Over 60 years ago, in 1965, the first Kenston Invitational Wrestling Tournament (KIT) was initiated under legendary Kenston Bombers head wrestling coach and biology teacher, Don Havener.
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Over 60 years ago, in 1965, the first Kenston Invitational Wrestling Tournament (KIT) was initiated under legendary Kenston Bombers head wrestling coach and biology teacher, Don Havener.
Havener, a Hiram College and Kenston High School Hall of Fame inductee, went 49-1-1 as a collegiate wrestler for the Hiram Terriers.
After graduating from Hiram, Havener began his teaching and coaching career at Kenston in the Fall of 1961. During those early years of coaching, Havener mentored standout wrestler, Jack Rudnay, who played 13 years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and was a Super Bowl champion.
As a senior at Kenston in the Spring of 1965, Rudnay placed 4th at the OHSAA Wrestling tournament in the heavy weight division.
The following school year, just four years after starting his high school coaching career, Havener and the Bombers hosted the first KIT held on Dec. 29 and 30 of 1965.
Fourteen teams participated including Aurora, Beachwood, Boardman, Burton, Edgewood, Harvey, Jefferson, Kenston, Ravenna, Riverside, Twinsburg, West Geauga, Wickliffe and Woodward.
Right away, the Bombers Wrestling Team had great success at the KIT, winning five out of the first eight tournaments. In fact, the Bombers won the KIT in 1965, 1967, 1970, 1971 and 1972.
In 1971, the Bombers had three individual KIT champions including Tom Lucey (112 pounds), Ralph Graham (145) and John Althans (155).
Later that season, the Bombers Wrestling Team won the 1972 OHSAA Div. A-AA state championship as Graham won his second individual state title, and Althans (155 – 4th), Al DiGiovanni (119 – 3rd), Mike Law (167 – 3rd), and Kevin O’Brien (185 – 2nd), all made the podium.
Fast forward to 2025 and the KIT started by Coach Havener in 1965 is still going strong.
In fact, the West Geauga Wolverines, one of the original participants in the first KIT 60 years ago, won the 2025 KIT and the Kenston Bombers’ Brady Baran won his third individual KIT title.
In winning the KIT, the Wolverines had three individual wrestlers win titles including Caden Kaleal (126), Brian Denamen (175), and Austin Wheatley (190), and 4 additional wrestlers make the podium (Zander Joltin – 138 – 2nd; Maveric Milnar – 285 – 2nd; Danny Sizler- 150 – 3rd; Blake Welker – 215 – 3rd).
Wheatley, currently the 21st Div. II ranked wrestler in the state, won his first round match with a first period pin against Clinton Pendleton from Nordonia.
In the quarterfinals match, after trailing 3-1 to Dominic Willm from Lakeside, Wheatley got a clutch late third period takedown to win the match 5-4.
Then, in the semifinals, Wheatley defeated Dan Hudson from Field with a third period pin. He then won the title by pinning Maksym Petrechko from Valley Forge in the second period.
In winning the title, Wheatley said that his quarterfinal, semifinal and title matches were challenging. However, he was able to triumph in the title match due to sound technique and good conditioning.
Wheatley attributed his success in the KIT to his improvements this season in neutral position, stance, and hand fighting.
“At the end of the day (getting the title victory) came down to technique,” Wheatley said. “I’ve been drilling technique specific for years, and (have had) good conditioning in the room at West G.”
He continued, “I’ve been really working on my neutral lately and getting a better stance to be able to hand fight.”
From a mental perspective, Wheatley noted that the key was to stay calm, cool and collected throughout the tournament.
“(I just try to) stay calm no matter what’s going on in the match,” Wheatley said. “If you’re down three, it’s an easy takedown and you’re back in it. The worst thing you can do is panic and try things that you shouldn’t be (trying) and mess up your technique.”
In order to obtain a positive mindset, Wheatley utilizes music to help him get into a flow state and keep his mind focused on the present.
“Music is a big thing for me (helping me to get) in the zone and to not think about anything else, just going out there and wrestling.”
In addition to Wheatley, Kaleal and Denamen also won titles for the Wolverines.
Kaleal, currently the 9th ranked Div. II wrestler in the state of Ohio, won his first round match on a technical fall, and then pinned his next two opponents from Lakeside and Field.
In the semifinal match, Kaleal won a 6-0 decision over the 10th ranked Div. III wrestler in the state of Ohio, Rocco Wrobel from Crestwood. In the finals, Kaleal was dominant, defeating the 15th ranked Div. I wrestler Nate Hale from Valley Forge, 25-5.
Wolverines Senior Brian Denamen also had an excellent performance in the KIT at 175 pounds.
Denamen quickly won his first three matches as he pinned his opponents in an average time of 25 seconds. Then, in the semifinal match, Denamen pinned the 18th ranked Div. III wrestler in Ohio, Tye Berquist from Crestwood, in the third period.
In the title match, Denamen defeated the 13th ranked Div. II wrestler in the state of Ohio, Nico Helton from Norwalk, 7-2.
In assessing his team’s performance, Wolverines Head Coach Joe Joltin was happy with how the Wolverines wrestled.
“The kids wrestled absolutely amazing the whole tournament,” Jotin said. “Kenston does an amazing job running a long standing tournament. A lot of great wrestlers, a lot of great competition here and it definitely gives you that district feel. I am really proud of the kids, they did a great job.”
Along with the Wolverines three title winners, the Bombers’ Brady Baran, the 5th ranked Div. II wrestler in the state of Ohio won an individual title in the 144 pound weight class.
Baran’s first four victories were dominant technical falls in which he defeated his opponents 13-2, 15-0, 17-1 and 18-2.
In the title match, Baran recorded his fifth straight dominant technical fall as he defeated Nolan Hartman from Bellevue, 15-0.
“In recent years, I feel like I wasn’t as dominant (at the KIT),” Baran said. “This week, and even this year, we’ve just been putting in our minds that we are leaving no doubt out there that we were the best in the tournament and just going out there and dominating. And I feel like I did that pretty well today.”
Also on Dec. 30, Berkshire Badgers wrestler Danny Tiller won the 190 pound Title at the Defiance Tri State Border War Tournament.
After hosting the KIT, the Bombers ended their week by competing in the Perry Pin City Tournament on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4.
Four Bombers made the podium including Teo Triscaro (120 pounds – 2nd), Carter Baran (126 – 2nd), J.J. Strano (138 – 7th) and Brady Baran (144 – 2nd).
