The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PRIOR DEFEATS MOTIVATING NORTH OLMSTED WRESTLER
Sophomore Kennedy undefeated this season after being state alternate in 2022
North Olmsted’s Ryan Kennedy entered the 2022 Perrysburg District Tournament with a 35-3 record in the 106-pound weight class. Kennedy won by 17-2 tech fall in his first match and earned a 10-8 decision later the first evening to move onto the semifinals.
On March 5, he lost to eventual district champion Cole Evans via major decision and fell one win short of making it to the state tournament in a heartbreaking, 3-2 decision in the consolation semifinals. He eventually took fifth and had a spot as an alternate. But he didn’t get the call to replace anyone in Columbus.
Bulking up to 120 pounds in his sophomore campaign, Kennedy sits at 40-0 going into this year’s district tournament at Perrysburg, one of two wrestlers in the field to have an unblemished record (the other: Perrysburg 165-pounder Joey Blaze).
Kennedy was so close, and the sting from the loss to punch his ticket to the state tournament didn’t fade. He instead turned it into motivation to keep improving and leave no doubt.
“Yeah, I definitely kept it in my mind,” Kennedy admitted. “Every workout, I just had that fifth place in my mind. The blood round that I lost, I kept it in my mind for all the hard workouts I went through.”
North Olmsted coach Kerry McWoodson, having worked with Ryan and his cousins such as former Eagle Jeffery Kennedy and fellow sophomore Phillip Kennedy (113), said it’s been remarkable to see the progression for Ryan over two years.
“It’s pretty impressive to watch a kid grow,” McWoodson said.
“I think it was more about getting bigger and better. I already knew how to hit moves, I already knew the technique. But once I got bigger and stronger it was a lot easier.”
— North Olmsted’s Ryan Kennedy
“Every year, he comes out with something new. His progress has been unbelievable, even from last year. He’s added more weapons to his arsenal and he’s just grinding harder and harder each year.”
As for where Kennedy sees his improvement with his moves, it’s centered around general improvement.
“I think it was more about getting bigger and better,” he explained. “I already knew how to hit moves, I already knew the technique. But once I got bigger and stronger it was a lot easier.”
That’s all before getting to the unblemished record. When asked if he felt there was extra pressure on him to perform, Kennedy’s answer was interesting.
“I feel like there’s guys in that bracket that have more pressure on themselves than me,” Kennedy stated. “I feel like the undefeated record doesn’t mean as much as other things like winning tournaments and beating other guys, but it definitely is a little bit of a target.”
Having the family factor in his corner, McWoodson sees bits and pieces of Jeffrey and others in the work that Ryan puts in each day.
“Along with his cousins like Matt, Jeff, even Phil, all those guys, they all hang out,” McWoodson noted. “They’re very close-knit friends. Not only as cousins, but they’re very close together. You can kind of see a little bit of everyone inside of Ryan. Matt comes in a lot of times over Christmas break to help out and Jeff stops in a couple of times too as well. It’s a very close-knit family and great friends.”