Different Paths Lead Plott and Alvarez to U23 Worlds

This week, Oklahoma State wrestlers Dustin Plott and Sammy Alvarez will compete at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. The two competitors are good friends, currently living as roommates and making the long trip across the world to Tirana together.

Despite this, their paths to the world stage could not be more different. Additionally, Plott will be wrestling for the United States World Team, while Alvarez competes for Puerto Rico. Although they will be donning singlets representing different flags, neither Plott nor Alvarez take for granted the special opportunity to represent something much bigger than themselves.

To harness the feeling of disappointment and turn it into a drive to return even stronger is something few have the capability to do. Dustin Plott is doing just that as he strives for the gold medal next week.

Two summers ago, Plott crashed through the 2022 U23 United States World Team Trials to win the 79 kg bracket. He went 7-0 in the tournament and outscored his opponents by a combined score of 66-16, the type of performance that typically grants a U23 Freestyle national champion a place on the World Team. Unfortunately, Plott was denied his opportunity to represent Team USA, as Penn State's Carter Starrocci dropped the true third match for the Senior World Team, allowing him the chance to claim the 79 kg spot on the U23 squad instead.

Understandably, Plott was disappointed that something out of his control could spurn his dream of wrestling on the world stage. That feeling, however, drove him throughout the next 12 months. Plott first earned his second consecutive All-American finish at the NCAA Championships, before returning to the U23 World Team Trials in June.

"I think everything happens for a reason, and God always has a greater plan," Plott said of his lost spot in 2022. "I am really excited to go compete this year. It was not a vendetta I had out, but I was definitely driven to be back here. There was nothing I could have done differently. I just wanted the opportunity to go compete at Worlds."

Looking for redemption, Plott once again ran through the 79 kg bracket at the World Team Trials. This time, his victory would not be in vein, cementing his lifelong dream.

"Competing at the world level has always been a goal of mine, and not just competing, but winning. I'm looking forward to accomplishing what I have set out to do for a while now, even if it is a year later."

Plott is undoubtedly aiming for the gold medal, but the experience of competing for his home country may be the most valuable memory from this opportunity. He doesn't take the responsibility of representing the Stars and Stripes lightly, either.

"It would feel great to win the Gold. If that's God's plan for me, I would be really excited for that to happen, but it feels awesome to go represent this country. Very patriotic."

Meanwhile, Sammy Alvarez enters Albania from a much different road. He will be competing at the U23 World Championships for the second straight year, once again boasting a Puerto Rican singlet.

In 2022, Alvarez competed in the 65 kg division, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Ikromzhon Khadzhimurodov in his first match to advance to the quarterfinal round. He dropped each of his next two matches and finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.

Much like Plott, Alvarez felt a sense a disappointment that drove him to compete at a higher level in 2023. This time around, Alvarez is looking for better results to secure his spot among the world's elite wrestlers.

Originally from Garfield, N.J., Alvarez will be representing his family history and lineage while wrestling for the country of Puerto Rico. It is no easy task to carry the weight of family legacy, but Alvarez is prepared and excited for the task. The opportunity to represent his family's country will always feel special, even later in life after his competitive career is over.

"It's in my blood," Alvarez said. "It is something cool to reflect on down the road when I have kids."

While Plott enters his senior year at Oklahoma State, Alvarez is in the midst of his first full season as a Cowboy after spending the past four years at Rutgers. It did not take long for Alvarez to grasp the history and tradition in Stillwater, and he joins an elite line of Cowboys to wrestle on the global stage.

While a gold medal is near the top of any athlete's personal goals, Alvarez has bigger things in mind. Even though his time in Stillwater may be shorter than most, Alvarez wants to leave an impact on the program and inspire future Puerto Rican wrestlers.

"Hopefully one day there is another who walks through these doors and can represent Puerto Rico the way I have."

The U23 World Championships will begin on Monday, October 23, with both the 65 kg and 79 kg brackets beginning the following day. Despite wearing different singlets for the week, both Cowboys hope to represent their countries with pride.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Sammy Alvarez

Dustin Plott

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