Kyle Dake named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Kyle Dake (Ithaca, NY/Titan Mercury WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on June 19, 2018.

Dake made his first World Team at Final X in State College, Pa., this past weekend, defeating 2018 NCAA Champion and 2017 Junior World silver medalist, Zahid Valencia, in two matches, 4-0 and 4-3 at 79 kg.

While Dake was considered the favorite, this was not expected to be an easy match-up. To earn his berth to Final X, Dake defeated Alex Dieringer in the U.S. Open finals, in a 5-5 nail biter.

Weeks later, in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals in Rochester, Minn., Valencia defeated Dieringer 7-0 and 5-1 to punch his ticket to Final X.

Dake’s world-class defense was enough to shut down the highly explosive Valencia, particularly in the second match, where he was able to counter a Valencia takedown attempt for a two-point turn of his own. 

Prior to making the World Team, Dake had made four National Teams, finishing runner-up to Jordan Burroughs three times at 74 kg, and J’den Cox once at 86 kg at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials.

In his college career for Cornell, Dake became the first wrestler to win four Division I titles at four different weight classes.

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. Twitter fan votes also play a part in decision.

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.