (OSU), 6:38
285: No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU) MD No. 15 Tanner Harms (WYO), 13-5

Consolation third round results
197: Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. Sam Wheeler (CSU), 3-2

Consolation second round results
197: Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. No. 13 Jake Smith (WVU), 4-0

Consolation first round results
125: No. 11 Ronnie Bresser (ORST) dec. No. 6 Eddie Klimara (OSU), 2-1 TB1
133: Jade Rauser (UVU) MD Gary Wayne Harding (OSU), 12-4
197: Preston Weigel (OSU) TF Anthony Abro (EMU), 18-1