Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Earn Six Top-10 Seeds at NCAA Tournament
March 13, 2019 | Cowboy Wrestling
2019 NCAA Brackets
STILLWATER – For the second-consecutive season, Oklahoma State qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAA tournament. OSU has two top-seeded wrestlers in their respective brackets and six earned top-10 seeds in the event held in Pittsburgh, Pa. This is the first season in which the NCAA has seeded complete brackets at each weight.
The Cowboys have not boasted four top-three seeded wrestlers at the national tournament since 2006. It also marks the first time since 2016 the Cowboys claimed two No. 1 spots. Alex Dieringer and Dean Heil were one seeds that season, both bringing home NCAA titles.
Daton Fix earned the top seed at 133 pounds after winning the Big 12 Championship March 10, to round out a 31-1 season to this point. Fix has wins over 11 top-20 opponents this season, earning top honors at each tournament he has competed in.
Senior Derek White also earned a No. 1 seed for the Cowboys at heavyweight. White has rattled off 27 consecutive wins, including four bonus-point wins at the Big 12 Championship where he claimed his second-straight conference title. He has wins over six ranked wrestlers and has earned a career-high seven pins on the year. The heavyweight looks to earn his first All-America honors in Pittsburgh.
Also earning top-five seeds for OSU are Nick Piccininni (125) and Preston Weigel (197). Piccininni capped off a perfect regular season before winning his third straight Big 12 title. The redshirt junior leads all Cowboys in technical falls and nearfalls. Weigel, who also won a third conference title, earned the No. 3 seed at 197 pounds. He is undefeated this season, with two ranked wins, and looks to earn All-America status for the second time in his career.
Kaden Gfeller (149) and Jacobe Smith (174) earned the seven seed at 149 and 174 pounds, respectively. The pair has collectively lost only seven matches. Gfeller's four losses were to top-15 opponents, and all three of Smith's came against ranked opponents at 184 pounds. The senior looks to earn his second All-America nod.
Returning All-American Kaid Brock earned the 15 seed at 141 pounds following a runner-up finish at Big 12s. Dakota Geer will enter the event as the No. 26 seed after a third-place conference finish, and Joe Smith comes in at No. 33 at 165 pounds.
Action begins in Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 21, with the first round getting underway at 12:00 p.m. EST.
125: Nick Piccininni – No. 2
133: Daton Fix – No. 1
141: Kaid Brock No. 15
149: Kaden Gfeller – No. 7
165: Joe Smith – No. 33
174: Jacobe Smith – No. 7
184: Dakota Geer – No. 26
197: Preston Weigel – No. 3
HWT: Derek White – No. 1
STILLWATER – For the second-consecutive season, Oklahoma State qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAA tournament. OSU has two top-seeded wrestlers in their respective brackets and six earned top-10 seeds in the event held in Pittsburgh, Pa. This is the first season in which the NCAA has seeded complete brackets at each weight.
The Cowboys have not boasted four top-three seeded wrestlers at the national tournament since 2006. It also marks the first time since 2016 the Cowboys claimed two No. 1 spots. Alex Dieringer and Dean Heil were one seeds that season, both bringing home NCAA titles.
Daton Fix earned the top seed at 133 pounds after winning the Big 12 Championship March 10, to round out a 31-1 season to this point. Fix has wins over 11 top-20 opponents this season, earning top honors at each tournament he has competed in.
Senior Derek White also earned a No. 1 seed for the Cowboys at heavyweight. White has rattled off 27 consecutive wins, including four bonus-point wins at the Big 12 Championship where he claimed his second-straight conference title. He has wins over six ranked wrestlers and has earned a career-high seven pins on the year. The heavyweight looks to earn his first All-America honors in Pittsburgh.
Also earning top-five seeds for OSU are Nick Piccininni (125) and Preston Weigel (197). Piccininni capped off a perfect regular season before winning his third straight Big 12 title. The redshirt junior leads all Cowboys in technical falls and nearfalls. Weigel, who also won a third conference title, earned the No. 3 seed at 197 pounds. He is undefeated this season, with two ranked wins, and looks to earn All-America status for the second time in his career.
Kaden Gfeller (149) and Jacobe Smith (174) earned the seven seed at 149 and 174 pounds, respectively. The pair has collectively lost only seven matches. Gfeller's four losses were to top-15 opponents, and all three of Smith's came against ranked opponents at 184 pounds. The senior looks to earn his second All-America nod.
Returning All-American Kaid Brock earned the 15 seed at 141 pounds following a runner-up finish at Big 12s. Dakota Geer will enter the event as the No. 26 seed after a third-place conference finish, and Joe Smith comes in at No. 33 at 165 pounds.
Action begins in Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 21, with the first round getting underway at 12:00 p.m. EST.
125: Nick Piccininni – No. 2
133: Daton Fix – No. 1
141: Kaid Brock No. 15
149: Kaden Gfeller – No. 7
165: Joe Smith – No. 33
174: Jacobe Smith – No. 7
184: Dakota Geer – No. 26
197: Preston Weigel – No. 3
HWT: Derek White – No. 1
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