Oct. 18, 2006

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Former Purdue Boilermaker wrestler Chris Fleeger was crowned champion of the 60kg/132lb. weight class at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 12-14.

Fleeger, a two-time NCAA runner-up and three-time All-American at Purdue, won the weight class consisting of four former NCAA champions. Fleeger was also named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Wrestling for the New York Athletic Club, Fleeger opened the freestyle tournament with a 7-0,8-0 technical fall over Babak Mohammadi, a four-time All-American at Oregon State (1991-95).

In the second round, Fleeger posted a decison over Nate Gallick - 0-3,4-0,3-2. Gallick was a 2006 NCAA champion, a 2005 World University Games gold medalist, and a three-time All-American from Iowa State.

The quarterfinals sent Fleeger against Cory VomBaur, a redshirt freshman at Wyoming. Fleeger won the match 2-0,6-0 to set up a contest with a familiar foe.

The semifinal match was a rematch of the 2006 NCAA Championships semifinal between Fleeger and Shawn Bunch. In March in Oklahoma City, Fleeger defeated the No.1-ranked wrestler from Edinboro 9-2, and the former Boilermaker advanced past Bunch in Tempe with a 3-1,3-1 decision.

In the championship match, Fleeger found himself going against Zach Roberson, a two-time USA Junior Freestyle champion, a three-time All-American and the 2004 NCAA national champion at 133 pounds. Fleeger won the match going away, claiming a 6-0,0-1,3-0 victory.

The title was Fleeger's first trip to the top spot on a podium since winning the 2003 Big Ten Championships. Fleeger finished second at the NCAA Championships that season to Cornell's Travis Lee, and again finished second at the 2006 NCAA Championships to Penn's Matt Valenti. Valenti was also in the field at the Sunkist Kids International Open, as was Teyon Ware, a two-time NCAA champion.

Fleeger will continue his training in Ithaca, N.Y., training at Cornell University with Lee.

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