Matt Kocher Named Eastern Wrestling League Freshman of the Year
3/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Matt Kocher Named Eastern Wrestling League Freshman of the Year
3/25/2004
PITTSBURGH ? Pittsburgh wrestler Matt Kocher was named the Eastern Wrestling League Freshman of the Year, it was announced Thursday by the league office.
Kocher (State College, Pa./State College Area) won 32 matches in his first season with the team, the fourth most by a rookie in Panthers' wrestling history. He won 11 of his 14 dual bouts and had four falls and five major decisions among his victories.
By finishing second in the EWL Championships at 149 pounds, Kocher earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships, where he won three of his five bouts, most of any Pittsburgh wrestler this season.
He is the fifth Panther to earn EWL Freshman of the Year honors, joining Doug Haines (1985), Chad Jesko (1995), Rob Loper (1997) and Nick Mengerink (1998).
Kocher's 32 wins were the most on the team and ranked him among the top 10 in his weight class nationally. He was ranked in the top 30 at 149 pounds throughout the season by The Wrestling Mall.