Purdue Wrestling
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
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 CommunityThree 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.
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All American BoilermakersRay 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 ChampionsO.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 ChampionsArnold 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
