By Guy Cipriano
gciprian–@–centredaily.com
The goals were defined last year.
Help the wrestling team win dual meets. Advance as far as possible in the Beast of the East and other grueling tournaments. Survive districts and regionals. Step on the awards podium in Hershey.
Now, the goals are fuzzy.
Asked where he wants to be when this season concludes in March, Edinboro 133-pounder and State College High School graduate Kyle Fluke said: “I’m not really looking that far forward.”
Fluke’s situation resembles the one facing the five other true freshmen from Centre County high schools wrestling for Division I programs.
One year after encountering high expectations, roles have changed.
This season is about enduring practice, adjusting to lifestyle changes and gaining experience.
The assimilation to college wrestling continues Sunday when Bald Eagle Area graduates Landis Wright, Travis Stem and Mike Cook, Bellefonte graduate Mike Lorenzo, Penns Valley graduate Nathan Andrews and Fluke participate in the Nittany Lion Open at Rec Hall. Wright, Stem and Cook wrestle for Lock Haven while Lorenzo and Andrews are members of Penn State’s massive roster.
This marks the second straight week the former county standouts are participating in the same event. All six wrestlers competed in last weekend’s Mat-Town Open at Lock Haven’s Thomas Field House.
So far, the wrestlers that entered college with the most impressive credentials have fared the best.
Wright, Cook and Fluke placed in the top four of their respective weights last weekend. Fluke earned four PIAA Class AAA medals, Wright placed third at 160 twice and Cook claimed a state title at 215 last season. All three wrestlers enter this weekend with records of .500 or above.
“This is a lot more physical, “said Wright, who placed third in the 165-pound division at Mat-Town after making his college debut by placing fourth at the East Stroudsburg Open. “In high school and college you can be mean and physical and that will win you a lot of matches. Here you have to be more tenacious than your opponent.”
Fluke, who wrestles for the nation’s 14th-ranked program, also has faced enough Division I opponents to digest the major differences.
“It’s tough getting used to how college wrestling is, “said Fluke, who placed third at last month’s Buffalo Open. “You’re getting beat up every single time.”
Still, Fluke (7-5), Cook (3-3) and Wright (8-3) are candidates to inflict beatings one day.
Wright and Cook are already competing for spots in Lock Haven’s starting lineup.
Cook has increased his weight to 230 pounds and he started at heavyweight during Lock Haven’s matches against Lehigh and Clarion in the Pennsylvania Duals earlier this month.
Entering a Division I lineup ended a career-changing year for Cook. He didn’t qualify for the PIAA championships until his senior season at BEA. The state-champion status widened his college options, but Cook decided to attend Lock Haven as a student.
Three days before the start of the fall semester, Cook wanted to wrestle, so he approached Lock Haven coach Rocky Bonomo about joining the team.
“I kept thinking that I was going to miss wrestling too much, “Cook said. “I talked to Rock and he said, ‘Hey, we can use you.'”
Wright also figures into Lock Haven’s plans. Wright said he wrestled attached during Mat-Town, which prevents him from redshirting this season.
Wright is one of six 165-pounders competing for Lock Haven this weekend. If Wright continues to perform well, he could be in a position to start.
“That’s up to the coaches, “Wright said. “My job is to keep plugging away, keep training and keep getting better.”
Fluke might join Cook and Wright as an attached wrestler soon. Fluke said he “doesn’t think “Edinboro coach Tim Flynn will redshirt him this season. Fluke added that he might redshirt next season.
He’s currently serving as sophomore Ricky Deubel’s backup at 133. Fluke is expected to travel with the Fighting Scots when they attend the Southern Scuffle later this month and the Virginia Duals next month.
Fluke seems more concerned with this weekend.
“I take it one week at a time, “he said.
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