Kutztown’s Joe Kemmerer wins NCAA Championship
Crestwood HS
grad is first wrestling champ at KU
Kutztown University's Joe Kemmerer's hand is raised as the
2007 NCAA DIvision II Champion at 133 lbs.
(photo by Erik Korth for UNK Athletics) |
KEARNEY, NE –
Kutztown University wrestler
Joe Kemmerer (jr.
Mountaintop/Crestwood HS) won the NCAA Division II
133 lb. Championship Saturday night at the University of
Nebraska-Kearney.
Kemmerer claimed the title with a 1-0 decision over Jared
Henning of the University of Central Oklahoma. Earlier
Saturday, Kemmerer advanced to the finals with a 3-0 decision
over Shane Perkey of the University of Indianapolis.
“It feels great,” Kemmerer said just after coming off the award
stand. “Everything really came together for me. (Henning) had
a great tournament and was a tough opponent. I just had to keep
the pressure on.”
Kemmerer scored the only point of the championship match with an
escape to start the third period. From there, he held Henning
off for the final 1:30 to claim the crown and then the magnitude
of his achievement sunk in.
“As soon as the clock ran out, I looked up at the scoreboard and
saw the score. It felt awesome,” Kemmerer said.
Kemmerer is Kutztown’s
first-ever wrestling national champion, the fifth Golden Bear
athlete in school history to win an NCAA title, and just the
third male athlete to do so.
He
joins Ed Flory (Men’s Swimming, 1977-78), Mike Cantrell (Men’s
Track & Field, 1987), Claudine Gruver (Women’s Swimming, 1997)
and Tara Crozier (Women’s Track & Field (1997) as KU’s national
champs.
Kemmerer, who transferred to Kutztown after competing at UNC-Greensboro
in 2004-05, finishes the season 32-3. He did not lose to a
Division II wrestler all season. The 32 wins are second most in
a single season in KU history. Kemmerer was a PIAA State
Champion while at Crestwood HS.
Kutztown finishes with 21.5 team points,
good for 16th place of 34 teams, its highest finish on record.
KEARNEY, NE - Kutztown University's Joe Kemmerer (jr.
Mountaintop/Crestwood HS) won two matches on Friday to advance
to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II wrestling
Championship at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Kemmerer |
Chambers |
Kalbach |
Kemmerer's wins
guaranteed the junior All-America status in the 133 lb. weight
class. Also for KU, Chris Chambers (so. Holland/Council Rock
South), at 149, and Kevin Kalbach (sr.
Downingtown/Downingtown HS), at 165, were knocked out of the
double-elimination tournament.
Kemmerer,
ranked #4 among Division II 133 pounders, picked up an 11-0 major
decision over Troy McFarland (Minnesota State-Moorhead) in the first
round, then defeated Craig DeGreef of Western State (CO) 8-2 in the
quarterfinals. Kemmerer will meet Shane Perkey (Indianapolis), the
#5 ranked wrestler, in the semifinals.
Chambers
was
defeated by major decision, 9-0, by Central Oklahoma's Shea Timothy,
ranked #3 in the country. He bounced back with a 14-3 major
decision over Monterrious Adams (Upper Iowa). In the second
consolation round, Chambers was eliminated with a 12-8 loss to
Charlie Pingelton (Indianapolis)
Kalbach,
at 165 lbs, lost to Evan Copeland (Adams State) by a 9-5
decision in the first round. Kalbach then lost to Mitch Norton
(Upper Iowa) by a 7-4 decision. Kalbach entered the tournament as
the #7 ranked wrester at 165 lbs., but was limited by a broken nose
suffered during the East Regional two weeks ago.
The semifinals and remaining consolations will continue on
Saturday at 11:00 AM (Eastern). For the latest results, go to
Nebraska
Kearney's Website.
Complete KU Results
Team Standing: Kutztown ranks 20th out of 34 teams with
10.5 points. Central Oklahoma leads the team standings with
66.5 points (through 2nd round consolations).
#4 Joe Kemmerer - 133 lbs.
First Round - Kemmerer maj. dec. Troy McFarland (Minnesota
State-Moorhead) 11-0
Quarterfinals - Kemmerer dec. Craig DeGreef (Western {CO} State) 8-2
Semifinals - Kemmerer will wrestle #5 Shane Perkey (Indianapolis) on
Saturday
Chris Chambers - 149 lbs.
First Round - #3 Shea Timothy (Central Oklahoma) maj. dec. Chambers
9-0
Consolations - Chambers maj. dec. Monterrious Adams (Upper Iowa)
14-3
Charlie Pingleton (Indianapolis) dec. Chambers 12-8
Chambers eliminated
#7 Kevin Kalbach - 165 lbs.
First Round: Evan Copeland (Adams {CO} State) dec. Kalbach 9-5
Consolations: Mitch Norton (Upper Iowa) dec. Kalbach 7-4
Kalbach eliminated
Note: # indicates national ranking
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