The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Derek Kipperberg, often considered one of OSU's most enthusiastic wrestlers, is facing one of his biggest challenges yet this season: the Pac-10 championships in Bakersfield, Calif.

Oregon State fans know when Derek Kipperberg is present, and it's not always when he is on the mat wrestling at home dual meets at Gill Coliseum.

When a possible pin or a takedown occurs from one of his Beaver teammates, Kipperberg electrifies the crowd by raising his arms and getting them cheering. For the senior from Olalla, Wash., it gets the fans, his teammates, and himself pumped up. He also has arguably one of the biggest fan sections at every home meet that cheer him on every time he is center stage.

"The fans, to me, are the most exciting thing," Kipperberg said. "You take all the tournaments and everything and you look at it, the home dual meets are the dessert of wrestling. It's a fun and exciting time, while the tournaments that we prepare for are basically what feed the rest of your life. That's the way I look at it."

His teammates also feel that he gives them an extra boost at times they need it most.

"He is really excited to be out there, he loves to get the crowd into it," teammate Jeremy Larson said. "Whether he is on the mat or not, he loves to get behind the guys and support them. That is always great to have on a team because it's good to know that your team is behind you."

Kipperberg has a lot to be thrilled about heading into the Pac-10 Championships this weekend in Bakersfield, Calif. Individually, he is tied for third in the 149-pound division and enters the meet with a 17-9 record. His team, meanwhile, comes in with a 17-2 record, its most wins since 1986, and won seven of its eight conference dual meets. Although team records do not exactly translate to winning conference championships, Kipperberg thinks his team can go down to California and take home top honors.

"We wrestle tough, I think we have a great chance," Kipperberg said. "It's what we trained for and worked for and this is where we go get it done."

Kipperberg's last season at Oregon State has been a testament to his perseverance and character. He was a highly touted junior college transfer that had earned All-American honors both seasons at North Idaho Junior College. A star recruit both on the mat and in the classroom (he made the Dean's List and was awarded the school's Most Honorable Scholar Award), Kipperberg's interest in the wrestling program and the engineering school landed him in Corvallis in 2005.

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