Karl Frederick Kottenstette


Year Inducted: 2019
Nominated By: Roger Samuel
Sports Competed In: Football, Wrestlling
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Official

Karl Kottenstette

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.



GPSA "K" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

 1
Athlete
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)

Athlete/Contributor
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended First GPSA Meeting
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended Pueblo West H.S.
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Coach
Casey King (2023)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Todd Kelly (2023)

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Sports Information Director
Todd Kelly (2023)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Volleyball
Casey King (2023)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

 2
Athlete/Coach/Official
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Casey King (2023)
John Mall H.S., Walsenburg, CO
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
David S. Knapp (1988)

Boxing
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Coach/Administrator
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)

Contributor
Rocky Khosla, M.D. (2020)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)

GPSA Charter Member
Thomas E. Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Track
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Wesleyville H.S., Wesleyville, PA
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Winona H.S., Winona, MN
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)
Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, IA

4
Baseball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
David S. Knapp (1988)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

7
Basketball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

8
Football
Todd Kelly (2023)
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

 

18
Honorees in "K" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977