Oklahoma State wrestling: Daton Fix tops Thomas Gilman to make U.S. World Championship freestyle team

Oklahoma State redshirt sophomore Daton Fix scored a takedown out of scramble with 28 seconds left for a 6-3 win in the third match at Final X against Thomas Gilman to claim the 57 kilograms spot on the United States men’s freestyle World Championship team Saturday at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Gilman’s corner challenged, but the call was upheld and Fix was able to fend off a late attack to take the best-of-three series 2-1 to make his fifth consecutive freestyle world team and first at the senior level. With the win, Fix also avenged his 2-0 series lost to Gilman at last year’s Final X.

Fix is the first OSU wrestler to make the senior World or Olympic team since Coleman Scott won bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London.

In the opening match, Gilman scored one point with a step out early in the first period but then it was all Fix with five points on a step out of his own, a takedown and turn for 5-1 lead at the break. Fix then scored a takedown with a go-behind off a Gilman shot and added two more points on exposure to take the opening bout.

Fix and Gilman continued their physical matchup in the second bout, with the Cowboy being hit with a penalty point for a club to Gilman’s face. Trailing 1-0 at the break, Fix scored a takedown on a go-behind on a Gilman shot to take the lead. Gilman then scored a takedown of his own with 1:08 left in the match after a hard fought scramble to force a decisive third match.

Fix scored another takedown on a go-behind for a 2-0 lead at the break. With Gilman on the shot clock again, Fix fended off the attack for a point but Gilman cut the deficit to 3-1 with step out. Gilman leveled the score with a two-point exposure in a scramble and led by criteria. Despite leading on criteria, Gilman elected to shoot and Fix came away with two points after he stuck out the back door for the win.

Fix could be joined in September at the World Championship in Kazakstan by OSU alum Alex Dieringer, who had his 79 kilograms freestyle Final X series last weekend in Piscataway, New Jersey; against reigning world champion Kyle Dake rescheduled. Dake was granted a delay due to injury by USA Wrestling, and the date and location of the series has yet to be decided.

Results

57 kg: Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) def. Thomas Gilman (Iowa City, Iowa/Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), 2 matches to 1

Round 1 – Fix dec. Gilman, 9-1
Round 2 – Gilman dec. Fix, 3-2
Round 3 – Fix dec. Gilman, 6-3