South Dakota State University Athletics
Hall of Fame — Paul Konechne
7/1/2020 4:54:00 PM | General
GRADUATED: 2002
INDUCTED: 2019
Paul Konechne won back-to-back NCAA Division II individual wrestling titles at 141 pounds en route to becoming the SDSU career leader in victories, compiling a 137-30 record from 1998-2001.
A Kimball native, Konechne was a four-time All-American, placing sixth at 134 pounds in 1998 before finishing as national runner-up at 141 pounds a year later. He won the first of his two national titles on his home mat at Frost Arena in 2000, pinning Nebraska-Kearney's Kurt Karjalainen early in the second period of the championship bout.
Konechne repeated as national champion his senior season, turning in his second 40-win campaign in a row while finishing with a 40-3 mark. He went undefeated in duals (15-0) during the 2000-01 season and also won his second consecutive North Central Conference title.
In addition, Konechne was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in both 2000 and 2001, and was a three-time member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Konechne was inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
-GoJacks.com-
INDUCTED: 2019
Paul Konechne won back-to-back NCAA Division II individual wrestling titles at 141 pounds en route to becoming the SDSU career leader in victories, compiling a 137-30 record from 1998-2001.
A Kimball native, Konechne was a four-time All-American, placing sixth at 134 pounds in 1998 before finishing as national runner-up at 141 pounds a year later. He won the first of his two national titles on his home mat at Frost Arena in 2000, pinning Nebraska-Kearney's Kurt Karjalainen early in the second period of the championship bout.
Konechne repeated as national champion his senior season, turning in his second 40-win campaign in a row while finishing with a 40-3 mark. He went undefeated in duals (15-0) during the 2000-01 season and also won his second consecutive North Central Conference title.
In addition, Konechne was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in both 2000 and 2001, and was a three-time member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Konechne was inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
-GoJacks.com-
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