Alex Dieringer, a three-time NCAA wrestling champion and 2016 Dan Hodge Trophy winner at Oklahoma State, defeated Akhsarbek Gulaev of Slovakia 4-1 to win gold at 79 kilograms in men’s freestyle at the Yasar Dogu International on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey.
Dieringer took a 3-0 lead at the break with a takedown and a step out. He earned another point on passivity then gave up his lone point of the tournament on a step out with 25 seconds left in the match.
In the semifinals, Dieringer scored a takedown in the final 40 seconds to pull away with a 4-0 decision over this year’s Asian champion Bahman Teymouri of Iran.