Bronnie "Tinker" Kinser saw his high school wrestling career come to a disappointing end due to an injury early in the season.
But the senior at McDonald County High School is not done wrestling despite a pair of torn ACLs while in high school. The 285-pound Kinser recently signed to wrestle in college at the University of the Ozarks, an NCAA Division III school in Clarksville, Ark.
"I feel pretty excited about signing with the University of the Ozarks," Kinser said. "I am just ready to start this new journey and compete at the college level."
Kinser, after a successful youth and junior high wrestling career, missed his entire freshman season at MCHS after tearing an ACL during the football season.
As a sophomore, Kinser earned a trip to the state tournament, but went 1-2 and did not medal. The next year, Kinser earned his second trip to state and brought home a sixth-place medal.
But the injury bug bit Kinser in late December last year, forcing him to miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear in his other knee.
Despite those setbacks, Kinser was determined to wrestle in college, where he found the University of the Ozarks the best place for him to continue his wrestling career.
"Jake (teammate Jakob Gerow) and I went to a recruiting camp in Kansas City and Coach Gardner (LeRoy Gardner III, head wrestling coach at University of the Ozarks) showed real interest in me," Kinser said. "We even had a chance to spar together and that's how I really felt a connection with Coach Gardner."
Kinser said after the camp, he took a visit to the campus and liked what he saw.
"I love the school," Kinser said. "It's a small campus. Like they told me, from one end of the campus to the other is five minutes, so that is perfect for me."
In addition to earning two trips to state, Kinser recorded 100 wins for his career and set the school record for most pins in a season.
While at MCHS, Kinser was coached all four years by Josh Factor.
"Tinker had a lot of bad luck with injuries, but he kept at it because of his love and passion for the sport," Factor said. "Even when he was hurt, he was a part of the team and always kept encouraging the rest of the guys. He is a great leader. He was a great example to the younger kids. The University of the Ozarks is getting a good person as well as a good wrestler. Their coach is a good guy, and I think Tinker will be able to get in the starting lineup right away."
Kinser, the son of Bronnie and Valerie Kinser, plans to major in physical education in college.
"I just want to thank God, my family and Coach Factor, of course, and all the teachers who have pushed me along the way," Kinser said.
Sports on 03/22/2018