Oklahoma State’s Alex Dieringer will wrestle Kyle Dake at Final X: Rutgers

Oklahoma State alum Alex Dieringer earned a spot at Final X: Rutgers by defeating Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia in two straight matches at 79 kilograms in men’s freestyle in the best-of-three World Team Trials finals Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dieringer, a three-time NCAA champion and 2016 Hodge Trophy winner, avenged his loss in last year’s WTT finals to Valencia, a two-time NCAA champion. Dieringer won both bouts by technical fall, 12-1 in the first period and 12-2 in the second.

Dieringer will face returning World champion and four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake on June 8 at Final X: Rutgers for the 79 kilograms spot on the United States men’s freestyle team at the World Championship.

Final X is the top freestyle best-of-three series event to earn a spot on the U.S. senior world team and the opportunity to compete at this year’s World Championships from Sept. 11-22 in Astana, Kazakhstan.