Indiana's Kurt Kinser races to fast start on wrestling mat
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
11/20/2008

As a kid growing up, Kurt Kinser’s summer vacations were spent traveling around the country in the family motor home.

The trips weren’t all about sightseeing and relaxation.

The Kinser family business is auto racing. Kurt’s father, Steve, has made his mark while traveling all over the United States as a 20-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car national champion.

Unlike his older brother, Kraig, who races alongside his dad on the World of Outlaws circuit, Kurt never quite caught the racing bug. But early on, Kurt’s father helped him develop a passion for another sport.

Steve Kinser was a state champion wrestler in Indiana before he became a legend on America’s dirt track ovals.

“The headlock was the first move I ever learned,” Kurt said. “My dad taught it to me when I first started wrestling when I was 3 or 4 years old.”

Now more than 15 years later, Kurt Kinser is still using the first move he learned to excel on the wrestling mat as a sophomore at Indiana University.

Kinser, an NCAA qualifier last season, is off to a fast start this season for the Hoosiers at 157 pounds. He won the Michigan State Open and he is ranked No. 9 nationally by InterMat.

Kinser was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after winning the Michigan State Open. He downed No. 8 Matt Moley of Bloomsburg 3-2 in the semifinals before pinning Northwestern’s Jason Welch in just 56 seconds in the finals.

Kinser has started this season at 157 after competing at 149 last year. IU junior Matt Coughlin, who placed seventh at the 2007 NCAA Championships, also is at 157. Kinser has certified at 149, so there is a possibility he could drop back down and compete there. Coughlin certified at 157.

Kinser, from Bloomington, Ind., won an Indiana state championship as a senior before joining the Hoosiers wrestling program. He went 15-4 in open tournaments during his redshirt season at Indiana in 2006-07.

Kinser cracked the IU starting lineup last season as a freshman at 149 pounds. He finished 32-16 with 18 falls. He ranked in the top five in the country in falls and finished just one pin shy of the school record.

Many of the falls were the result of the headlock that he is not bashful about unleashing.

“I like to push the pace and wrestle a wide-open match,” Kinser said. “The headlock has always been my main move. I’ve added more techniques to what I do, but when the opening is there I will go for the headlock.”

Indiana coach Duane Goldman likes the way Kinser approaches a match.

“Kurt’s definitely not boring – we really enjoy watching him,” Goldman said. “He’s real aggressive. He’s extremely strong and extremely well-conditioned. His arsenal comes from upper-body moves. He’s a little bit unconventional, but he has quite a bit of technique. He’s tough to match up against because he’s so dangerous. He will pin guys in the first, second and third period. He will not let up.”

Goldman said Kinser has been a great fit for the Hoosier program.

“Kurt comes from a real good family, and he’s from right here in Bloomington,” Goldman said. “He’s a very nice kid and very humble.”

Kurt Kinser said he marvels at what his father has done in his racing career. Steve Kinser is known as “The King” for his dominance in the national sprint-car circuit. He’s 54 years old, but still going strong against some drivers who are less than half his age.

“My dad is one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever seen,” Kurt said. “My mother (Dana) has that same competitiveness. She was a very good athlete who excelled in track.”

Steve said the door is still open if Kurt wants to try his hand at racing.

“If he ever wants to do it, I would help him,” Steve said. “I would be proud of Kurt no matter what he does. He always loved wrestling more than anything else. He’s really competitive and he has a great work ethic. It’s great to see him doing so well in wrestling.”

Kurt’s brother, Kraig, also excelled in wrestling in high school before jumping into racing full-time.

“Wrestling is a great sport,” Steve Kinser said. “The one-on-one competition – and being able to think when you’re tired and be able to put out 100 percent mentally – it’s a tough sport. Having been a wrestler has definitely helped my racing career. Those athletes are very dedicated. I know Kurt’s worked very hard. He’s had to fight for everything he’s ever accomplished in wrestling.”

And there’s still more work to be done. Kurt Kinser won three matches at the 2008 NCAA Championships in St. Louis and finished two wins short of earning All-American honors at 149 pounds.

Kinser knocked off his share of tough opponents last season. He beat past NCAA runner-up Ryan Lang of Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament. Among his wins at the NCAA tournament was a first-period fall over past All-American Don Fisch of Rider.

“It was very important for me to wrestle in the NCAA tournament – it was a great experience,” Kurt said. “That gave me a big boost going into this season.”

His father was in the stands when Kurt wrestled at the NCAA meet last March.

“My dad comes out to as many tournaments as he can,” Kurt said. “He enjoys watching me compete. He’s very supportive and that means a lot to me.”

Kurt still enjoys watching his father continue to excel in the national sprint-car circuit.

“Dad said he wants to keep racing as long as he can stay competitive,” Kurt said. “It’s very inspirational to watch him. He’s a great role model for me. He’s taught me that you can be the best if you have that desire.”