March 18, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Purdue Boilermakers finished 20th in the team standings at the 2006 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and placed two individuals on the All-America award podium.
Chris Fleeger placed second in the nation at 133 pounds, and Ben Wissel finished seventh at 184 pounds.
Oklahoma State won the team title, the school's fourth in a row and 34th in the program's history.
Chris Fleeger, Purdue / Big Ten / Sr. / Trout Run, Pa. / 14-2
vs.
Matt Valenti, Penn / EIWA / Sr. / Newton, N.J. / 35-2
Chris Fleeger was not able to capture the elusive national title on Saturday evening, falling to Penn's Matt Valenti 3-2 on a riding time point.
For the opening two minutes of the match , the two wrestlers seemed to feel each other on the mat, neither willing to open up an attack. In the final minute of the first period, Fleeger got in deep on Valenti's legs and lifted the Quaker wrestler off the mat. However, Valenti was able to defend the shot and avoid the takedown. The period ended in a draw, 0-0.
Valenti won the toss for the second period option and deferred to Fleeger, who chose to start on the bottom. Valenti rode hard, keep the Boilermaker on the mat for the full two minutes and sending the match into the third period scoreless.
In the final period, Valenti opted for a bottom start and, 24 seconds into the stanza, reversed Fleeger for the first points of the match and a 2-0 lead. Fleeger countered with a reversal of his own with 39 seconds left, tying the match at 2-2 but still fighting to overcome Valenti's riding advantage. Fleeger tried to turn the Penn 133-pounder but was unable to register any back points. Time expired on the match, and Valenti claimed the title with 2:17 in riding time, giving him the deciding point.
For Fleeger, his career closes at Purdue with a record of 86-9, a winning percentage of .905, the second-best career percentage in Purdue history. Fleeger is a three-time All-American, placing third as a freshman in 2002, second as a sophomore in 2003, and second this year.
Chris Fleeger (5 seed), 133 Pounds
Round 1: Zachary Cunliffe, Rider ... won by medical default, 3:32
Round 2: Chris Helgeson, Northern Iowa ... won by major decision, 16-3
Quarters: #4 Mack Reiter, Minnesota ... won by default (injury), 2:59
Semifinals: #1 Shawn Bunch, Edinboro ... won by decision, 9-2
Finals: #6 Matt Valenti, Penn ... lost by decision, 3-2