Quantcast The Daily Barometer
College Media Network

Hard work sends Kubec to NCAAs

Redshirt freshman qualifies for NCAA Tournament after being seeded No. 6 in Pacific-10

Sol Allen

Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Sports
  • Print
  • Email
Despite underdog status in Pac-10 tournament, redshirt freshmen Kelly Kubeck will wrestle in the NCAA Championships. Kubec finished second in the Pac-10 Championships.
Media Credit: Cory Reed
Despite underdog status in Pac-10 tournament, redshirt freshmen Kelly Kubeck will wrestle in the NCAA Championships. Kubec finished second in the Pac-10 Championships.
Entering into an individual sport where it is one-on-one, a battle between two competitors, it is not easy to establish one's self in a single season, especially in the sport of college wrestling where reputation is built over time by being tested and proving to continually perform at one's peak when tough situations arise.

Enter redshirt freshman Kelly Kubec, no stranger to wrestling or performing well in big competitions, a three-time State champion at Lake Stevens High School in Wash., with an all-time record there of 144-11. Kubec has spent this year building his reputation at the college level, finishing his first season with a 20-8 record and, even more impressively, starting as the No. 6 seed in the Pac-10 tournament, and finishing in second place to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

"It has been a goal of mine for a long time to get to the NCAA Tournament," Kubec said. "To be able to be there my redshirt freshman season is ideal."

As one of only two automatic placements from Oregon State, Kubec is making his case as the future of Beaver wrestling. With three starting seniors on their way out after this year, Kelly has put himself in a position to step up as a team leader, as his hard work and dedication to the sport have really stood out over the season.

"[Kelly] is definitely a tough kid mentally and physically, he always goes out and wrestles the best he can," senior Heinrich Barnes said. "That's what the other guys need to see, someone wrestling like that. Kelly definitely leads by example."

Kubec is doing what few are able to accomplish, not only wrestling well when it counts, but gaining respect and building a reputation in his team, around the conference and - to a continuing degree - on a national level. With his positive, team-first attitude, and a will to win when he steps on the mat, Kelly proves himself to be a stand-up athlete and person, leaving arrogance out of the picture.
Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools

Subscribe:

Note: writers will not reply to comments.

Be the first to comment on this story

  • NOTE: Email address will not be published

Type your comment below (html not allowed)

  I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Comments by registered users are approved by default.

Advertisement

Advertisement