Dalton Gimbor voted 2022-23 Kutztown Male Freshman of the Year

In his first season donning the Maroon and Gold, wrestling's Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) won 21 matches and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships. On Wednesday afternoon, Gimbor was announced as the 2022-23 Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year.

Gimbor, from Bernville, Pa., competed at 165 pounds as a redshirt freshman for head coach Robert Fisher and the Golden Bears. He placed fifth at the Centenary (N.J.) Bob Quade Cyclone Open and sixth at the season-opening ESU Open, before making a significant impact as part of Kutztown's dual starting lineup, where he posted an 8-3 record overall and 5-2 mark against PSAC opponents.

Gimbor was impressive throughout the season, but really stepped up down the stretch, winning nine of his last 12 matches. He squared off against the most nationally ranked opponents of any Golden Bear (seven) and defeated 10th ranked Dillon Keane of Pit-Johnstown in a road PSAC dual, Feb. 3, with a 9-5 decision.

At the Super Region 1 Championships hosted by East Stroudsburg, Gimbor bounced back from a semifinal setback to defeat Mercyhurst's Mike Clark (pin, 2:25) and ESU's Luke Ciampa (dec., 8-2) to claim third in his weight class and the final qualifying spot at nationals. Gimbor went on to win a pair of bouts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, first earning a 9-5 decision over Glenville State's Gaetano DeLeonardis in a preliminary round match before holding off Newberry's Patrick Wunderlich, 9-7, in a first round consolation.

Gimbor finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and a team-high five major decisions. He also ranked tied for second on the team in technical falls with three and third in pins with five. Gimbor was an All-PSAC Third Team selection at 165.

Presented annually since 1993, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year award recognizes a first-year Golden Bear for outstanding athletic achievement. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff.

Gimbor is the second straight grappler to win the award, joining 2021-22 recipient Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan). Other former winners from the wrestling team include Kohlby O'Donnell (1997-98), Brandan Clark (2011-12) and Ziad Haddad (2012-13).