Jake Kemerer had Hofstra University on the top of his recruiting list until he visited the University of Oklahoma.

"It was a great visit," said Kemerer, a senior wrestler at Hempfield Area High School. "I really felt like I fit in there."

Oklahoma was one of many offers from which Kemerer had to choose.

"Hofstra, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Clarion, Bloomsburg and Kent State were some of the other schools that offered full scholarships," Hempfield coach Vince DeAugustine said. "He wanted to stay closer to home, but couldn't pass up the offer from Oklahoma."

Kemerer's recruiting stock increased significantly after he captured WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA titles last season while competing at 160 pounds.

"I've been involved in wrestling for 23 years and I've never seen a wrestler work harder to win a state title," DeAugustine said. "He earned every penny of that scholarship. When you work hard, things pay off for you."

Kemerer made official visits to Oklahoma, Hofstra, Kent State and Virginia. He also made an unofficial visit to North Carolina.

"My top three choices were Oklahoma, Hofstra and Kent State," Kemerer said. "I was leaning toward Hofstra until I visited Oklahoma. I loved the campus, and was impressed with the coaching staff."

Mount Pleasant graduate Robbie Waller is an assistant coach at Oklahoma and helped recruit him.

"I know Robbie a little bit," Kemerer said. "Knowing him made the visit a little more relaxing. I also like the great tradition Oklahoma has in wrestling."

Kemerer was especially impressed with Oklahoma's new wrestling room.

"Their wrestling room is top of the line," Kemerer said. "It's big enough to fit four full-size mats. It was quite impressive."

Kemerer is a three-time WPIAL finalist who captured his first title in March. He enters the season with a 126-21 career record.

Unlike many district schools, which opened the wrestling season last Friday, Hempfield won't begin competition until this weekend, competing in a tournament at Attica, N.Y., tomorrow and saturday.

"I will start the season at 171, but might drop to 160 for the postseason," Kemerer said. "I will wait until January to make that decision."

Kemerer broke into Hempfield's starting lineup as a 130-pound freshman. He finished second in Section 1 and second in the WPIAL, but lost two matches in a row at Hershey and finished with a 38-9 record.

As a 145-pound sophomore, Kemerer placed first in Section 2, second in the WPIAL and sixth in the state. He finished with a 40-11 record.

Last season at 160, Kemerer hit the trifecta by winning section, WPIAL and PIAA titles. He posted a 46-1 record, with his only loss coming in the Powerade Tournament to a wrestler from Georgia.

"Jake is one of, if not the best high school wrestler [in his weight class] in the country," DeAugustine said. "And I'm expecting big things from him in college.

"He works 365 days a year to be a better wrestler."

Kemerer plans to move into the 165-pound weight class in college.

"I'm not sure whether I will be redshirted next year," Kemerer said. "I would rather be wrestling, but I'll leave that up to the coaching staff."

Kemerer doesn't feel any added pressure in being a returning PIAA champion.

"I don't feel any pressure," Kemerer said. "Winning the state title has made me even more motivated to win another."

Kemerer needs 29 victories to break the school record, which was set last season by Nico Cortese (154-16).

"We have all but two starters back," said Kemerer, when asked to asses the Spartans for the upcoming season.

"If everybody steps up and does their jobs and we stay healthy, we have a good chance to win the WPIAL title."