Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Olejnik Takes Fifth Place at NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 23, 2024 | Cowboy Wrestling
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma State 165-pounder Izzak Olejnik claimed his best career finish at the NCAA Wrestling Championships Saturday morning, taking fifth place with a win over Stanford's Hunter Garvin in the final match of his college career.
A redshirt senior who transferred to OSU for his final season, Olejnik finished his tournament run by defeating Garvin with a 3-0 decision.
He scored an early reversal in the second period and then completed a ride out to take a 2-0 lead into the third. He then held off Garvin for the remainder of the match to earn the victory and finish his season at 30-7 and his career with a 122-33 overall record.
"Just the bonds and real-life family that I've made," Olejnik said of his time as a Cowboy. "Just being with the Oklahoma State coaching staff and teammates. I've said it before, but it feels like I've been on the team a lot longer than I really have. They truly accept you and push you and want to get the absolute most out of you. I can't thank them enough for giving me this opportunity."
Olejnik started the day with a match in the consolation semifinals against No. 6 Michael Caliendo of Iowa. The Cowboy nearly upset him for a spot in the third-place match, but a 1:05 riding time advantage was the difference in a 9-8 win for Caliendo.
With one session remaining, the Cowboys now sit in 10th place in the team standings with 56 points and they are one of only five teams with multiple wrestlers in the finals.
Oklahoma State's run at the NCAA Championship concludes Saturday night, with Daton Fix and Dustin Plott wrestling in the finals at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Fix faces No. 6 Vito Arujau of Cornell and Plott faces No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. The Cowboys are each aiming for their first career NCAA title.
2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 23, 2024 | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Mo.
Session V (Saturday Morning)
Team Standings After Session V (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 155.5
2. Michigan - 71.0
3. Cornell - 68.5
4. Iowa - 67.0
5. Iowa State - 64.5
6. Arizona State - 60.5
6. Nebraska - 60.5
8. Virginia Tech - 59.0
9. Ohio State - 58.0
10. Oklahoma State - 56.0
Consolation Semifinals
165: No. 6 Michael Caliendo (IOWA) dec. No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU), 9-8
Fifth-Place Match
165: No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU) dec. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN), 3-0
Finals Bouts (Saturday Night)
133: No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau (COR)
184: No. 3 Dustin Plott (OSU) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
A redshirt senior who transferred to OSU for his final season, Olejnik finished his tournament run by defeating Garvin with a 3-0 decision.
He scored an early reversal in the second period and then completed a ride out to take a 2-0 lead into the third. He then held off Garvin for the remainder of the match to earn the victory and finish his season at 30-7 and his career with a 122-33 overall record.
"Just the bonds and real-life family that I've made," Olejnik said of his time as a Cowboy. "Just being with the Oklahoma State coaching staff and teammates. I've said it before, but it feels like I've been on the team a lot longer than I really have. They truly accept you and push you and want to get the absolute most out of you. I can't thank them enough for giving me this opportunity."
Olejnik started the day with a match in the consolation semifinals against No. 6 Michael Caliendo of Iowa. The Cowboy nearly upset him for a spot in the third-place match, but a 1:05 riding time advantage was the difference in a 9-8 win for Caliendo.
With one session remaining, the Cowboys now sit in 10th place in the team standings with 56 points and they are one of only five teams with multiple wrestlers in the finals.
Oklahoma State's run at the NCAA Championship concludes Saturday night, with Daton Fix and Dustin Plott wrestling in the finals at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Fix faces No. 6 Vito Arujau of Cornell and Plott faces No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. The Cowboys are each aiming for their first career NCAA title.
2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 23, 2024 | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Mo.
Session V (Saturday Morning)
Team Standings After Session V (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 155.5
2. Michigan - 71.0
3. Cornell - 68.5
4. Iowa - 67.0
5. Iowa State - 64.5
6. Arizona State - 60.5
6. Nebraska - 60.5
8. Virginia Tech - 59.0
9. Ohio State - 58.0
10. Oklahoma State - 56.0
Consolation Semifinals
165: No. 6 Michael Caliendo (IOWA) dec. No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU), 9-8
Fifth-Place Match
165: No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU) dec. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN), 3-0
Finals Bouts (Saturday Night)
133: No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau (COR)
184: No. 3 Dustin Plott (OSU) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
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