Alex Dieringer compiled a 35-3 record and placed third at 157 pounds (Photo/Simon Jimenez, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The award, presented each year to the top freshman college wrestler, is based on a vote of writers and executives at InterMatWrestle.com.
Just two points separated Dieringer, 157-pound NCAA Division I All-American, from Cornell University 125-pounder Nahsohn Garrett, in the balloting. Both wrestlers, who placed third in their respective weight classes at nationals, each received five first-place votes ... but Dieringer received 80 total points to Garrett's 78.
Dieringer, a two-time Wisconsin high school state champ, had a tremendous first year wrestling for the storied Oklahoma State Cowboy mat program. The Port Washington, Wis. native compiled a 35-3 record for the 2012-13 season, scoring 10 falls, two technical falls, and 13 major decisions. After winning the 2013 Big 12 conference crown at 157, Dieringer entered the 2013 NCAAs as the sixth seed ... but exceeded expectations by placing third at the nationals.
2013 InterMat Freshman of the Year
1st-5th-Place Votes: 9-7-5-3-1
Total Votes/(First-Place Votes)
1. Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma St., 80 (5)
2. Nahshon Garrett, Cornell, 78 (5)
3. Cody Brewer, Oklahoma, 42
4. Nathan Kraisser, North Carolina, 17
5. Taylor Massa, Michigan, 10
5. Connor Medbery, Wisconsin, 10
7. Jordan Conaway, Penn St., 6
7. Cody Walters, Ohio, 6
9. Chris Mecate, Old Dominion, 1
"Alex Dieringer has won at every level throughout his wrestling career, so his success as a freshman at Oklahoma State shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone," said InterMat senior editor Andrew Hipps. "He has a lot of confidence in his abilities and believed that he could contend for an NCAA championship in his first season in the Cowboy lineup. He was an overtime loss away from reaching the NCAA finals. Dieringer is the type of wrestler who always seems to rise to the occasion in big events."
1st-5th-Place Votes: 9-7-5-3-1
Total Votes/(First-Place Votes)
1. Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma St., 80 (5)
2. Nahshon Garrett, Cornell, 78 (5)
3. Cody Brewer, Oklahoma, 42
4. Nathan Kraisser, North Carolina, 17
5. Taylor Massa, Michigan, 10
5. Connor Medbery, Wisconsin, 10
7. Jordan Conaway, Penn St., 6
7. Cody Walters, Ohio, 6
9. Chris Mecate, Old Dominion, 1
As 2013 InterMat Freshman of the Year, Dieringer joins an impressive list of past honorees who have since gone on to earn NCAA titles, including 2010 winner Kyle Dake of Cornell, 2011 honoree David Taylor of Penn State, and last year's winner, Ohio State's Logan Stieber.
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