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Raiders’ youngest Keenan carrying banner
By Marty Gitlin
GARFIELD HEIGHTS
If not for bad luck, South Range wrestler Kelly Keenan would have no luck at all when it comes to postseason competition.
Keenan broke his finger last year. He was struck with mononucleosis this year. Great timing, too. His ailments knocked him out of tournament action on both occasions.
But Keenan can still smile. Little brother and South Range teammate Kyle has come to the rescue for the family. The 106-pound sophomore is on the verge of qualifying for a Division III state berth.
He won both matches Friday night to advance to the district semifinals. One more victory will send him to Columbus. And Kyle knows that such news makes Kelly happy.
“It almost feels like he cares more about my wrestling than he does his own,” said a fatigued Kyle after his second-round match. “He’s very supportive.”
The younger Keenan dominated his foes most of the way. He pinned overmatched Trinity freshman Darnell Caver in just over a minute, then bolted to a 15-3 lead against Hawken freshman Jackson Reineke. But drama ensued. Keenan was flipped and nearly pinned. The exhausted Raider curled up and hung on during the last half-minute to emerge with a 17-11 decision.
Keenan will wrestle yet another freshman — Jake Edelman of Pymatuning Valley — on Saturday with a trip to Columbus hanging in the balance. He understood as he battled Reineke that his chances were limited if he had wrested defeat from the jaws of victory.
“I made a mistake not throwing my legs out deep enough, but I was able to stick with it,” he said. “I had to leave all my energy on the mat and just hang on for a few more seconds.”
Keenan was not considered a state contender heading into the season. He flew under the radar, but piled up the victories. He entered as one of only two 40-match winners in his draw. The other is Jacob “Boot” Kuhlins, a tough Tuslaw junior who arrived at sectionals as the top seed. Keenan, however, edged him in the finals. They could meet again for the district championship.
“Kyle always had good technique, but he went out this year and make it tighter,” explained Raiders coach Bill Gehring. “He does not like to fail. That goes to his wrestling and his school work. He just does not like to fail.
“I was a little bit surprised that Kyle beat [Kuhlins], but I knew he had it in him. I wasn’t positive it was a kid whose style he could handle.”
Would Keenan have believed in November that he would be going to sleep Friday night one victory away from a state berth? How else would one expect such a confident kid to answer that question?
“I would have believed it,” he said. “I’ve always had it in me. If I stay aggressive and wrestle my match, I can beat almost anyone.”
If Kyle beats anyone today, even his sick older brother — who lost his own chance at wrestling glory the last two years — will have to smile.