Oklahoma State wrestling: Dean Heil, Derek White fail to place at US Senior Nationals

Derek White came one victory short of a podium finish this weekend at USA Wrestling Senior Nationals at Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

White, a 2019 NCAA runner-up at heavyweight for Oklahoma State, was at 125 kilograms in men’s freestyle and started the tournament with a 4-2 win over Cale Davidson. He used a takedown in the final minute of the second period to secure the victory. White then fell 6-2 to No. 8 seed Daniel Chaid after giving up three takedowns in the second to fall to the consolation bracket.

White grabbed two wins, a 10-0 technical fall over Trent Ragland and 2-2 victory on criteria over Oklahoma heavyweight Josh Heindselman, before a 3-0 loss to No. 3 seed Youssif Hemida.

Dean Heil, a two-time NCAA champion at OSU, was the No. 6 seed at 65 kg. He had a 10-0 tech fall against David Ortega in the first round then outlasted his RTC teammate Cody Trybus, 3-1, to make the Round of 16. But Heil lost 10-0 in 1:47 to Rob Mathers, who stunned former Ohio State standout Luke Pletcher 15-4 in the opening round.

Heil couldn’t bounce back and fell 9-1 in the consolation bracket to end his tournament.