Daton Fix Wins Gold in Waclaw Ziolkowski Memorial

(This story was distributed by Oklahoma State University athletic media relations, but it originated with USA Wrestling.)

WARSAW, Poland –Daton Fix brought home the gold medal at 61 kg with a 6-3 victory over Austin DeSanto at the Waclaw Ziolkowski Memorial Sunday.

A 2021 World silver medalist, Fix began his day with a lopsided 10-0 victory in the first round over Georgia's Ramaz Turmanidze. He then handled Georgi Vangelov of Bulgaria, 5-1, to advance to the final round.

Facing a fellow countryman and common opponent in Austin DeSanto, Fix jumped out to a 4-1 advantage at the break. DeSanto added a takedown late in the second, but Fix was able to hold the lead and earn gold by a score of 6-3.

Fix has now defeated DeSanto twice this summer, previously downing DeSanto with a 9-0 shutout at the true third match last month to earn a spot on the United States National Team. Fix also defeated DeSanto three times in collegiate competition, including in the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Championships.

At 79 kg, Dustin Plott concluded his strong day with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over neutral athlete Iman Mahdavi in the bronze medal match.

Plott compiled a 4-1 record on Sunday, highlighted by a wild 22-11 victory against fellow American Donnel Washington Jr. in the second round.

On Saturday, incoming freshman Brayden Thompson competed in the 86 kg bracket and dropped narrow matches to Georgia's Daviti Koguashvili and Tamaz Nikoleishvili.

Fix and Plott were two of eight American wrestlers to pick up medals on the day, helping the United States win the Men's Freestlye division with 121 team points.