Gabe Dean named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Gabe Dean shoots on Myles Martin at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Photo: Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com

Gabe Dean (Lowell, Mich./Cornell) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on Nov. 8, 2016.


Wrestling in the main event of the 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic, Dean reaffirmed his status atop the 184-pound weight class with a dominant effort over 2015 NCAA champion Myles Martin of Ohio State.


Riding a five-takedown performance, Dean, a senior for the Big Red, topped the Buckeye sophomore by major decision, 13-4. Dean entered the NCAA Div. I season a consensus No. 1 at 184 pounds, while Martin boasts the No. 2 ranking.


Dean has amassed a spectacular resume during his tenure at Cornell. He emerged on the college scene as a freshman in 2014 where he garnered a third place finish at the NCAA Championships. The past two seasons he stood atop the podium as NCAA champion.


On top of his three All-American honors, the Cornell star is a three time EIWA conference champion and holds a 117-6 record in college.


Competing internationally for the U.S., Dean was a Junior World bronze medalist in men’s freestyle in 2014 and a silver medalist at the 2015 Pan American Championships in Greco-Roman.


Each week USA Wrestling will select an Athlete of the Week based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling from youth programs through the Senior level.


To nominate a wrestler for USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program and weekly and career accomplishments to Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.