Photo: Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial champion Alex Dieringer pictured at the 2017 U.S. World Team Trials (Tony Rotundo/WrestlersAreWarriors.com).Alex Dieringer (Stillwater, Okla./Titan Mercury WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on February 27, 2018.
In his first time competing internationally at 79 kg/174 lbs., Dieringer announced himself as a world-class contender by winning five-straight matches en route to the gold medal at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial held in Kiev, Ukraine.
Dieringer ousted five quality international foes on the weekend. He opened the tournament by pitching shutout technical falls over 2016 European bronze medalist Jakob Makarashvili of Georgia, Omid Jelodar of Iran and Georgia's Jumber Kvelashvili, who finished in fifth place at the 2014 World Championships.
Things tightened up in the semis and finals for the rising American talent. Dieringer won a 4-2 bout over 2014 Youth Olympic Games champion Yajyuro Yamasaki of Japan to secure a finals berth. There, he rode a three-takedown effort to best Rio Olympics bronze medalist and two-time World bronze medalist Yabrail Hasanov of Azerbaijan, 7-3.
The U.S. finished with six total men's freestyle medals at the incredible deep Ukrainian competition. Dieringer was the only American to take the top prize.
The win in Ukraine was Dieringer's second international gold medal on the Senior level. He picked up 74 kg/163 lbs. gold at the 2016 Bill Farrell International held annually in New York City. In 2017, Dieringer won silver at the Grand Paris of Paris and bronze at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial.
Dieringer has been a member of the U.S. National Team the past two years after finishing in third place at the 2017 U.S. World Team Trials and the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He was a silver medalist at the Junior World Championships in 2013.
Wrestling collegiately for coach John Smith at Oklahoma State from 2011 to 2016, Dieringer was a three-time NCAA champion, four-time All-American, four-time Big 12 champion and Dan Hodge Trophy recipient.
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 Manager of Communications Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.