Jan. 6, 2005

A lot has changed over the last five years in the Missouri wrestling program. One grappler who has seen it all is senior Clint Freeman.

Not only has he watched the team progress and gain national respect, he himself has changed in big ways as well.

Freeman started wrestling as a freshman at 165 pounds. Today he is a heavyweight on the 12th ranked Tiger team. Not everybody can say they've jumped five weight classes in their career. The man dubbed "Big Hungry" can.

"I went from 165 to 197 (pounds) and then to heavyweight and people just started calling me that," Freeman said. "I guess it has stuck pretty well. The transition didn't change me much. It made it less stressful though, since I didn't have to watch my weight. So I welcomed the change."

A native of Ellsworth, Kan., Freeman arrived in Columbia in 2000 with a lot of success in high school under his belt. He liked what he had seen on his visits to MU, especially the team's comrade.

"I saw how close the team was and how all the guys seemed like brothers." Freeman said. "I liked everyone here and it just felt right for me."

One of the biggest things Freeman says he's had to learn is that nothing comes easy. He noticed this early on, along with the change in competition at the collegiate level.

"There's a bigger gap between high school wrestling and college wrestling than I thought, especially at the Division 1 level," Freeman said. "It's never easy, and not everyone can compete at this level."

Throughout his time at Missouri Freeman has developed rivalries. His favorite memory as a Tiger comes against the team he dislikes most.

"My favorite memory here would probably be beating Oklahoma State last year," Freeman said. "We pulled together as a team and I was able to be apart of it. It was really intense and exciting."

Head Coach Brian Smith's favorite memories of Freeman also come from the Tiger's historic defeat of Oklahoma State last season. Smith, who has coached Freeman all five years that he's been here, didn't have a heavyweight wrestler for the first semester of the 2003-04 campaign. The Tigers would win the close dual 21-17, with Freeman stepping up big for his team.

"Last year Clint wasn't a heavyweight, he was a 197 pound wrestler," Smith said. "I asked him to fill in as our heavyweight in the first dual of the year, which was against number one ranked Oklahoma State. He agreed and wrestled an eventual All-American and ended up losing in a real close match. He went out and battled hard for us. He weighed in at 197 pounds and went up against their heavyweight who probably weighed 230 or 240 pounds. Clint played a big factor in our win and I know the team was pretty excited when he went out there and battled his tail off and helped the team by not giving up a pin. Without Clint we would have probably had to forfeit the match and give up six points which more than likely would have cost us the dual."

Very seldom is a losing effort a fond memory, but this shows Freeman's level of commitment and loyalty to the Tiger team. Coach Smith says Freeman might not have always been the starter, but he has always been committed to helping the team out and being a good teammate.

Freeman has never had a losing season in his career as a Tiger. He has 32 wins to his credit so far, and hopes to be able to add on to his total before the 2004-05 season ends.

"I still have time left here and I would like to beat Oklahoma State again and see the team wrestle real well at the Big 12 Championships and Nationals. There are a lot of things we (the team) still want to accomplish."

Freeman's aspirations don't end on the mat. He hopes one day to coach wrestling at the high school level. A general studies major, Freeman also plans to eventually help with his father's auto shop in his hometown. Although somewhat anxious to graduate, Freeman admits he is not looking forward to saying good-bye to his team.

"I will miss the team the most," Freeman said. "We're with each other a lot, most of the time for six hours a day. It will be different to not always be around them."

He has overcome the transition from high school to college, he's transitioned through five weight classes, he's battled through injury and through it all he's always been there for his team. When it comes time for Big Hungry to leave, he will have left his mark.