Wheaton College Athletics

Dave Kemna had a distinguished career for the Crusader football team as a two-way starter at both tackle positions. In 1961, Kemna was a senior co-captain and earned NCAA Little All-America Second Team honors, anchoring a defensive unit that allowed just one rushing touchdown and a minuscule 145 total yards per game. On offense, Kemna’s blocking helped Wheaton’s offense to accumulate over 2,800 yards of total offense, 350 yards per game, and the 19th-ranked total offense in the nation. Wheaton was ranked seventh in the final AP Small College poll with its 8-0 record.

Kemna’s coach, Dr. Jack Swartz, a member of the Hall of Honor, remembers many of Kemna’s “bone-crushing” blocks and his “strong work ethic and dependability.” Dr. Swartz says, “He was committed to playing ball and was a quiet leader who had the respect of his teammates.”