Coach Pat Kenny Is Inducted Into Wrestling Hall Of Fame

Numerous wrestlers and their families gathered with Coach Kenny’s family and several relatives from as far away as Iowa to commemorate the enthusiastic service, leadership and mentorship of a proven dedicated coach, trainer and school teacher.

Coach Kenny was truly dedicated to each individual on the team and sought success for each of them, so that countless wrestlers and parents remember him for the time, advice, training and effort he provided. To his wrestlers, he often seemed like a machine, demanding every ounce of focus and grit–all year long! But behind the enthusiasm were also care, concern and a seeming super-human love for the sport, for the lifestyle and for the wrestlers themselves. Not only did he keep his wrestlers focused during practice every day for two hours after school, he managed the administrative details of the team and his normal day job of teaching at the school, as well as the sacrifice of his personal and family time to keep it all going. Through his efforts, he helped team members improve themselves not only as trained wrestlers, but also as all-around achievers.

Among topics of discussion were everyone’s favorite: the run to KDJI before practice as a warmup, and the toughest strength builder, climbing the rope–without using our legs–as well as other more aggressive tenets and verbal expressions of his training regimen. Coach’s determination inspiring antics will forever live on in our minds and delineate him from most every other trainer in life, because by now it is common knowledge that Coach Kenny’s wrestling mat was tougher and more demanding than most military training! Coach Kenny has several favorite quotes he used to motivate his team members, as follows.

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

“If you can’t work a move, practice it 1,000 times until you get it right!”

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters–it is the size of the fight in the dog.”

“Tough wrestlers train when their opponents are sleeping.”

“It’s not practice that makes you perfect–only perfect practice makes you perfect.”

“GOYA!”

and his favorite: “MOVE!” (Enunciated so people in the next county can hear!)

The following appeared as Coach’s introduction on the Hall of Fame’s announcement.

“Pat Kenny spent six years coaching in Gardner, Ill., and four years in Indiana during his early days of coaching. While in Indiana, Pat coached Lewis College wrestling and the high school team simultaneously. After 11 years and leading teams to a couple of top seven state places, the Iowa ‘Ball of Fire’ made his way to Holbrook, Ariz. It was as head coach of the Roadrunners that Pat racked up 189 dual meet wins with only 22 losses. His teams captured three state titles and six runner-up trophies. Nineteen of his wrestlers were state champions and seven were two-timers, for a total of 26. During this Pat was involved in hosting cultural exchange teams from Japan, Korea and Australia. He also helped coach the Holbrook Amateur Wrestling Club (HAWK) and worked as a wrestling official for the AIA.”

Attesting to the strong heritage of wrestling in Holbrook, Coach Kenny joins three Holbrook alumni previously inducted into the National Hall of Fame, including Bob Crosswhite (2009), Neil DeWitt (2011) and Mike Koury (2013). He will have a lasting impact on the wrestling community and all those who knew him: certainly his wrestlers and their families, and especially their opponents. His legacy lives on at the annual Pat Kenny Invitational wrestling tournament held in Holbrook, as well as in the hearts and minds of those he inspired with his dedicated coaching and school instruction.

Thanks for the determination, tenacity and grit, Coach!