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Sigman takes shot at Olympics
Nebraska-Omaha wrestler holds own against sport’s biggest names
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RAPID CITY — Sturgis native and University of Nebraska-Omaha wrestler Les Sigman is soft-spoken, but there is nothing soft about his athletic career.
Sigman finished fourth at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on June 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. In the competition, Sigman won a quarterfinal match over Patrick Cummins, 1-0, 2-0, before a loss to eventual meet winner Steve Mocco. Sigman rebounded with a victory over Tolly Thompson before a loss to Cummins in the third-place match.
“I was a little disappointed,” Sigman said.
The tough competition was compounded by an injury that Sigman received earlier in the season. He broke his foot about a month before the competition, but that did not cause him to lower his expectations.
“I was expecting to win it,” he said. “It was very competitive. Whoever has the best day is going to win it.”
Though the loss is fresh in his mind, he said that the chance at the Olympics will mean more to him in time. Part of what made the competition special was his family, which was able to attend.
A heavyweight, Sigman has more than a shot at the Olympics to his credit. He won his fourth national wrestling championship in March. He became the first Maverick to win four national titles. Only four other Division II wrestlers have won four championships.
Sigman has a team focus. When asked about his four championships, he is quick to credit his team, and mention the three Maverick national team championships earned during his collegiate career.
He also credits much of his success to training he received from coaches, including Steve Kessler at Sturgis Brown High School.
“I had good coaches who taught good fundamentals and technique,” he said. “He (Kessler) prepared me well for college wrestling.”
Sigman began wrestling in second grade and was competing at 135 pounds and then 189 pounds in high school. He did not wrestle varsity until his junior year, but announced his presence by finishing second at the high school nationals.
Along with his wrestling victories, he also battled injuries, including three knee surgeries, a dislocated shoulder and surgery for anterior compartment syndrome (lower leg).
He is not done wrestling. He will try to make the World Championship team next year.
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