Year Inducted: 2019
Nominated By: Roger Samuel
Sports Competed In: Football, Wrestlling
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Official
High School:
Attended Pueblo Central High School where he was a four-year letterwinner in both football and wrestling for the Wildcats...During his junior year, Kottenstette played on the state football championship team...He went to state for wrestling, winning the qualifying district championship his senior season...Karl earned the "Marie C. Rivas Award" his Senior year for best wrestler at Central.
College:
He wrestled intramural in college...Before graduating from college, Kottenstette started a wrestling program at Assumption school for 6th graders sponsored by Fr. Powers.
After College:
Karl's first teaching job in Rocky Ford where he was also an assistant wrestling coach. He quit coaching when his son, Kraig started high school so he could attend all his matches...While teaching at Keating Junior High, Kottenstette started afterschool intramurals (softball, flag football, basketball, wrestling) and ran an in-school wrestling championship tournament ... volunteering his time for two years, then the city paid him.
Achievements:
● Served as a football official at both the high school and college for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
● Refereed State High School Wrestling Championships (2001, 1999 and 1992).
● District Championship Wrestler (1967).
Contributions:
● Served on the Pueblo Football Board.
● Recognized by the Pueblo Football Association (2011).
● Recognized by the National Football Association (2012).
Personal Affiliations:
Karl is a retired educator and was a member of National Education Association (NEA), Colorado Education Association (CEA), and the Parents Education Association (PEA).
Related Activities:
Karl stays as active as possible while suffering from Parkinson's Disease, playing golf when he can.
Personal:
Kottenstette has lived in Pueblo for 58 years... He is married to his wife, Ann Marie...Karl is an active member of Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church where he also a part of the church's Knights of Columbus, giving of his time to help those in need of assistance.
