Morgan Wins 2008 NCAA Division III National Championship -
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Photo Courtesy of Memories Photography:
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The
King's College wrestling team has enjoyed great success over the years
and had been one of the top programs in the Middle Atlantic Conference for a number of seasons.
King's had at one time been a Division II program but joined the
Division III ranks in 1980 when the college was granted membership in
the MAC.
King's Wrestling, however, began a new chapter in its history beginning
with the 2006-07 season when the Monarchs joined the
Metropolitan Wrestling Conference. And what beginning it was!!!
On March 3, 2007, King' star David Morgan (right) had his hand raised
after winning the NCAA Division III National Tournament at 133-pounds,
becoming King's first national champion. Jason Reilly also earned
all-American honors after placing 4th at 197-pounds. A year later in
2008, Morgan once again stood atop the podium as he won his second
straight Division III national crown.
The duo advanced to the national tournament after becoming King's
inaugural Metro Conference champions, continuing the success of a
program guided
of 38-year veteran head coach Ned McGinley.
Under the guidance of veteran head coach Ned McGinley,
who celebrated his 39th year at the helm in 2007-08, the Monarchs have produced 38 College Division/Division II/Division
III national tournament qualifiers; 16 all-Americans; 19 MAC
individual champions; four Metropolitan Conference champions; five National Catholic Invitational Tournament
champions; and 11 Top-25 finishes in the final Brute-Adidas Division III national
rankings.
The Monarchs have sent 19
wrestlers to the Division III Championships since 2001 and have had at
least one wrestler earn an NCAA berth during 11 of the last 12 seasons. During
this time the Monarchs have produced
12 All-Americans. Morgan became a three-time all-American
after winning his national title, leading King's to a 13th-place in the national
tournament team standings.
King's enjoyed a banner 2001-02 season as it finished the year with
a school-record 24-2 mark and was ranked fourth nationally in the final
dual meet poll of the year. The Monarchs also placed fourth in the first
NWCA National Dual Meet Championships at Ohio State University.
In 2002-03, King's finished the year 11th nationally and had Mitch Marcks
(125) and Jim Morgan (141) both finish second in the Division III National
Tournament. In 2003-04, King's crowned two more all-Americans
as Joe Arnone (165) placed fifth while Marcks (125) finished seventh.
The
Monarchs have also been one of the top academic programs in the MAC.
Since 1989, 26 grapplers have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches
Association Scholar All-American Team.
King's traditionally wrestles
20 dual meets per-season while competing in at least three individual
tournaments during the regular season, including King's own season-opening
Monarch Invitational Tournament. King's also competes in the
annual Pennsylvania-New York Duals over the winter break.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the Monarchs will now compete
in the Metropolitan Wrestling Conference Championships where individuals
battle for the right to advance to the NCAA Division III National
Championships.
Wrestling hosts its home matches in Scandlon
Gymnasium, a 3,200-seat facility which stands as one of the largest in the
MAC. King's has hosted the MAC Championships on several occasions
and will again do so in 2006.

Check out more action photos of King's wrestling in the team Photo Gallery
section