Fix, White End NCAA Championships as National Runners-Up

Thursday, March 21

Pittsburgh, PA

ALL DAY

Oklahoma State University

NCAA Wrestling Championships

March 23, 2019 | Cowboy Wrestling

Final Brackets
Session VI Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Oklahoma State wrestlers Daton Fix and Derek White wrapped up their performances at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships as national runners-up Saturday night, reaching the finals of their respective brackets. The Cowboys finished the tournament with 84.0 team points to take home the third-place trophy.

"We had a great season, and great seasons sometimes end when you're striving for more," coach John Smith said. "We definitely want more than what we got, but man, we had a good season and a good tournament. We had a few little mistakes here and there that were critical. In the end there was a lot of effort. Taking a trophy home is important for the program."

Fix became just the 10th freshman in OSU history to reach the finals of the NCAA Championships, and nearly became a national champion in a controversial 4-2 loss in the second sudden victory period to No. 3 Nick Suriano of Rutgers. After a hard-fought battle to the second sudden victory and the score tied at 2-2, Fix took a shot and was midway through a slide-by when Suriano countered to the head of Fix and scored a takedown. After a review for a headgear grab against Suriano, it was ruled that there was no penalty and Suriano was awarded the takedown and the match.

"Daton had a great season," Smith said. "It was his freshman campaign. He wrestled everyone. He had a good tournament, likely at the toughest weight class, and put himself in a pretty good position to win. He did that throughout the season. How things turned out... little bit odd. I'll say that. In the end, still a great ending. Nothing wrong with what he did. I'm sure there's a level of motivation that will come following it."

The result moved Fix's record to 34-2 on the season. It is the best NCAA finish for a Cowboy freshman since Jake Rosholt won the 184-pound title in 2003 and it also marked the 38th freshman All-America honors in OSU history.

Oklahoma State's other finalist also made a mark as White's runner-up finish is the best for a Cowboy heavyweight since Jared Rosholt finished second in 2010. White wrestled No. 2 Anthony Cassar of Penn State closely through most of two periods, but surrendered a takedown and nearfall just before the third and couldn't recover in a 10-1 result.

White, a senior, finished his final season for the Cowboys with a 32-2 overall record. It also marked the first time in his career to earn All-America honors as he became OSU's first heavyweight All-American since 2016.

In the 2018-19 season, Cowboy wrestling finished with a perfect 15-0 dual record, recorded at least five All-Americans for the 58th time in school history and finished third as a team at the NCAA Championships. In 88 appearances at the national tournament, the Cowboys have finished among the top three in the final standings 61 times and have won 34 team national titles – more than any other team in any other sport.

2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 23, 2019 | PPG Paints Arena | Pittsburgh, Pa.

Session VI (Saturday Night) | Attendance: 18,950

Final Team (Top 5)
1. Penn State – 137.5
2. Ohio State – 96.5
3. Oklahoma State – 84.0
4. Iowa – 76.0
5. Michigan – 62.5

Finals
285: No. 2 Anthony Cassar (Penn State) MD No. 1 Derek White (OSU), 10-1
133: No. 3 Nick Suriano (Rutgers) dec. No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU), 4-2, SV2