Oklahoma State Wrestling Coach David Taylor Wins at USA World Team Trials
(This story orginated with Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations.)
OMAHA, Neb. – Oklahoma State head wrestling coach David Taylor won the 92-kilogram competition at the United States Senior World Team Trials this weekend, cementing his spot on Team USA for the sixth time in the last seven years.
With the victory, Taylor earned the opportunity to represent the United States at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania, from October 28-31. One of the country's most accomplished wrestlers in history, he has claimed gold at back-to-back World Championships and boasts four World or Olympic titles throughout his career.
On Saturday, Taylor ran through the Challenge Tournament behind a 4-0 record and three victories that ended before the second period. His closest bout of the day came in the Challenge finals against Trent Hidlay, in which Taylor quickly gained a 6-0 advantage and was able to hold off a late push.
Taylor then squared off with 2023 World bronze medalist Zahid Valencia in the best-of-three Championship Series, a rematch from the 2022 86-kilogram series. In the first bout, Valencia held a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but Taylor quickly bounced back with a score of his own and took the match, 3-3, by criteria. He then capped off his stellar weekend by building an 8-0 lead and pinning Valencia just before the break in their second meeting.
Meanwhile, Alex Dieringer opened Saturday's action with a pair of wins over Noah Mulvaney and Evan Wick, setting up a semifinal matchup against seven-time World champion Jordan Burroughs. Following a 2-2 tie at the break, Burroughs was able to pull away in the second period for a 7-4 victory. Dieringer left his shoes on the mat as a sign of his retirement afterwards, ending a successful freestyle career that included multiple Senior National Teams.
As a Cowboy, Dieringer was a three-time NCAA champion, four-time All-American, four-time Big 12 champion, winner of the 2016 Dan Hodge Trophy and currently ranks second in program history with 133 career victories. Additionally, he still holds spots in the top 10 for career winning percentage (97.08%), falls (45), major decisions (36), bonus-point wins (97), bonus percentage (70.8%) and consecutive wins (82).
At 61 kg, Daton Fix did not allow a point through his first two matches of the weekend, defeating Nasir Bailey, 10-0, in 4:06 and Austin DeSanto by a 6-0 margin. He then faced Marcus Blaze in the Challenge finals for a spot in the best-of-three series, but Blaze scored in the final seconds to take the bout.
Wrestling competitively for the first time in over two years, Jordan Oliver reached the Challenge semifinals and was also a win away from the Championship Series, but ultimately dropped a tight bout to two-time World medalist James Green.
David Taylor, 92 kg, Champion
Round of 16: David Taylor VSU Aidan Brenot, 10-0, 1:14
Quarterfinals: David Taylor VFA Marcus Coleman, 1:14
Semifinals: David Taylor VSU Michael Macchiavello, 10-0, 2:09
Finals: David Taylor VPO1 Trent Hidlay, 10-6
Championship Series Round 1: David Taylor VPO1 Zahid Valencia, 3-3
Championship Series Round 2: David Taylor VFA Zahid Valencia. 2:49
Daton Fix, 61 kg
Quarterfinals: Daton Fix VSU Nasir Bailey, 10-0, 4:06
Semifinals: Daton Fix VPO Austin DeSanto, 6-0
Finals: Marcus Blaze VPO1 Daton Fix, 3-2
Jordan Oliver, 70 kg
Round of 16: Jordan Oliver VSU Ryan Jack, 11-0, 4:42
Quarterfinals: Jordan Oliver VPO1 Bryce Andonian, 8-6
Semifinals: James Green VPO1 Jordan Oliver, 6-3
Consolation Semifinals: Yahya Thomas VFO Jordan Oliver
Alex Dieringer, 79 kg
Round of 16: Alex Dieringer VSU Noah Mulvaney, 10-0, 0:52
Quarterfinals: Alex Dieringer VPO1 Evan Wick, 7-1
Semifinals: Jordan Burroughs VPO1 Alex Dieringer, 7-4
Consolation Semifinals: David Carr VFO Alex Dieringer