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Purdue Wrestling

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Purdue Wrestling has long been an average program, that historically places as one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. However times are changing and because of the efforts put in by former boilers and an increase in support for wrestling from Purdue the program is improving every year and has even been voted as one of the top "brands" in college sports today. Purdue is finally becoming known for have good wrestling teams instead of just having a few great wrestlers every year. The improvements began when former Purdue wrestling great Scott Hinkel returned to the program and took the job of head coach.

Scott Hinkel

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Coach Hinkel took the job of Head Coach at in 2007 but it was not his first time with the program. He had an excellent career at Purdue and had spent years working as an assistant coach with the team. As a wrestler at Purdue he was able to earn both All-American and Big Ten honors, as well as holding quite a few school records. Coach Hinkel the 2nd most career wins of any boilermaker ever as well as being ranked first in career fall points for Purdue. Coach Hinkel came back to Purdue at a good time just two years after the building of the Blake Family Wrestling and Training Center which was a huge improvement from their old practice facility. The Blake Family Center is a great tool for Coach Hinkel when he is recruiting top wrestlers to come to Purdue. Because of the new facilities Purdue can boast top tier training facilities with a very spacious area to wrestle which allows the team to have much safer practices while raising the level of intensity that they can practice at with out having to worry about getting in the way of fellow teammates. Purdue has had some of its best seasons in school history with Coach Hinkel at the helm as the boilermakers enter this season ranked 20th in the Nation.

Former Purdue Wrestler Gives Back to the Community

Three time All-American and two time runner up at The National Championships, Chris Fleeger was one of Purdue's greatest wrestlers ever. The great wrestler who once took two years off from his collegiate career to train and try out for the Olympics now spends his days as an assistant coach at Purdue and Director of  the Boiler Elite Camps. Boiler Elite is a camp that local kids can come to and learn from the Purdue Legend and other Purdue Wrestlers. Coach Fleeger also makes a weekly Youtube video that young wrestlers can learn from called the "Boilermaker Technique of the Week". Coach Fleegers work hand in helping with the Boiler Elite Camps is most likely the reason why local wrestling is improving and there are 3 local wrestlers on the Purdue Team.

All American Boilermakers

Ray  Hooker:                         165lbs.                                1929
Mal McDonald                     121 lbs.                               1942
Mark Matovina                     128 lbs.                               1942
Frank Ruggieri                       Hwt.                                    1942
Waldermar Van Cott            175 lbs.                               1947
Ray Gunkel                             Hwt.                                    1947
Arnold Plaza                          114.5 lbs.                            1948
Waldermar Van Cott            175 lbs.                                1948
Arnold Plaza                          121 lbs.                                1949
Waldermar Van Cott            175 lbs.                                1949
Arnold Plaza                          121 lbs.                                1950
Joe Patacsil                            128 lbs.                                1950
Charles Farina                       135 lbs.                                1950
Charles Moreno                    145 lbs.                                1950
Al Vega                                    123 lbs.                                1954
Vernon Whitney                    123 lbs.                                1956
Ahmet Senol                          191 lbs.                                1956
Dominic Fatta                        147 lbs.                                1960
Bob Marshall                         157 lbs.                                1960
Bob Marshall                         167 lbs.                                1961
Dave Gibson                          147 lbs.                                1962
Bob Hopp                               Hwt.                                      1964
Joe Corso                                126 lbs.                                1975
Alan Housner                         150 lbs.                                1975
Bernie Barrile                         167 lbs.                                1975
Dave Lilovich                          158 lbs.                                1985
Dave Lilovich                          158 lbs.                                1986
Scott Hinkel                            126 lbs.                                1987
Joe Urso                                   167 lbs.                                1987
Mike McHenry                        177 lbs.                                1989
Dave Walter                            158 lbs.                                1990
DaveWalter                             158lbs.                                 1991                
Charles Jones                          167 lbs.                                1991
Matt Lindley                            Hwt.                                      1991
Charles Jones                          167 lbs.                                1992
Aaron Moran                           158 lbs.                                1994
Tony Vaughn                            Hwt.                                     1994
Frank Laccone                         134 lbs.                                1995
Frank Laccone                         134 lbs.                                1996
Tim Dernlan                             118 lbs.                                1998
Eric Douglas                             158 lbs.                                1998
Jason Silverstein                      125 lbs.                                1999
Jake Vercelli                               Hwt.                                     2001
Chris Fleeger                             125 lbs.                               2002
Jake Vercelli                               Hwt.                                     2002
Chris Fleeger                             125 lbs.                               2003
Ryan Lange                                174 lbs.                               2003
Ryan Lange                                174 lbs.                               2004
Ben Wissel                                 184 lbs.                               2005
Chris Fleeger                             133 lbs.                               2006
Ben Wissel                                 184 lbs.                               2006
Jake Patacsil                               149 lbs.                               2009
Cashé Quiroga                          125 lbs.                               2010

Big Ten Champions

O.K. Ziegler                           125 lbs.                                  1920
Walt Spencer                         Hwt.                                       1922
M.M. Latimer                         175 lbs.                                 1925
Ray Hooker                            165 lbs.                                  1929
Casey Fredericks                   121 lbs.                                  1941
Mal McDonald                        121 lbs.                                 1942
Casey Fredericks                    128 lbs.                                 1942
Mark Matovina                       136 lbs.                                 1942
Frank Ruggieri                         Hwt.                                      1942
Frank Ruggieri                         Hwt.                                       1943
Jack Shepard                           165 lbs.                                  1944
Bob Wilson                               Hwt.                                       1944
Mike Rajcevich                         175 lbs.                                  1945
Arnold Plaza                             121 lbs.                                  1947
Arnold Plaza                             115 lbs.                                  1948
Arnold Plaza                             121 lbs.                                 1949
Joe Patacsil                                128 lbs.                                 1949
Arnold Plaza                              121 lbs.                                 1950
Joe Patacsil                                 128 lbs.                                1950
Charles Farina                            136 lbs.                                1950
Charles Moreno                         145 lbs.                                1950
Waldemar Van Cott                   165 lbs.                                1950
Charles Farina                             137 lbs.                                1951
Al Vega                                          123 lbs.                               1954
 Bud Weick                                   147 lbs.                                1954
Ahmet Senol                                177 lbs.                                1954
Vernon Whitney                          130 lbs.                                1956
Drayton Praed                             147 lbs.                                1956
Bob Marshall                                157 lbs.                               1960
Bob Marshall                                167 lbs.                               1961
 Dave Gibson                                147 lbs.                               1962
 Bob Marshall                               157 lbs.                               1962
 Joe Corso                                       126 lbs.                              1975
 Alan Housner                                142 lbs.                              1976
Joe Lilovich                                      142 lbs.                              1987
Charles Jones                                  167 lbs.                              1992
Tony Vaughn                                   Hwt.                                   1996
Chris Fleeger                                   125 lbs.                              2003
Ryan Lange                                      174 lbs.                             2003
Ryan Lange                                       174 lbs.                            2004

National Champions

Arnold Plaza                                     114.5 lbs.                          1948
Arnold Plaza                                     121 lbs.                             1949
Joe Patacsil                                        128 lbs.                             1950
Charles Jones                                    167 lbs.                             1992
Page edited by Ross Corcorcan
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