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K.J. Pilcher
@kjpilcher
Cedar Rapids native. Graduate of Buena Vista U. Multimedia journalist for The Gazette. Married for 22 yrs. w/ 2 daughters. Lance Kinsey’s favorite journalist.
Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
thegazette.com/on-the-mats
Joined January 2009
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  • Pinned
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Jul 22, 2025
    Sorry for the personal post and missing Cascade today but I couldn’t miss @katiepilcher34 last varsity game. Not a more fitting way to end it than clutching one more K from @BraylenConlon! Thanks for a lot of great memories, ladies! @KristinePilcher @hawkeyebiggs @amyconlon12
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    69K
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Mar 21, 2021
    Today, an NCAA champion is returning home without a wrestling program to belong and that’s just so wrong. #KeepStanfordWrestling
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Mar 21, 2021
    Crowd is chanting, "BRING BACK, STANFORD!" after Griffith's win. I have goosebumps, man. That was a great gesture, but this is definitely a bittersweet moment. Stanford should be ashamed.
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Jul 6, 2019
    So, Jake Hilmer set the National high school career hits record during the same game he threw a perfect game. All they did was announce it. No ceremony. What’s he do after the game? Spends about 10 minutes playing catch with a 6-yo North Linn fan. Amazing person. #iahsbb #iahsbsb
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Mar 22, 2023
    Tanner Sloan is the most down-to-earth athlete I’ve ever covered. What does he do 72 hours after wrestling NCAA finals in front of a worldwide audience? Returns to Alburnett, helps with farm work & visiting kids at local schools giving a kid his headgear. Here he’s sheering lambs
    117K
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Apr 18, 2020
    Cancer is in remission for former Iowa four-time All-American wrestler Brandon Sorensen. Hawkeye Wrestling Club member was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in late November, had 6-week hospital stay and received news of remission in late March. thegazette.com/subject/sports…
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Feb 19, 2023
    Unbeaten 4 times. Ben Kueter 111-0. Joins an elite group.
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    104K
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Feb 4, 2023
    Dear Iowa Girls, You rocked it this winter. Every single girl that laced up wrestling shoes and donned a headgear played a crucial part of a historic season. Be proud. Stay strong. Keep striving for even more! Sincerely, Everyone
    60K
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Mar 12, 2020
    Athletes need to be allowed another semester to compete to make up for this. Just the idea of Spencer Lee, one of the most dominant wrestlers to ever step on a college mat, being robbed of a chance to be a 4-time champ by something outside the realm of competition is unacceptable
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    May 13, 2022
    To be honest, and I'm biased here, D-III athletics are vastly underrated.
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Aug 17, 2020
    Just read a social media post from an East Coast power company that sent crews to Iowa and Illinois to help with power restoration. They said their senior linemen said its the worst damage they’ve seen since helping at Grand Bahama Island after Hurricane Matthew.
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Apr 7, 2018
    Jordan Burroughs on wrestling in IC: "The atmosphere is amazing. it's the mecca of wrestling. Gilman is my teammate. Got a chance to spend time at Dan Gable's house. Hit the sauna with Tom & Terry Brands. Royce Alger's roaming the hallways telling bad jokes..." #WorldCupIowaCity
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Aug 21, 2016
    Snyder wins Olympic Gold. Has won Worlds, NCAAs & Olympics in a year. Still not old enough to have beer to celebrate. I'll have one for him.
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    K.J. Pilcher
    @kjpilcher
    Mar 13, 2019
    Gable Steveson wrestles and loses in Big Ten finals and drops to the third seed. Micic and Rasheed don’t wrestle and forfeit from semis and finals, respectively, and stay a top-two seed. Just don’t seem right.