Year Inducted: 2010
Nominated By: Chuck Kochenberger (brother)
Sports Competed In:  Basketball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor:  Athlete, Coach

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1976...He played basketball (guard) for the Wildcats from 1973-76...Named on the All-City Basketball team in 1976.

Kirk KochenbergerAthletic Achievements:
● Kirk played safety for three seasons (1987-89) on the Pueblo Crusaders a semi-Pro football team that won the National Championship in 1989.
● Selected to the nationwide American Football Association All-Minor Pro Team in 1988.
● Retired as the Crusaders All-Time leader in interceptions.

Professional Affiliations and Achievements:
● Named Fellowship of Christian Athletics (FCA) "Man-of-the-Decade" (2010).
● YMCA Character Award Winner (2008).
● Sunshine Award Recipient (1996).
● Named Coordinator of the year by Bonfils Blood Center (1995).

Related Activities:
● Kochenberger coached basketball for 10 years for a YMCA team - the Heaton Hawks (1996-06).
● Continues to serve on the YMCA Board and has volunteered for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign raising money for scholarships for our Pueblo youth.
● Continues to serve on the FCA Board as President and volunteers countless hours raising money for athletes to attend camps.

Contributions and Honors:
● Kirk worked providing opportunities for the youth at the state level through the FCA.
● Given his time, raised and donated money for athlete.
● Truly made a difference in the lives of young people throughout Colorado.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo with his wife, Paula.


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)

Attended First GPSA Meeting.
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

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

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

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

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

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

Baseball
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

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

 

5
Basketball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

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

Football
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+)

 

16
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 2022 induction ceremony on Nov. 16.

 

Dennis TrujilloDennis
Trujillo

11/28/2022
Class of 2007

Knafelc obitGary L.
Knafelc

12/19/2022
Class of 1973

Don StuttersDr. Donald
Stutters

01/20/2023
Class of 1993