Daton Fix Survives Another Close Match to Move to NCAA Semifinals, Plott Joines Him
(This story was written by Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen from Stillwater, but was contributed to by Sean Maguire of Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations from Kansas City, Mo.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma State saw top seeded Daton Fix at 133 pounds survive his second straight one point decision to earn his way into the semifinals. Fix was joined in the semifinals by 184 pound third seed Dustin Plott, who did it much easier than Fix with his third straight bonus points win, a 16-6 major decision over Penn State’s Bernie Truax. The disappointment came early as sixth-seed Troy Spratley’s run in the championship bracket came to a close with a 4-1 loss at the very end of the sudden victory overtime period.
Spratley and his opponent, Iowa’s Drake Ayala, who had beaten Spratley this season in overtime, traded escapes to go to the extra period. The two wrestlers traded shots but then at the end of the two minute sudden victory period and near the edge of the mat, Ayala had some leverage on Spratley and briefly got control. The official awarded the takedown, but it was challenged by Oklahoma State head coach John Smith and after a long phone call with the tournament control center, the official’s call was withheld. Ayala, the No. 3 seed advanced and Spratley went to the consolations.
Fix won a 5-4 decision in the round of 16 on Thursday night over Ohio State’s Nic Bouzakis. Fix had No. 8 seed Evan Frost of Iowa State, an opponent he had beaten twice this season. Fix had the lead but Frost kept coming and got a takedown to even the match in the third period. There was no score in sudden voctory and then in the tiebreaker Fix excaped in three seconds for a 5-4 lead. Frost went neutral to start the nect 30 seconds and could not score. Even Daton Fix would tell you it wasn’t his best match, but at this stage it is survive and advance.
Fix (20-0) will get No. 5 seed Dylan Ragusin (26-2) of Michigan in the semifinal. The other semi has Cornell’s Vito Arujau against the two seed Ryan Crookham of Lehigh.
Plott was taken down as soon as his match began as the No. 6 Truax must have felt an urgency. Plott escaped just as quickly and then got his first takedown. That was it as from that point on Plott dominated the Nittany Lions 184 pounder. Plott has won a tech fall and two major decisions as he heads into the semifinals on Friday evening.
Plott is now 29-3 and will challenge the two seed in Minnesota’s Isaiah Salazar (22-1).
Oklahoma State went 4-0 in the second consolation round as No. 20 Jordan Williams (149), No. 16 Teague Travis (157), No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (165) and No. 12 Konner Doucet (HWT) each won to move to the next round of the session.
Williams provided the highlight of the round as he earned his first career technical fall over a ranked opponent and his second bonus-point win against a ranked opponent, defeating No. 19 Joseph Zargo of Wisconsin, 20-4, in 5:53.
Olejnik was able to follow his first win with another as he defeated No. 15 Brevin Cassella of Binghamton, 7-2, but Williams, Travis and Doucet bowed out of the tournament after dropping close decisions in the third consolation round.
“Those last three matches that we got beat came down to the last period,” said coach John Smith. “We weren’t scoring, but better competition. I wasn’t disappointed with them, it’s kind of where we’re at with Doucet, Travis and Williams. They had tough bouts. Jordan had a tough kid who’s wrestled well all season long. Jordan closed the gap on several of them, so his best wrestling happened here this week. No shame for him, good effort. Real promising for the future with him.”
Olejnik joins Spratley in the fourth consolation round Friday night and is just one win away from securing All-America honors for the second season in a row.
The four Oklahoma State wrestlers who remain in the tournament all compete Friday night in the fourth session of the event.
The 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships continue through March 23 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with the fourth session scheduled to begin Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 21, 2024 | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Mo.
Session III (Friday Morning)
Team Standings After Session III (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 86.5
2. Michigan - 50.5
3. Arizona State - 44.5
4. Iowa State - 42.0
5. Iowa - 41.5
6. Ohio State - 36.0
7. Virginia Tech - 35.5
8. NC State - 33.5
9. OKlahoma State - 33.0
9. Oklahoma State - 33.0
Championship Quarterfinals
125: No. 3 Drake Ayala (IOWA) def. No. 6 Troy Spratley (OSU) SV-1, 4-1 decision
133: No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) def. No. 8 Evan Frost (ISU) TB-1, 2-1 decision
184: No. 3 Dustin Plott (OSU) def. No. 6 Bernie Truax (PSU)
Consolation Second Round
149: No. 20 Jordan Williams (OSU) TF No. 19 Joseph Zargo (WIS), 20-4, 5:53
157: No. 16 Teague Travis (OSU) dec. No. 18 Vinny Zerban (UNCO), 5-0
165: No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU) dec. No. 25 Holden Heller (PITT), 7-1
HWT: No. 12 Konner Doucet (OSU) dec. No. 27 Josiah Hill (LR), 2-1
Consolation Third Round
149: No. 11 Quinn Kinner (RID) dec. No. 20 Jordan Williams (OSU), TB-1 3-2
157: No. 26 Johnny Lovett (CMU) dec. No. 16 Teague Travis (OSU), 3-1
165: No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU) dec. No. 15 Brevin Cassella (BING), 7-2
HWT: No. 13 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT) dec. No. 12 Konner Doucet (OSU), 6-1
Semifinals (Friday Night)
133: No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) vs. No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
184: No. 3 Dustin Plott (OSU) vs. No. 2 Isaiah Salazar (MINN)
Consolation Fourth Round Bouts (Friday Night)
125: No. 6 Troy Spratley (OSU) vs. No. 23 Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
165: No. 7 Izzak Olejnik (OSU) vs. No. 5 Dean Hamiti (WIS)