Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

You could argue that no one learned more life lessons from wrestling than Scott Hinkel, because wrestling still is his life.

The 1983 Fairfield High School graduate is in his first season as head coach at Purdue University after 14 years with the school as an assistant and four as a wrestler.

"Wrestling taught me a lot of things that I've applied so much in life and in coaching," said Hinkel, who won the AAA 105-pound state title in 1982 with a record of 32-4-1.

Riding the momentum of that championship, Hinkel entered the 1983 state tournament undefeated as a 112-pounder. But Fairview Park's Steve Mendicino stunned Hinkel in the first round and — because there were no automatic wrestle-backs then — put an immediate end to Hinkel's season and career.

"I wasn't ready for that match. It's really unfortunate," Hinkel said. "It never goes away."

Mendicino went on to wrestle for Ohio State, and Hinkel faced him three times while at Purdue.

The results?

"He never scored another point on me," Hinkel said.

Hinkel finished 100-20-2 in a high school career that began at Talawanda basically as a Plan 'B' after being cut from the basketball team his freshman year.

He came within one match of making state his sophomore year, then transferred to Fairfield, where he defined his career.

Hinkel currently lives in West Lafayette, Ind., with his wife, Irina, and their two daughters.