Dickinson State University Men's Wrestling

Justin Schlecht is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Dickinson State University wrestling program. Appointed to the position in July 2015, Schlecht has led the Blue Hawks with passion, discipline, and a commitment to both competitive excellence and academic achievement. In his debut season as head coach, Schlecht guided five individuals to NAIA All-American honors and led the team to a top-10 national finish, placing eighth at the 2016 NAIA National Tournament. Over the course of his tenure, he has coached seven NAIA All-Americans, mentored 12 NWCA All-Academic selections, and qualified 32 individuals for the NAIA National Tournament. Prior to becoming head coach, Schlecht served four seasons as an assistant under longtime coach Thadd O’Donnell, helping build the foundation for continued success at DSU. Before returning to his alma mater, Schlecht was the head wrestling coach and a teacher at Belle Fourche High School in South Dakota. As a student-athlete, Schlecht became one of the most decorated wrestlers in DSU history. The Whitewood, South Dakota native compiled a 140–22 career record with 69 pins and went 17–1 across four NAIA National Tournament appearances, recording 13 wins by fall. He won three national championships and finished third in his other appearance. Schlecht was named NWCA Wrestler of the Year in both 2007 and 2008 and was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the NAIA National Tournament in 2007. His collegiate career was interrupted by an 18-month deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard between 2003 and 2004. Upon returning, he resumed his wrestling career and made a historic impact on the program. He is a member of the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame, the NWCA Hall of Fame, and the NAIA Hall of Fame. Schlecht still holds or shares six school wrestling records. Schlecht earned his bachelor’s degree in art education from Dickinson State University. His wife, Meagan Schlecht, is also a DSU graduate and serves as the Technology Integrationist at Dickinson Middle School. Together, they live in Dickinson with their three children—Katy, Sophy, and Elijah—all devoted Blue Hawk wrestling supporters.

Sergio Martinez has been a member of the Dickinson State University wrestling coaching staff since 2015, serving as an assistant coach while balancing a successful professional career in the Dickinson community. A 2015 graduate of DSU, Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration. He transferred to Dickinson State in 2011 after beginning his collegiate wrestling career at Fresno City College. During his time as a Blue Hawk, he was a two-time NAIA National Tournament qualifier, competing at the national level from 2011 to 2012. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Martinez attended high school in Tehachapi before advancing through the California junior college wrestling circuit. His competitive drive and experience as a student-athlete have shaped his coaching philosophy and continue to benefit the Blue Hawk wrestling program. Outside of coaching, Martinez serves as the Customer Service Manager at TMI Systems Corporation, a leading manufacturer of laminate casework products. His wife, Mariela Martinez, is a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Dickinson. In his free time, Sergio enjoys fishing, watching sports, and staying actively involved in the wrestling community.

Payson Dirk is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Dickinson State University wrestling program. A proud Blue Hawk alumnus, Dirk brings a deep understanding of the program and a strong background in both collegiate competition and youth development. A native of Sturgis, South Dakota, Dirk was a standout prep wrestler at Sturgis Brown High School. He was a five-time state qualifier and two-time state placer, finishing third and second in the South Dakota state tournament. He competed on five top-five state tournament teams during his high school career. Dirk wrestled for Dickinson State from 2016 to 2021, earning regional team honors in four of those seasons. As a freshman, he placed fifth at the regional tournament. In 2020, he placed third at the Heart of America Conference Tournament and qualified for his first NAIA National Tournament. He returned to nationals in 2021 after finishing as a Heart of America Conference finalist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in coaching in 2021 and completed his Master of Arts in Teaching in 2023 while serving as a graduate assistant with the wrestling program. Dirk remains active in the wrestling community during the offseason, working with high school teams across the region. He has coached with South Dakota’s USA Fargo National Team and the 605 Grappler club, in addition to assisting with wrestling camps throughout the Midwest. In addition to his coaching duties, Dirk serves as the Housing Operations Coordinator at Dickinson State University.

Ryan Upchurch is in his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Dickinson State University wrestling program and brings over two decades of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. A 2006 graduate of Dickinson State University, Upchurch earned his bachelor’s degree in history while competing for the Blue Hawk wrestling team from 2003 to 2005. Prior to his time at DSU, he wrestled for Sacramento City College in California, where he was a member of the 2000 California Community College State Dual Meet Championship team. Following his collegiate career, Upchurch returned to his alma mater, Calaveras High School in California, where he began a 16-year run as a teacher and wrestling coach. Over that span, he helped lead Calaveras to 15 Sac-Joaquin Section championships and ended his tenure with a three-year undefeated dual meet streak. He played a significant role in the development of numerous collegiate-bound wrestlers, including Dickinson State All-American and former assistant coach Tyler Brown (Class of 2016). In addition to his coaching duties at DSU, Upchurch serves as a social studies teacher at Dickinson High School. He and his wife, Leah, a 2007 Dickinson State graduate, reside in Dickinson with their three children: Devlin, Fischer, and Sienna. Now in his 21st year of coaching overall, Upchurch continues to contribute to the tradition and success of Blue Hawk wrestling through his leadership, experience, and commitment to student-athlete development.