RSS

Share

Head coach Jesse Castro has added two-time NCAA Division II national champion (133 pounds) Joe Kemmerer to his coaching staff as a graduate assistant.

Liberty head wrestling coach Jesse Castro has announced the completion of his coaching staff for the 2009-10 season, as Joe Kemmerer has officially joined the three-time defending NCAA East Regional staff as a graduate assistant.

Kemmerer comes to Liberty after completing a successful two-year wrestling career at Kutztown, last spring. He was a two-time NCAA Division II national champion at 133 pounds, claiming the title in 2007 and 2009. During last year’s national title event, Kemmerer was tabbed the event’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Kemmerer finished his days with the Bears' program by compiling an impressive 60-4 record, beginning with a 32-2 mark during the 2006-07 season. After redshirting during the following season, he returned to the mats for Kutztown for the 2008-09 campaign.

During his senior season, he became the program’s first Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference (PSAC) champion since 1942, before capturing his second national title. He finished off his collegiate career with a 28-1 record as a senior.

Kemmerer began his collegiate wrestling career at UNC Greensboro, where he posted a 31-7 record as a freshman at 125 pounds and was a national qualifier. His cumulative collegiate wrestling record was 91-11 (89.2 winning percentage).

Prior to his collegiate career, which allowed him to earn a bachelor of science in psychology from Kutztown, Kemmerer wrestled at Crestwood High School in Mountaintop, Pa.

During his prep career, he was a 2004 AAA state champion and finished with a perfect 32-0 record at 119 pounds as a senior. He was selected to represent the state of Pennsylvania against the United States All-Stars at the 2004 Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. He won at a 93.5 percent clip in high school, posting a 101-7 record with the Comets.

Kemmerer joins two other newcomers to Castro’s wrestling coaching staff, as assistant coach Joe Pantaleo and volunteer assistant coach Allen Hackmann are also in their first year with the program.