Oklahoma State Head Coach David Taylor Back on the Mat Vying for USA World Team Spots
(Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen contributed to this story originated with Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations.)
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head wrestling coach David Taylor and former Cowboy wrestlers Daton Fix, Alex Dieringer and Jordan Oliver will take the mat this weekend at the 2024 United States Senior World Team Trials in Omaha, Neb. All four of those wrestlers were vying for the team to make the Paris Olympics, but none of the weights contested this weekend in Omaha qualified to get into the Olympic games. The winners in Omaha this weekend will represent the USA at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania, from October 28-31. Those who competed for the United States at the Olympics earlier this summer are not eligible to wrestle at this event.
Taylor, who was hired as the Cowboys new head coach in May, has the blessing of his boss to go back to the mat and compete.
“I think it’s a great thing any time that we can put the brand of the program out in the wrestling world,” athletic director Chad Weiberg said. “For our team here to see him competing and doing the things to get ready to compete, it only makes what’s happening in our room better.”
Prior to his arrival in Stillwater, Taylor spent the past 20 years compiling one of the most impressive resumes in American wrestling history. His time at Penn State included two NCAA titles, four Big Ten championships, a pair of Dan Hodge Trophies and a 134-3 record with bonus points in nearly 90% of his matches. Taylor continued his dominance on the freestyle circuit to the tune of four Olympic or World gold medals and a seven-year run that saw him win 70 of 71 matches against the planet’s toughest competition. Taylor has appeared at the World Championships or Olympic Games in five of the last six years, beginning with his first World title in 2018 and a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Taylor then bounced back from silver at 2021 Worlds by winning titles in each of the past two years, giving him five total medals and four championships.
To make another World Team, Taylor must battle through the 92-kilogram challenge tournament and defeat 2023 World bronze medalist Zahid Valencia, who awaits in the best-of-three championship series. The field also includes former National Team members Trent Hidlay, Jonathan Aiello and Michael Macchiavello. Taylor has never attempted to make a World at 92 kilograms, having competed at 86 kilograms since November 2015.
Notably, former Oklahoma State head coach John Smith won his sixth and final gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, just months after completing his first season at the helm of the program.
“I’m excited to represent Oklahoma State and the Cowboy RTC, go Pokes,” Taylor said.
Looking to make his third World Team in the last five years, Fix received the No. 2 seed at 61 kilograms. His resume includes a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships, another Worlds appearance in 2019 and a stellar OSU career in which he became the first five-time Big 12 champion in league history and the program’s first five-time All-American. Most recently, Fix reached the 57-kilogram semifinals at the Olympic Team Trials in April but fell to current OSU assistant coach Thomas Gilman.
A familiar opponent in Vito Arujau sits in the 61-kilogram championship series, while top-seeded Nahshon Garrett and Austin DeSanto also pose threats throughout the field.
Dieringer and Oliver each received the third seed at 79 and 70 kilograms, respectively, as they look for their first appearance on the Senior World Team. Dieringer has been close to breaking through after making multiple Senior National Teams, while Oliver was a champion at the 2020 Olympic Team Trials and currently competes in mixed martial arts. Both Dieringer and Oliver are undoubtedly two of the top Cowboy wrestlers ever, combining for a 260-10 record, eight Big 12 titles and five NCAA championships.
Action in Omaha begins Saturday at 10 a.m. CT with competition running through Sunday afternoon. Fans can follow along with streaming options, live stats and brackets available on FloWrestling.org.
2024 United States Senior World Team Trials
Omaha, Neb.
Saturday, September 14
Session I – 10 a.m. CT
Quarterfinals and ConsolationsSession II – 5:00 p.m. CT
Semifinals and Consolations
Sunday, September 15
Session III – 10 a.m. CT
Consolations, Third Place and Round 1 of Championship Series
Session IV – 2 p.m. CT
Rounds 2 and 3 of Championship Series