Oklahoma State University Athletics
Kindig Wins FILA Junior Freestyle National Title
April 12, 2011 | Cowboy Wrestling
April 12, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State freshman wrestler Josh Kindig earned the distinction of being a champion at the 2011 ASICS FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships this past weekend in Cleveland. Not only did Kindig win the 66 kilogram/145.5 pound bracket at the event, but he steamrolled the competition in the process
As a result of his victorious showing, Kindig earned an automatic spot in the finals at the junior world team trials to be held in Franklin, Ind., in May. Other wrestlers will have to endure a bracket at that event for the right to face a rested and fresh Kindig in the final best-of-three series. Regardless of Kindig's result at the junior world team trials, he will then fly to Germany to represent the USA at the junior world cup.
If he wins his best-of-three series at the world team trials in Indiana, he would again represent the USA, this time as a member of the U.S. junior world team at World Championships in Romania.
"This is a privilege and it's what I have been training to do through my high school years and until now," Kindig said of the opportunity to represent his country. "Ever since I came to Oklahoma State, I have really improved and learned to be a goer and just keep wrestling, regardless of the score."
Kindig won all six of his bouts this past weekend in resounding fashion, including a pair of pins in the round of 16 and in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Kindig plowed through highly-regarded freshman Dylan Ness of Minnesota, 6-0, 6-2. Prior to being blown out by Kindig, Ness had not surrendered a single point to an opponent in the tournament. Kindig went on to seal his title with a comfortable 3-4, 8-2, 4-0 win over Destin McCauley in the finals. McCauley was a five-time Minnesota state champion with a 286-7 career record.
"A lot of it was just heart and wanting to keep getting better as the matches went on," Kindig said. "It ended up in me just wearing guys out and winning."
