Larry Kepp is smiling in heaven right now

[matter7172]

44 years ago, Larry Kepp of Central Dauphin East was chasing Jimmy Carr all over the mat but couldn't get the takedown he needed to beat the USA's Olympic representative from 1972 in the PA state finals at 119 pounds. Larry passed a couple of years ago. I like to think he's smiling to see another "no shot at winning" kid get the takedown he needed to knock off Superman.

 

[matter7172]

Here is the account from the Greeneville Record-Argus (p.12) at the time:

Carr Booed

Either Jim Carr isn't ready for high school wrestling or high school wrestling isn't ready for Carr's international style. The Erie East 119 pounder wrestles easy and deliberately without expending unnecessary energy and this frequently costs him stalling points and the wrath of the fans. In the finals Carr put together a pair of takedowns and a three-point near-fall while allowing Kepp to escape and reverse to end the first period at 7-3. Both {I think they are referring to a stalling point in second period here} a point with nine seconds remaining. Carr exploded briefly and escaped for a 8-4 margin going into the last two minutes. The Central Dauphin East grappler escaped from Carr quickly at the start of last frame to add another point.

At this stage Carr, with a three point lead and looking tired, went strictly defense and it cost him another stalling point, shaving his margin to two. The District 3 fans, which had packed the Farm Show arena during the two-day event, had their hackles up and booed Carr's non-wrestling tactics. Just an instant before the buzzer, Kepp narrowly missed a takedown and knotting the score and, after a brief consultation by .the officials, Carr ascended the champion's podium under the jeers of the hostile crowd.