Freshman wrestler finishes
third place
By Keith Thomas
Editor
in Chief
Despite being just a freshman, Purdue wrestler
Chris Fleeger doesn't have a lack of confidence.
He has stepped up and proven himself on the mat.
Now, fresh off a bronze medal finish at the Pan American Championships
in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the 18-year-old Fleeger has done
it again.
Fleeger, after winning his first two matches, finished
the tournament losing to a Cuban olympic team wrestler, which was good
enough for the third-place finish.
Although Fleeger was grappling with wrestlers that
have a significant amount of experience more than he does, neither himself
nor his Boilermaker coach are surprised by the success he has seen thus
far.
"He's the type of kid that has the ability to do
anything," said Purdue wrestling coach Jesse Reyes. "Overall, he's been
competing where we thought he could compete and a little more."
In fact, if you ask Fleeger, he thinks his recent
successes are expected and he would rather motivate himself by the Pan
Am matches he lost than those he won.
"I feel like you have to expect to beat everyone,"
said the 127-pound Fleeger. "I went out there expecting to do well and
I think I did all right."
Fleeger has good reason to expect to win when he
steps onto the mat. His 134-5 record at Loyalsock Township High School
in Trout Run, Penn., doesn't allow him to think he's going to lose a
match.
His undefeated sophomore and senior seasons at
Loyalsock don't permit him to accept defeat.
His two-state championships in Pennsylvania provide
him with a different set of standards that he holds himself to.
Now Fleeger's most recent competition, where he
was able to put on an impressive showing in a field among solid international
grapplers, provides him with one more reason to think he can successfully
compete, not only in the Big Ten Conference, but in the nation.
"My goal for next year is to just win the NCAA
title," said Fleeger. "I feel like I've prepared myself over the years
and I'm ready for it."
Reyes, who has grown accustomed to expecting solid
performances from Fleeger, again wouldn't be surprised.
"His expectation is to win the whole thing next
year," said Reyes. "He's the best wrestler that I've been around for
a long time, especially for his age."
Fleeger said his recent experience in a tough international
competition has only given him more determination to dominate fellow
wrestlers next season.
"Every time you go out to a competition and do
well, it tells you that you are on the right track," he said.
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