Kinports Fifth in California

Bound for Columbia

 

Dean Kinports has accepted a scholarship to Columbia University in New York.  Columbia, the Nation's oldest college wrestling program, celebrated its 100th anniversary last season.  They compete in the EIWA conference with powerhouse Lehigh, Cornell, Penn and Army along with other Ivy league schools including Princeton and Harvard.  Dean joins other top California wrestlers, Ricky Turk, Jeff Sato (a UC Davis transfer) and Dustin Tillman. 

Dean joins Ryan Guffey among active Valhalla wrestlers in college programs.  Ryan was 6th in NAIA championships last year at William Penn where he will return for his Jr. year next season.

Dean Kinports ended a state medal drought of three years for the Norsemen by placing fifth in the California High School Championship tournament in Stockton, CA on March 7th. Dean came very close to making the finals dropping a close semi-final match to eventual CA champion Bobby Gonzales from Vallejo High School. In wrestling back to fifth Dean, a Sr.,  lifted his season record to 46-6 and career mark to 132-45. That lofty win total places Dean in select company, fifth on Valhalla's all time win list while 45 wins is the eighth highest campaign total in Norse history.  Dean could add to that total if he elects to compete in high school nationals in Cleveland later in the month.