Class of 1997

Kevin Puebla
Augustans College
Wrestler-Coach

Kevin is one of an elite few with over 100 victories as a high school wrestler, as a college wrestler, and as a coach. He was a three-time state placewinner at Moline High School, winning the Class AA state title in 1975. His career record was 101-5-3, and he was unbeaten in dual meets. He also was the state Greco-Roman and freestyle champion as a senior.

When he completed his collegiate career at the University of Illinois in 1979, Kevin was the school's all-time win leader with 100 career victories, and was voted the school's Outstanding Wrestler three times. A three-time Illinois Open and St. Louis Open champion, Kevin was a three-time Midlands’s placewinner, a two-time Big Ten placewinner, and capped his career with a fifth-place finish in the 1979 NCAA Championships.

After six years as an assistant coach at Illinois, and a faculty member in Sports Medicine and Coaching Skills Workshops, Kevin became head coach at Augustana College, a position he has held for 1O years. His teams at Augustana have won 129 dual meets, and his teams have finished in the NCAA Division III top 20 seven times, his highest finish fourth place in 1992.His teams have won nine College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team championships and 48 individual titles. He has coached 47 national qualifiers, 17 All-Americans, and four champions. Three of his wrestlers became Academic All-Americans.

Kevin was the director of the Division III National Championships in 1991 and 1995, and was nominated for Coach of the Year in 1992. He also coached the Division Ill All-Star Team which competed in the England Cup in 1991.