The King's College wrestling team has enjoyed great success over the years and has been one of the top programs in the region 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 Middle Atlantic Conference.
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 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 Monarch program is guided by a legend in the sport as veteran coach Ned McGinley enters his 42nd season at the helm in 2010-11.
Under McGinley, the Monarchs have produced 42 College Division/Division II/Division III national tournament qualifiers; 16 all-Americans; 19 Middle Atlantic Conference individual champions; six 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 21 wrestlers to the Division III Championships since 2001 and have had at least one wrestler earn an NCAA berth during 13 of the last 14 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.
The Monarchs have produced many outstanding seasons over the years. King's enjoyed a banner 2001-02 campaign 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 approximately 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 while being a frequent competitor in events such as the NWCA National Duals, the Bud Whitehill D-III Duals, and the Las Vegas Desert Duals.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the Monarchs 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 host the 2010 Metropolitan Wrestling Conference Championships.
Last updated 8/16/10
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