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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.

From hard work to championship hopes

By: Sean McLean

Posted: 2/21/07

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.

"I met some of the guys here, and I thought they were cool, so it was definitely something I wanted to be a part of," Kipperberg said. "And the engineering program as well, so it was a good fit for me."

In his first season, he failed to crack the varsity lineup for the entire season but still managed to wrestle 11 matches, posting a 7-4 record, including a 8-0 major decision over Cyle Hartzell of Oregon in his dual meet debut as a Beaver.

Looking to earn the starting nod at 149 pounds, he stayed in Corvallis and worked extremely hard in the offseason so he could make his swan song as an OSU wrestler a memorable one.

"Basically, I lifted about six days a week and then wrestled whenever I got the chance," Kipperberg said. "I took the summer off from work, the first time ever I've done that, and stayed here to work for this season."

The new coaching staff that was implemented in April saw the strong work ethic that he demonstrated before the season began.

"Once he got to know the new coaching staff, he worked really hard over the summer," head coach Jim Zalesky said. "He lifted a lot, was doing the right things, just really put the extra time in to get better."

Zalesky, along with assistant coaches Troy Steiner and Kevin Roberts, has also played a pivotal role on his performance this season, according to Kipperberg.

"Working with coaches this year, they have made a huge impact on just bringing out the abilities," Kipperberg said.

From the start, Kipperberg has put together a strong 2007 campaign for the Beavers. He earned a victory over Steven Dailey in the season opening dual meet against Portland State and had a very strong 6-2 record in conference matches. With that in mind, he thinks his chances this weekend are good.

"If I just wrestle smart and don't give up anything, I will be right in there," Kipperberg said.

A construction engineering major, Kipperberg will get one more shot at helping the Beavers earn their first Pac-10 title since 1994. Whether it's on the mat or encouraging his teammates and fans, he will be a key figure this weekend.

"That's what we're gunning for and that is what we're going to get. We're going all out," Kipperberg said.