University of Minnesota Athletics
The Little Big Man; Gopher All-American Leroy Vega
1/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
But none of that matters. In the case of this 125-pound senior from Portage, Ind., size does not matter. He's heard all the jokes before. The heckles and taunts still rain down from the stands at opposing arenas. But Vega has proven to the doubters that his diminutive stature has not been a factor in all of the success he has experienced at the University of Minnesota in the past five years.
"Now that I'm in my senior year and I'm on pace to be a four-time All-American, I think the size issue is done," Vega said. "Now I know I'm big enough to succeed at this level. But it doesn't bother me; people can say whatever they want about me."
Don't let his 5-foot-1, 125-pound frame fool you; Vega is sneaky strong and blazingly quick. Nowadays, the wrestling experts laud his abilities and predict top finishes. In high school, though, he was labeled as too small to make it in college. In fact, he almost didn't even make it to the Division I level.
"I think I was Minnesota's third or fourth choice," Vega recalled. "I didn't think I was going to be able to go to college. Every school said I was too small. I doubted myself in my senior year. But Minnesota gave me a chance and I can't thank the coaches enough for that. I was so excited when they first called. When I got off the phone, I told my mom that I was going to Minnesota. She told me to wait, but I knew right then. No other Big Ten or Big 12 school called."
And followers of Gold Country wrestling are happy those schools didn't call. Like he said, Vega is on pace to become only the second Minnesota wrestler (Chad Kraft, 1996-99) to earn All-America honors all four years of his career.
Vega is also on pace to complete a possibly more impressive feat. During his four years as a starter, he has competed in every dual meet match at 125 pounds for the Maroon and Gold. A remarkable achievement, he is yet to miss an appearance in the starting lineup for the Golden Gophers. It's the stuff of legends. It's Cal Ripken/Lou Gehrig-esque stuff. Vega is Minnesota wrestling's Ironman.
"It really makes me proud," Vega said. "With all the times I've been hurt or didn't want to wrestle, to wrestle in every dual meet is a pretty big accomplishment. Last year I wrestled half the season with a broken thumb and toe, but I couldn't sit out with Owen [Elzen] out there competing on a torn ACL. But I think it shows my leadership. It's something that I have a lot of pride in."
Vega didn't even know about his streak until last season, but now, completing that feat has become one of his primary goals, along with winning his first Big Ten and NCAA individual titles. It's those sort of lofty, yet attainable goals that have established Vega as a bona fide leader on the Golden Gopher squad. It's a role he identifies with and takes very seriously.
"I see myself as a big leader on this team," Vega admitted. "[Chad] Erikson and I are the only ones that have been in the lineup since our freshman year. We've seen all the tough matches." He added, ironically, "I think the team looks up to me."
Although none of the wrestlers on the Minnesota squad literally "look up to him," his leading by example approach has obviously been an asset to the Golden Gophers. He has led by example over the years to the tune of a 123-24 overall record, third-place Big Ten and fifth-place NCAA finishes in both his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, a second-place 2001 conference finish, and a 2001 NCAA third-place finish.
Now Vega wants to take that example to the next level. His main goal remains an individual national championship. And, according to Vega, this season just might be his best chance.
"I've been the same guy throughout the years when it comes to what I thought my chances were of winning the NCAA title," Vega explained. "In my freshman year, maybe I thought I could win it, but I left happy with fifth. My sophomore year I thought I could win it all. And last year I knew I could. So, this year it's pretty much the same. I know I can win the championship. To give myself a chance to do it, I have to get to the finals this year."
Vega knows he has the talent and the will to meet his ultimate goal of winning a national title, but first he must defeat his toughest opponent - himself. Although he mentioned Oklahoma State's 1998 NCAA champion Teague Moore as the most difficult opponent he has faced, Vega admits that the biggest obstacle to meeting his objective is his own head.
"The toughest guy I wrestle is myself," Vega said. "I need to be mentally ready to wrestle. I've lost matches because I have not been mentally `in it.' I just have to get it into my head that I can win it all this season."
This season exists as Vega's opportunity to put a cap on a storybook career in Gold Country, and it's the small things that he is going to miss the most. He will miss the conference and national tournaments, of course, but it's the less-noticeable aspects of Golden Gopher wrestling that he will look back on with fond memories.
"I'm going to miss being able to lead the team out onto the mat every single meet," Vega said. "It's such an honor to be able to lead out the national champions. It's a great feeling, especially with all the kids that are watching us and dreaming of being on a great team like ours. I love to start meets and tournaments out at 125 - get the team going. I love being the sparkplug to get the guys excited. I'm the guy that kind of sets the tone and gets the crowd going."
He's also the kind of guy that sets the tone away from the mat. He gets the lockerroom or the van or the hotel room going, too. Like the fiery wrestler on the mat, Vega is a sparkplug away from wrestling. He's full of energy, always joking, laughing, and poking fun at his teammates and coaches. When media members ask for what they like to call "good talkers," Vega's name is, more times than not, the first mentioned. In a word, he's gregarious.
"Leroy reminds me of a five-year-old kid going to the circus," Assistant Coach Joe Russell said. "He's just a lighthearted kid. He's the type of guy who will get up in the morning and jump on your back just for laughs. I love having him around."
"Off the mat, I'm an easygoing guy," Vega commented. "But, on the mat, it's all business. I get myself into a bad mood and get ready to go." Unfortunately, getting ready to go is what soon will be upon Vega. His career up at the end of the season, Vega will be at a crossroads in his life. The real world is knocking on his door and decisions on his future will soon be the order of the day.
"After I'm done wrestling, I want to teach elementary school and coach wrestling," Vega said. "I'm hoping to try out for the Olympics and other events in the international circuit. I don't think I'm too far away from getting to that level. My practice partner is [Olympic silver medalist at 2001 world champion] Brandon Paulson. I've done well on junior world teams. I'm close, but I'm not quite there yet." All along the way for Vega has been his family and friends. That group includes his parents, of course, his girlfriend since his redshirt freshman year, Sarah Lyons, countless aunts and uncles, and over 60 first cousins. The support that he enjoys from his family is unmatched.
"My family is great. I have 15-20 family members that support me wherever I go," Vega explained. "My mom has to get 25 NCAA tickets for all the family and friends that come to support me. The NCAA tournament is really the only time that I get to see a lot of my relatives. My family and especially my parents are always there for me with any decisions that I need to make. They are always calling and wondering how I'm doing. It's a great feeling to have the family that I have. It's something that I wish every kid could experience."
The Leroy Vega Experience will soon come to a close at the University of Minnesota. When Vega hangs up the maroon and gold singlet for the last time, it will close a chapter in the recent history of the top wrestling program in the nation. Minnesota will miss the little big man from Indiana. His contributions to the Golden Gophers can best be described as invaluable.
With all the positive aspects that Vega has brought to Gold Country, perhaps the most significant is the proof that, truly, size does not matter.
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Wrestling Contact Kevin Kurtt
Leroy Vega is short. I mean, really short. We're talking Wizard of Oz Munchkin short. Spud Webb or Danny DeVito short. Webster short. It's pretty safe to say that a WWF career does not await Vega in the near future (unless he plays the role of Brock Lesnar's kid or something). You'd be hard-pressed to find a shorter NCAA Division I athlete. They just don't exist.
But none of that matters. In the case of this 125-pound senior from Portage, Ind., size does not matter. He's heard all the jokes before. The heckles and taunts still rain down from the stands at opposing arenas. But Vega has proven to the doubters that his diminutive stature has not been a factor in all of the success he has experienced at the University of Minnesota in the past five years.
"Now that I'm in my senior year and I'm on pace to be a four-time All-American, I think the size issue is done," Vega said. "Now I know I'm big enough to succeed at this level. But it doesn't bother me; people can say whatever they want about me."
Don't let his 5-foot-1, 125-pound frame fool you; Vega is sneaky strong and blazingly quick. Nowadays, the wrestling experts laud his abilities and predict top finishes. In high school, though, he was labeled as too small to make it in college. In fact, he almost didn't even make it to the Division I level.
"I think I was Minnesota's third or fourth choice," Vega recalled. "I didn't think I was going to be able to go to college. Every school said I was too small. I doubted myself in my senior year. But Minnesota gave me a chance and I can't thank the coaches enough for that. I was so excited when they first called. When I got off the phone, I told my mom that I was going to Minnesota. She told me to wait, but I knew right then. No other Big Ten or Big 12 school called."
And followers of Gold Country wrestling are happy those schools didn't call. Like he said, Vega is on pace to become only the second Minnesota wrestler (Chad Kraft, 1996-99) to earn All-America honors all four years of his career.
Vega is also on pace to complete a possibly more impressive feat. During his four years as a starter, he has competed in every dual meet match at 125 pounds for the Maroon and Gold. A remarkable achievement, he is yet to miss an appearance in the starting lineup for the Golden Gophers. It's the stuff of legends. It's Cal Ripken/Lou Gehrig-esque stuff. Vega is Minnesota wrestling's Ironman.
"It really makes me proud," Vega said. "With all the times I've been hurt or didn't want to wrestle, to wrestle in every dual meet is a pretty big accomplishment. Last year I wrestled half the season with a broken thumb and toe, but I couldn't sit out with Owen [Elzen] out there competing on a torn ACL. But I think it shows my leadership. It's something that I have a lot of pride in."
Vega didn't even know about his streak until last season, but now, completing that feat has become one of his primary goals, along with winning his first Big Ten and NCAA individual titles. It's those sort of lofty, yet attainable goals that have established Vega as a bona fide leader on the Golden Gopher squad. It's a role he identifies with and takes very seriously.
"I see myself as a big leader on this team," Vega admitted. "[Chad] Erikson and I are the only ones that have been in the lineup since our freshman year. We've seen all the tough matches." He added, ironically, "I think the team looks up to me."
Although none of the wrestlers on the Minnesota squad literally "look up to him," his leading by example approach has obviously been an asset to the Golden Gophers. He has led by example over the years to the tune of a 123-24 overall record, third-place Big Ten and fifth-place NCAA finishes in both his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, a second-place 2001 conference finish, and a 2001 NCAA third-place finish.
Now Vega wants to take that example to the next level. His main goal remains an individual national championship. And, according to Vega, this season just might be his best chance.
"I've been the same guy throughout the years when it comes to what I thought my chances were of winning the NCAA title," Vega explained. "In my freshman year, maybe I thought I could win it, but I left happy with fifth. My sophomore year I thought I could win it all. And last year I knew I could. So, this year it's pretty much the same. I know I can win the championship. To give myself a chance to do it, I have to get to the finals this year."
Vega knows he has the talent and the will to meet his ultimate goal of winning a national title, but first he must defeat his toughest opponent - himself. Although he mentioned Oklahoma State's 1998 NCAA champion Teague Moore as the most difficult opponent he has faced, Vega admits that the biggest obstacle to meeting his objective is his own head.
"The toughest guy I wrestle is myself," Vega said. "I need to be mentally ready to wrestle. I've lost matches because I have not been mentally `in it.' I just have to get it into my head that I can win it all this season."
This season exists as Vega's opportunity to put a cap on a storybook career in Gold Country, and it's the small things that he is going to miss the most. He will miss the conference and national tournaments, of course, but it's the less-noticeable aspects of Golden Gopher wrestling that he will look back on with fond memories.
"I'm going to miss being able to lead the team out onto the mat every single meet," Vega said. "It's such an honor to be able to lead out the national champions. It's a great feeling, especially with all the kids that are watching us and dreaming of being on a great team like ours. I love to start meets and tournaments out at 125 - get the team going. I love being the sparkplug to get the guys excited. I'm the guy that kind of sets the tone and gets the crowd going."
He's also the kind of guy that sets the tone away from the mat. He gets the lockerroom or the van or the hotel room going, too. Like the fiery wrestler on the mat, Vega is a sparkplug away from wrestling. He's full of energy, always joking, laughing, and poking fun at his teammates and coaches. When media members ask for what they like to call "good talkers," Vega's name is, more times than not, the first mentioned. In a word, he's gregarious.
"Leroy reminds me of a five-year-old kid going to the circus," Assistant Coach Joe Russell said. "He's just a lighthearted kid. He's the type of guy who will get up in the morning and jump on your back just for laughs. I love having him around."
"Off the mat, I'm an easygoing guy," Vega commented. "But, on the mat, it's all business. I get myself into a bad mood and get ready to go." Unfortunately, getting ready to go is what soon will be upon Vega. His career up at the end of the season, Vega will be at a crossroads in his life. The real world is knocking on his door and decisions on his future will soon be the order of the day.
"After I'm done wrestling, I want to teach elementary school and coach wrestling," Vega said. "I'm hoping to try out for the Olympics and other events in the international circuit. I don't think I'm too far away from getting to that level. My practice partner is [Olympic silver medalist at 2001 world champion] Brandon Paulson. I've done well on junior world teams. I'm close, but I'm not quite there yet." All along the way for Vega has been his family and friends. That group includes his parents, of course, his girlfriend since his redshirt freshman year, Sarah Lyons, countless aunts and uncles, and over 60 first cousins. The support that he enjoys from his family is unmatched.
"My family is great. I have 15-20 family members that support me wherever I go," Vega explained. "My mom has to get 25 NCAA tickets for all the family and friends that come to support me. The NCAA tournament is really the only time that I get to see a lot of my relatives. My family and especially my parents are always there for me with any decisions that I need to make. They are always calling and wondering how I'm doing. It's a great feeling to have the family that I have. It's something that I wish every kid could experience."
The Leroy Vega Experience will soon come to a close at the University of Minnesota. When Vega hangs up the maroon and gold singlet for the last time, it will close a chapter in the recent history of the top wrestling program in the nation. Minnesota will miss the little big man from Indiana. His contributions to the Golden Gophers can best be described as invaluable.
With all the positive aspects that Vega has brought to Gold Country, perhaps the most significant is the proof that, truly, size does not matter.
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Wrestling Contact Kevin Kurtt
