Victory!

A Celebration and Salute

Corey Kinnan, a senior at Gretna High School, Gretna Nebraska, has just completed one of the most awesome wrestling careers in the school's history. During the 1999-2000 season, he was ranked Number One in the state the entire season and  went undefeated with a record of 37-0 which included an amazing 26 pins, a new school record. He finished first place in the Conference, then District tournaments, and on February 19, 2000, he won the Nebraska State Wrestling Championship for the 171 pound weight class. Congratulations on an incredible achievement!

Here is a photo collage going back back back back to, well, almost the beginning.

But first, if you have a sound card and speakers, click here to play the appropriate background music... Maestro?
 
 
 

Corey Travis Kinnan was born April 28, 1982 in Cozad, Nebraska to my sister Deborah and her former husband Wade Kinnan. This is a picture of Corey at four weeks old, in late May 1982.

Corey's First Birthday A wrestler who never did like to cut weight. Here he's enjoying a little birthday cake and ice cream. Some of it appears to be actually making its way into his mouth.

May 1983 - 13 Months

Corey (right) and his older brother Brandon in May 1984. I took this picture with a Polaroid camera during a visit to Nebraska. This was at their Grandparents' home in Hastings. Hmm, looks like it must have been about bedtime.

Corey (right), in the Second Grade, as a budding wrestler with the Omaha 66ers Wrestling Club.

 

Corey as a young wrestler for the Omaha Chargers, Third Grade.

As a  Junior Varsity Wrestler in Gretna, Corey was nominated by his peers as "Most Promising" two years in a row his Freshman and Sophomore years.

As the only Sophomore in his 152-pound weight class at the State Tournament in 1998, Corey took Fifth Place.

Corey Kinnan - February 2000, District Tournament Champion for the second year in a row. He also won the Conference Championship three years in a row. . . . On to State!!

February 17, 2000

Round One: Corey Kinnan, Gretna, pins Shad Turner, Fillmore Central, 1:46.

Quarterfinals: Corey Kinnan, Gretna, pins Adam Banke, from arch rival Omaha Skutt, 2:53. Adam had been ranked number two in the state most of the season. With this pin, Corey's 25th of the season, he sets a new Gretna High School Record.
 
 
 

February 18, 2000 The Semifinal round. Corey Kinnan, Gretna pins David Buls of Boys Town in 4:32, breaking his own school pin record, set just the day before. Corey advances to the Final Round. Is that Ref really paying attention?

 
  

February 19, 2000 Finals! Corey Kinnan, Gretna, defeats Jim Sledge, Omaha Gross, 6-2 and becomes the Nebraska State Wrestling Champion in the 171-pound weight class for 2000! A nice shot of the loser.

Send email to Corey: corey@steveswebstop.com.