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Fitch grad Densevich inducted into Kent hall of fame
John Densevich was a standout shot putter
By Ryan Buck
John Densevich was raised in Austintown, the middle child of three, to a dynamic family whose free time revolved around athletics.
“My dad was a track coach at South Range a long time ago and growing up, I played soccer, baseball, football, and basketball,” he said.
A fateful day during John’s middle school years, however, set the active Densevich on a path toward greatness in the sport his father coached.
“One day my dad brought home a discus and we had a lot of fun with just him teaching me a little bit about how to throw and how it works,” said Densevich. “I thought it was a neat thing to play around with. What kid wouldn’t want to throw something as far as you can? After breaking the neighbor’s mailbox, he decided, ‘Let’s take him up to Fitch and see if there’s someone there that can work with him.’”
A shattered mailbox and an angry neighbor are now distant memories. The 1993 Fitch High graduate ended his career in 1998 as one of Kent State University’s most accomplished track and field athletes for his exploits in the shot put events. On Friday, he was inducted into the school’s Varsity “K” Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
“It’s a huge honor,” Densevish said. “I never got into throwing thinking I would make the Hall of Fame or anything like that. I did it because I loved doing it, was borderline obsessed with throwing that shot put 60 feet.”
Densevich is in some outstanding company.
“Kent has such a tradition in athletics as a whole. In the NFL, you look at James Harrison, Antonio Gates, Joshua Cribbs,” he said. “As far as track athletes go, the American record- holder in the javelin was a teammate of mine, they just went to the College World Series in baseball, softball’s been to the College World Series, and golf I think was fourth in the nation. They do such a phenomenal job.”
John, his older sister, Patty, and younger brother, Tom, all excelled in track and field. They grew up following their father, who taught social studies and coached for 30 years at South Range, to his own practices and games. John’s mother, Carol, is a medical technologist and supportive mother.
“When I was coaching they would be running under hurdles and things like that,” said John’s father, also named John. “I think they picked up on the hustling; how hard you had to work. That a little effort can make up for a lack of talent.”
Talent they did have, and hard work put Densevich over the top. Following an ACL injury on the gridiron, he devoted himself to the field events. He became a downtown YMCA gym rat and, under the tutelage of esteemed coach Ed Wilson at Fitch, grew into one of the best shot putters in the state.
He had his choice of several colleges after an undefeated senior season at Fitch, but another twist of fate landed Densevich at Kent.
“I went into the state meet and completely choked,” Densevich said. “I threw four feet under what I normally threw, didn’t even make the finals; pretty much a low point of my career. At that point I was done. I left my shoes at the track and said, ‘I’m done throwing.’”
Kent track and field coach Rob Lasorsa stuck with him and convinced him to come to campus that fall.
“Choking at the state meet my senior year was probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.
During his college career, Densevich competed in the discus and hammer throw in addition to the shot put. In fulfilling a promise to his father before his freshman season, Densevich became an All-American, a MAC champion, and the school record holder with a throw of 61 feet, 3/4 inch. In 1998, he was the school’s Merle Wagoner Award recipient in recognition of his leadership in athletics and academics.
He and his wife, Amy, a former Golden Flash athlete and state championship softball coach, live in Stow with their two children. Densevich is an Assistant V.P. and Branch Manager with PNC Bank in Akron.