Alex Dieringer named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Alex Dieringer (Stillwater, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on April 3, 2018.

Dieringer put together a performance worthy of the Outstanding Wrestler honor at the Bill Farrell International in New York City last weekend.

The two-time U.S. National Team member rolled through the 79 kg/174 lbs. bracket, starting with a 12-1 technical fall over Kevin Dufresne of New Jersey.

A three-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, Dieringer rolled onto the finals after an 11-0 shutout against World No. 5  at 74 kg/163 lbs. Daniyar Kaisanov from Kazakhstan, who won bornze at the Senior Asian Championships in February.

In the finals, Dieringer faced 2014 Junior World champion and 2016 Olympian, Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France. Despite giving up a takedown, the American took a 14-2 lead in the bout before sticking Khadjiev at the 3:32 mark.

The win marked Dieringer’s second gold medal in 2018 as he also took home the top prize at the International Ukrainian Memorial in February. This is also his second tournament at the new weight, after competing at 74 kg the last few years.

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 this honor please send the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to USA Wrestling Communications Coordinator Taylor Miller at tmiller@usawrestling.org.