Sliga named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/06/2005


Mitch Sliga (Noblesville Ind.) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of June 28-July 5.    Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.    Sliga was one of the nine Kids wrestlers who claimed the coveted USA Wrestling Kids Triple Crown this year, winning USA Wrestling National titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman during the same year.    Sliga competed at the USA Wrestling Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships in Green Bay, Wis., June 29-July 2. He won gold medals in both styles at 87 pounds in the Midget division. Earlier this year, he was also a USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle national champion in Cedar Falls, Iowa    Sliga pinned all eight opponents he faced in the tournament in Green Bay, in an amazing combined time of 5:16.    Sliga pinned Jon Fisher of Wilder, Idaho in the freestyle finals in 1:54. His other pins in freestyle came in 25 seconds, 15 seconds and 24 seconds.    In the Greco-Roman finals, he pinned Mitchell Pohlman of Loyal, Wis. in 1:03. His other pins in Greco-Roman came in 30 seconds, 36 seconds and 12 seconds.    Sliga competes for the CIA-Indiana club, coached by Chris Sliga. He has won three state folkstyle, titles, three state freestyle titles and two state Greco-Roman titles in Indiana. He was also an all-American in all three styles at the USA Wrestling Kids Nationals last year, placing second, third and sixth.    His favorite wrestler is Dan Gable and his favorite other athlete is Brian Urlacher. A favorite TV show is The Simpsons, and his favorite food is ravioli.    Click here to view previous Athletes of the Week