When Phil Eatherton was named to the Olympic men's volleyballteam this year, he became the second Ball State alumnus to be onthe American Olympic team. The first one, 28 years ago, was William"Pete" Lee.
Lee, who was inducted in the Ball State Athletics Hall of Famein 1992, filled the heavyweight slot on the Greco-Roman wrestlingteam in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, taking fifth in his class.
STAR CARDINAL
Lee began his wrestling career at Muncie Central High Schoolbefore heading to Grand Rapids Community College. Later he wascontacted by then-Ball State wrestling coach Peter Samuels andoffered a spot on the team.
He wrestled, but that wasn't all.
"When he first came to Ball State he wasn't going to playfootball," Samuels said. "I had talked to David McClain, thefootball coach at the time, and he didn't think anyone could playmore than one sport competitively at the college level. So, Petecame in to my office, and when we got out McClain approached me andsaid 'Who was that?'"
McClain offered Lee a spot on the team and the lineman letteredthree years in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
It wasn't all work, though. Samuels, also an assistant toMcClain, recalled a drill where a rusher and defender would laydown head-to-head before jumping up and colliding.
"Well, [the defender] was Pete, and when I yelled 'Hike' theother guy stood up and started to rush, but Pete just stayed downin the grass and said, 'Man, it sure feels good to lay here in thegrass.'"
In addition to football and wrestling, Lee also participated onthe track team at the shot put. He was in a sport every season ofthe year.
"Being a scholarship athlete, it was one of the highlights," Leesaid. "I got to take advantage of my multiple athletictalents."
According to Samuels, even when Lee weighed approximately 275pounds at Ball State, he was able to run the 100-yard dash in about10.4 seconds.
"He's a tremendous athlete," Samuels said. "I talked to thecaptain of the Olympic wrestling team and he said that when heworked out with Pete was the only time he ever feared for hislife."
Samuels also recalled Lee being very personable on their awaygame trips.
"We'd all be on the bus, and someone would go, 'Where's Pete?'"he said. "He'd always be inside talking to someone in theconvenience store or restaurant. He's a very outgoing guy, veryhumorous.
"One time, we were coming back from a national wrestlingtournament. We were on a [Boeing] 747 [jetliner], and Pete wasgoing from seat to seat introducing himself, saying 'I'm Pete Lee,and I'm going to play in the NFL someday.'"
Lee quickly became a standout in both football and wrestling. Onthe gridiron, he would be called in when Ball State needed adefensive stop.
"They'd call Pete in when the other team was close to scoringand the crowd would chant 'Pete, Pete, Pete,'" Samuels said. "AndPete, of course, loved that."
On the mat, Lee qualified for the NCAA Championships in 1972 and1973, winning a match in his second appearence.
ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS
After graduating from Ball State in 1973, Lee began teaching atMuncie Central while training for the 1976 Olympics at the sametime.
"I would train in the mornings before school," Lee said, "andcompete during the summer mainly, the summer and the weekends."
After competing for two years in Chicago with sponsorship fromMuncie locals, Lee earned a spot on the Olympic team.
"I think just going was a big trip for me," Lee said."Everything leading up to that was so much work, going to Montrealand competing was great."
AFTER THE GAMES
Following the Games, Lee returned to Grand Rapids and beganteaching at Westwood Middle School, where he remains to thisday.
He did wrestle again, though, winning the 1977 SeniorGreco-Roman Championship in the heavyweight class.
Lee is also the athletics director at the school and teachesdriver's education. He is entering his 29th year of teaching andstill toils 12-hour days.
"I enjoy teaching," Lee said. "It's very engaging, teachingyoung kids, helping them go beyond their potential."
Lee still stays active in the wrestling community, attending thenational trials in Indianapolis as often as he can. He also is aavid fan of the Olympics and watches the wrestling coverage eachyear.
"I was disappointed that they didn't show more freestyle," Leesaid of the recent coverage. "I found myself wanting to get back onthe mat."
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