Kurt Backes

Position:
Player
Height:
6-0
Class:
Senior
High School:
Blair Academy
Hometown:
Neshanic Station, N.J.

2005 - 06: Competed at University Nationals and placed third at 96 kg. (211 pounds) in freestyle, shutting out four opponents and pinning one ... finished junior campaign with a 23-7 overall record ... went 3-2 in third NCAA Championships appearance ... recorded a 16-6 major decision over Edinboro’s Alex Clemsen in opening bout of NCAA tournament ... claimed second Big 12 crown with a 2-0 decision over Raymond Jordan of Missouri, also defeated Jordan 2-0 earlier in the season ... undefeated in Big 12 conference dual action (4-0) ... named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week (Feb. 6) for his performance in Penn State dual with his upset of All-American Eric Bradley, a 10-2 decision ... opened Big 12 Conference action with two wins in Oklahoma, a 10-8 decision over Justin Dyer (Oklahoma) and a 1:33 pin of Jack Jensen (Oklahoma State) ... notched second pin of the season by sticking Dan Dunning of Northern Iowa in 3:29 ... registered a 19-2 technical fall in 1:19 over Missouri’s Joey Garrity at National Duals ... downed Northwestern’s Mike Tamillow, 7-5, in opening round of National Duals ... recorded two decisions and a major decision during Midlands competition, advancing to semi final action ... registered first pin of the season with a 3:43 stick of Ryan Halsey of Cal Poly ... posted 6-3 decision over Minnesota’s Roger Kish ... major decisioned Upper Iowa’s Tony Gehling 15-4 and defeated two-time Division II All-American Jason Lulloff of Wisconsin-La Crosse 13-9 in season opener ... co-captain.

Awards: NCAA 184-pound qualifier, Big 12 184-pound champion, Big 12 Wrestler of the Week (Feb. 6), team co-captain.

2004 - 05: Picked up two wins at the U.S. Senior Freestyle Nationals at 84 kg. (185 pounds) in Las Vegas ... finished sophomore season with a record of 27-5 ... pinned Ed Magrys of Eastern Michigan in 5:37 in opening round of NCAA Championships ... claimed first Big 12 championship by pinning Nebraska’s Travis Pascoe in 2:13 to earn second trip to the national tournament ... closed out Missouri dual with a major decision over All-American Matt Pell, 11-2 ...defeated Oklahoma’s 10th-ranked two-time NCAA qualifier Justin Dyer, 4-3 ... recorded a major decision against Kris Kleopocz of Findlay, 17-4 and a 4:40 pin of Dana’s NAIA All-American Chris Egan, at the Nebraska Duals ... runner-up at Midlands Championships including a 6-4 decision over Illinois All-American Brian Glynn in the semifinals ... captured title at Harold Nichols Open.

Awards: NCAA 184-pound qualifier, Big 12 184-pound champion, ISU Hardest Work Ethic, Midlands Championship 184-pound runner-up, Harold Nichols Open 184-pound champion.

2003 - 04: Compiled a 30-12 overall record and an 15-5 dual mark ... earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships ... ranked seventh nationally at 184 pounds in InterMat’s final individual rankings ... placed third at the Big 12 Championships ... defeated Oklahoma’s Justin Dyer (8-6) and Nebraska’s Travis Pascoe (6-3) at the conference tournament to earn his first trip the NCAA Championships ... placed sixth at the Midlands Championships with a 3-3 record ... finished third at the Kaufman-Brand Open with a 4-1 record ... owned an 17-11 mark against 2004 NCAA tournament qualifiers ... tallied one fall and two technical falls.

Awards: NCAA 184-pound qualifier, 184-pound All-American (7th), ISU Outstanding Freshman.

2002 - 03: Redshirted ... wrestled unattached at 184 pounds, compiling a 6-4 record ... placed fourth at the UNI Open and the Harold Nichols Open ... won the 185-pound title at the 2003 Men’s FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships ... wrestled on the U.S. squad at the 2003 World FILA Junior Championships.

Awards: 2003 Men’s FILA Junior National 185-pound champion.

High School: Amateur Wrestling News prep All-American ... AWN’s top-ranked high school wrestler at 215 pounds ... three-time national prep and New Jersey state champion, posting a 161-18 career prep mark ... 2002 Asics Tiger high school first team All-American ... competed at the Dream Team Classic and the Dapper Dan All-Star meet as a member of the 2002 U.S. All-Stars ... captured title at the 2002 Beast of the East tournament ... three-time Ironman champion ... coached in high school by Jeff Buxton.

Personal: Born May 13, 1983 ... son of John and Marina Backes ... business finance major.