Conquering the World: Fishers High School’s Mitch Sliga

Fishers High School senior wrestler Mitch Sliga, a state and national champion and a member of the USA wrestling team that competed in Baku, Azerbaijan, this past summer.

As we headed down the hallway leading to the wrestling room at Fishers High School, Tigers boys varsity basketball coach Joe Leonard greeted us with his usual easy-going, glad-to-see-you approach. “Hey, you’re with the man. Really, I mean THE MAN,’’ Leonard blurted out with a loud chuckle and a big, appreciative smile top athletes everywhere usually receive.

Senior wrestler Mitch Sliga, a state and national champion and a member of the USA wrestling team that competed in Baku, Azerbaijan, this past summer, somewhat bashful, quietly acknowledged the warm reception. He just grinned. Fleas grin bigger.

But yes, indeed, he’s THE MAN. And a 2011 IHSAA state champion, the 2010 USA Wrestling Cadet Triple Crown winner (something that’s pretty rare for someone so young), the reigning national freestyle champion, and a five-star recruit headed for Northwestern University.

Sliga, who ranks No. 27 among the nation’s top 100 wrestlers, is a state champion and three-time state place winner in Indiana. He has a resume filled with national and even world credentials in the international styles. He earned a spot on this year’s Cadet World Team this year after winning FILA Cadet Nationals in freestyle. He placed fifth at the FILA Cadet World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, at 85 kilos.

A member of Fishers High school’s 2010 Class 5A state football championship team, Sliga gave up football after his sophomore season to concentrate on wrestling. He’s the only Fishers High School student-athlete to win state championships competing in two different sports.

Sliga, who is a three-time Hoosier Crossroads Conference champion and a winner in the only two Hamilton County Championships contested so far, was ranked No. 1 by IndianaMat.com in the 2011-12 season. He was a perfect 49-0 en route to winning the 195-pound state championship.

He’ll be No. 1 again as he works to add to his marvelous junior season in pursuit of another state championship at 195 pounds when the high school season officially gets under way on November 12. He also needs only 15 more wins to reach No. 144 and break Brad Farrell’s school record of 143 for career wins.

He does pretty well in the classroom, too. He was a Junior Academic selection last season and is on course to be an Academic selection as a senior. He maintains a 3.98 grade-point average. One might think there’s not much left for him to do, right? No, wrong. He hopes someday that his resume also reads WORLD CHAMPION.

While getting ready for college, Sliga will try to qualify for the Junior World team (18-20 age group) next summer. He says experience is the key, and he certainly has the necessary experience.

With all his championships and records, Sliga says the one championship he’s most proud of is the freestyle at the 2012 FILA Nationals. “It got me on the USA team,‘’ said Sliga, who placed fifth individually in the Cadet Worlds. “I proved a lot to myself by making the USA team.’’

When talking about himself and his accomplishments, he’s pretty humble, and he has a pretty good perspective when it comes to the big picture.

He looked back on what has been a long, challenging road for him. He entered high school with a goal of winning four state championships. In his first two years, he placed third at 189 pounds, wrestling mostly bigger, stronger seniors. “I wasn’t as ready as I thought,‘’ Sliga said. “I did well, but I wasn’t strong enough to beat the elite wrestlers and I didn’t fulfill my dream of 4 state titles.’’

Sliga said there was a lot of build-up his junior year about his chance to win a state title. “It was a great feeling. I finally got the monkey off my back, and it was a big relief,’’ he said as if if he was still picturing it in his mind.

Sliga, who spends a lot of time in the weight room, said he felt like he was as strong as anyone last year, that he’s even stronger now, and that he plans to be much stronger by next summer. “One reason I feel like I’m much better now and much stronger is that last summer I beat a senior who beat me at state my freshman year. He’s now wrestling for Purdue,” Sliga said. “That was a good feeling. I wasn’t ready back then, but now I am. I feel like I can compete with some of the best. I just want to keep on winning. I hate losing…I really do.’’

He said he sees himself as pretty much being a normal teenager. “Nothing exciting about me or what I do, other than my wrestling,‘’ he said. “My spare time is also consumed by wrestling. That’s how you get better and be able to win. You have to stay focused on your sport. That’s what I do. I’m just doing what I love to do.’’

Sliga’s dedication, hard work, and overall effort may have best been on display last spring, when he held a camp for various-aged wrestlers, working with them on technique and moves in order to raise money to help send him to the competition at Baku, Azerbaijan. “When you want something bad enough, you do what it takes to make it happen. It was both a fun and rewarding experience,’’ he said.

When asked if he thinks of wrestling as destiny for him, he paused, tugged at his ear, and replied: “I’ve earned my way. I worked hard to become a high school champion, and I’ll work even harder to become a collegiate champion. So, no, I don’t see wrestling as my destiny, but I want to excel and do big things in the sport….and I’m driven to get done what I want to get done. We’ll see where it takes me; and whatever I do in wrestling and in the classroom in getting an education, I’m sure there won’t be any regrets. I’ll be fine.’’

When asked about his early years in wrestling, Sliga said he couldn’t remember much about what drew him to the sport, only that he was in kindergarten at the time when he went with his Dad (Chris) and mom (Michelle) to sign up his brother (Brad) for wrestling in the fourth grade. “My parents introduced me to it,‘’ he said. “They let me find my own way. They never pushed me, but they’ve always been there to encourage and to support me.’’

He said that basically his parents just thought he might like it. Obviously, they were right. Getting his first taste of mats and floor burns at such an early age has helped him learn and grow and leave an impressive mark on the sport.

“Obviously, I’m glad they did introduce me to the sport. I think things have worked out pretty well,’’ he said with a smile.

When asked how he wanted people in the wrestling circles to remember him, he said, “….that I did things the right way….worked hard….and never quit.’’

Sliga said he fought through a lot adversity along the way. “I might have gotten down a little early on when I lost at state those first two years. That was probably my biggest disappointment, ever, but I didn’t quit. Wrestling teaches many life lessons. I believe that things happen for a reason and that I’m a better person, wrestler, and competitor because of what I’ve gone through,’’ he said matter of factly.

And certainly more driven to succeed – if that’s possible. Most likely it is since there’s no mistaking that Mitch Sliga is driven to be the best!

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