Dean Heil selected as USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
Share:
by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
Dean Heil (Norman, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/OKRTC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on May 8, 2019.
Heil, a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, won the 65 kg bracket at the Last Chance Qualifier in East Stroudsburg, Pa., last weekend to earn a bid to the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament later this month.
To start his tournament, Heil defeated Ryan McGuire with a 10-0 tech fall in 50 seconds to move onto the semifinals, where he met up with long-time folkstyle rival Bryce Meredith.
In just over a minute, Heil tallied up another 10-0 win and needed just one more victory to qualify for the World Team Trials.
Waiting for Heil on the other side of the bracket was 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Joey McKenna. The two-time NCAA champ used two takedowns to send him to a 5-2 victory.
It was the second weekend in a row that Heil recorded a win over McKenna.
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.
Read More#
Seeds announced for all three divisions in freestyle at 2025 Women’s National Duals in Westfield, Indiana
Updated: 2025 14U Freestyle National Duals All-Tournament Team named
Pennsylvania Blue dominates Ohio Gray, 59-12 to win 14U Freestyle National Duals title
Talented U.S. Senior Women’s Freestyle World Team set during Final X in Newark
