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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooner Profile: Joel Flaggert
November 18, 2007 | Wrestling
NORMAN, Okla. -- Joel Flaggert could have forgotten about wrestling and moved on with his life.
The Choctaw, Okla. native graduated last spring with a degree in human relations. But with a year of eligibility remaining, he could not walk away, especially with the way his season ended last year.
Despite finishing the 2006-07 season with an impressive 28-3 overall record, the two-time All-American failed to reach the podium for the first time in his career.
So he is back, hungry to finish his career on a high note.
With last year's disappointing finish serving as his motivation, Flaggert spent much of the offseason in the weight room and working on his technique to prepare for
his last go-round.
One of just four seniors on the team, Flaggert has also taken on more of a leadership role this year. He believes the sky is the limit for the Sooners, a team deep with young talent. But Flaggert also knows what disappointment feels like, and in order to avoid that feeling again he has been leading by example every day in the practice room, showing the younger guys what it takes to get to the next level.
Whether or not the Sooners reach all of their goals this season, you can be sure Flaggert and the rest of his teammates will leave everything out on the mat.
On why he decided to return for his final year of eligibility:
"The main reason I came back was because I didn't have to get a job and could spend another year having fun with my friends. And this year I don't have any pressure for classes so I can focus primarily on wrestling."
On his class schedule this year:
"I have to take 12 credits the first semester and then six credits the second semester. It's pretty easy. I'm taking all good ones."
On his goals for his final season of college wrestling:
"I'd like to be a national champion. That's why I came back because I thought I could do it. I really want to redeem myself from last year. I owe something to myself and want to go out on a high note."
On the disappointment of last year serving as motivation for this season:
"That is my motivation and that's why I did come back. I spent a lot of time lifting over the offseason just trying to get bigger and stronger."
On being one of the senior leaders for OU's young team:
"We all lead by example. Every day in practice we bust our butts and I think the younger guys see that. Hopefully they'll be right behind us or even pass us up."
On the potential he sees for the Sooners this year:
"We'll know more in about a month after we see some quality competition. It's kind of hard to tell right now. We've had a couple of tournaments up to this point but I want to see some top 10 competition and see how we do."
On who he feels can really step up and have a breakout year in 2007-08:
"I think Joey Fio will step up at 125 pounds. He'll be a good one and I think Nathan Fernandez will be tough at heavyweight. We have a good group coming behind us so we should be tough for the next few years. And we have three guys who aren't starting this year who were starters last year, so that means we've gotten better."
On his most memorable experience wrestling for the Sooners:
"It would probably be my freshman year at nationals. I got beat in the first round and then came all the way back through wrestlebacks to finish fourth."
On what fans can look forward to from the Sooners this year:
"We have a chance to be a national championship team and we have some of the best wrestlers in the country. There are probably five guys on this team who are going to be national champions in the future."
On some of the matches he's looking forward to this season:
"Any of the Big 12 matches. Iowa State is always tough, Missouri is tough, Nebraska is tough. The Big 12 is where it's at. Every team is in the running at nationals every year, so they're all going to be exciting matches."
On what it's going to take for the team to accomplish its goals:
"Improvement every day. We have to come in here and work hard, watch a lot of film and learn from our mistakes. If we do those things I think we can do it."
The Choctaw, Okla. native graduated last spring with a degree in human relations. But with a year of eligibility remaining, he could not walk away, especially with the way his season ended last year.
Despite finishing the 2006-07 season with an impressive 28-3 overall record, the two-time All-American failed to reach the podium for the first time in his career.
"I owe something  to myself and want to go out on a high note." |
With last year's disappointing finish serving as his motivation, Flaggert spent much of the offseason in the weight room and working on his technique to prepare for
his last go-round.
One of just four seniors on the team, Flaggert has also taken on more of a leadership role this year. He believes the sky is the limit for the Sooners, a team deep with young talent. But Flaggert also knows what disappointment feels like, and in order to avoid that feeling again he has been leading by example every day in the practice room, showing the younger guys what it takes to get to the next level.
Whether or not the Sooners reach all of their goals this season, you can be sure Flaggert and the rest of his teammates will leave everything out on the mat.
On why he decided to return for his final year of eligibility:
"The main reason I came back was because I didn't have to get a job and could spend another year having fun with my friends. And this year I don't have any pressure for classes so I can focus primarily on wrestling."
On his class schedule this year:
"I have to take 12 credits the first semester and then six credits the second semester. It's pretty easy. I'm taking all good ones."
On his goals for his final season of college wrestling:
"I'd like to be a national champion. That's why I came back because I thought I could do it. I really want to redeem myself from last year. I owe something to myself and want to go out on a high note."
On the disappointment of last year serving as motivation for this season:
"That is my motivation and that's why I did come back. I spent a lot of time lifting over the offseason just trying to get bigger and stronger."
On being one of the senior leaders for OU's young team:
"We all lead by example. Every day in practice we bust our butts and I think the younger guys see that. Hopefully they'll be right behind us or even pass us up."
On the potential he sees for the Sooners this year:
"We'll know more in about a month after we see some quality competition. It's kind of hard to tell right now. We've had a couple of tournaments up to this point but I want to see some top 10 competition and see how we do."
On who he feels can really step up and have a breakout year in 2007-08:
"I think Joey Fio will step up at 125 pounds. He'll be a good one and I think Nathan Fernandez will be tough at heavyweight. We have a good group coming behind us so we should be tough for the next few years. And we have three guys who aren't starting this year who were starters last year, so that means we've gotten better."
On his most memorable experience wrestling for the Sooners:
"It would probably be my freshman year at nationals. I got beat in the first round and then came all the way back through wrestlebacks to finish fourth."
On what fans can look forward to from the Sooners this year:
"We have a chance to be a national championship team and we have some of the best wrestlers in the country. There are probably five guys on this team who are going to be national champions in the future."
On some of the matches he's looking forward to this season:
"Any of the Big 12 matches. Iowa State is always tough, Missouri is tough, Nebraska is tough. The Big 12 is where it's at. Every team is in the running at nationals every year, so they're all going to be exciting matches."
On what it's going to take for the team to accomplish its goals:
"Improvement every day. We have to come in here and work hard, watch a lot of film and learn from our mistakes. If we do those things I think we can do it."
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championships (Day Two)
Sunday, March 09
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championships (Day One)
Saturday, March 08
WR Highlights: OU 32, Arizona State 6
Sunday, February 16
WR Highlights: OU 23, Missouri 13
Saturday, February 01
