2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 22, 2024

Daton Fix

T-Mobile Center

Semifinals Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have with us now in the 133-pound Championship, Daton Fix from Oklahoma State. Daton, comments?

DATON FIX: No comments, really. Got my hand raised, that's my job and I gotta do what I gotta do.

Q. Daton, as best you can, first of all, how confusing was particularly the overtime period for you in terms of what you were hearing and what can you -- take us through what happened there toward the end?

DATON FIX: I was just trying to stay focused. I knew that -- I knew I let go of the leg when I was on top and I knew he locked his hands whenever he was on top. So it was pretty simple for me, it was just a matter of what the officials thought and obviously they thought the same as me. So that's really all there is to say about it.

Q. You just used the word "focused." Talk about coming back this year after all you've been through, what you did, is that what you've tried to maintain, let all the stuff in the past go away and just focus on the future?

DATON FIX: Yep. Staying focused, one match at a time. You know, I don't think that -- if you would have told me I wouldn't have got two takedowns the last two matches I won, I probably would not have believed you, but I had to do what I had to do to win and that's what I did.

Q. Daton, you got Vito in the final, obviously knocked you off last year. What are your thoughts going into that match?

DATON FIX: Defending World Champion, looking forward to it. Obviously didn't go my way last time and I've been thinking about it for a whole year now and I get that match back and what better stage to do it on then one on Saturday night? It's a great opportunity and I'm grateful. I'm just grateful that God me put on this earth to wrestle and to use wrestling to glorify Him and that's what I try to do every time I step on the mat.

Q. Daton, what was the game plan going in up against a guy that last time you faced him you pinned him in about two and a half minutes? What was different this time? What was he doing to stymie your offense?

DATON FIX: Game plan was to do the same thing. Obviously that game plan didn't work. He's a tough competitor, he's a national semifinalist. They're going to give their best and I'm going to give my best. It's a war out there and I'm just looking to score points. I did a great job getting to the leg the last two matches, but I gotta finish and I'm definitely going to have to do that tomorrow night and I'm ready to do it.

Q. I know your sights set on something bigger, but you're the first time 5-time All-American in program history. The name plate is in the locker room. Everybody's got different ones. First, have you thought about what a 5-time name plate would look like and what are your thoughts about being the fist at Oklahoma State?

DATON FIX: It's an honor. I came to Oklahoma State to make history and that's history. I'm just grateful. Grateful for Oklahoma State. I love being a Cowboy and I couldn't picture myself anywhere else.

Q. Daton, you said you love being a Cowboy. One of the things that's iconic for a Cowboy is the orange singlet, and you didn't change your singlet this entire weekend, and normally you guys wear it in the finals. Was that more of a mindset and mentality for you to wear that orange singlet and already being in that finals mentality, that championship mentality?

DATON FIX: Yeah, we've worn orange every time we wrestled this year, I think that was a Coach Smith thing, we're wearing original and I'm not going to say anything different. I want to wear that singlet as much times as I possibly can and I have one more to do it and I'm going to give everything I got and raise my hand and at the end I'm going to give the Glory to God and go see my family.

Q. How is Coleman Scott in the room changed your wrestling this season?

DATON FIX: Coleman has been awesome, I've looked up to Coleman for a long time, and he's a great leader and a great coach and it's been an honor to be able to wrestle for him. I can't say, you know, much else. He's a great human being and he's definitely somebody that I want in my corner for, you know, the rest of my wrestling career and beyond.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Daton.