Patrick Kennedy brings toughness, loyalty and determination to Iowa men’s wrestling

IOWA CITY – Patrick Kennedy received a taste of success but it was bittersweet.

Iowa’s tough and gritty three-time NCAA qualifier wasn’t satiated by his All-American finish a year ago. Instead, it made him hungrier to be his best for his final campaign.

“It almost burns but you do walk away with something, so that’s good,” said Kennedy, who placed fourth at the national tournament in March. “You might have gotten over a hump that you didn’t get over so you don’t know what that view is going to be until you get over that hump.

“I think getting a taste of it is good and it’s helped me a lot, moving forward into the summer and even into this season. It’s better than it was the previous years to get something but let’s get the whole thing now.”

Kennedy is 8-1 this season and sits third in the 174-pound national rankings by Flowrestling, entering fourth-ranked Iowa’s Big Ten Conference dual opener against No. 18 Wisconsin Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, starting at 7 p.m.

Few have shown the loyalty, devotion and an unwavering belief in his abilities than Kennedy during his Hawkeye career.

“He’s steady,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said of Kennedy. “Every year he’s had to prove it and every year he has. Even though he hasn’t been in the lineup every time or accomplish his goals, that’s not the point to the philosophy of the program or him. It’s about getting better every time out. It’s about stepping up when it’s time to step up.”

  Buy Photo

Not only has Kennedy stepped up but he’s also stayed put, despite a time college sports is impacted by unencumbered program-hopping via the transfer portal. Kennedy could have sought other opportunities but refused the temptation to go elsewhere. He remained committed because being a Hawkeye has special meaning.

“I think you sign up for the program. No one makes you sign up for it,” Kennedy said. “They tell you coming in that you are going to be challenged every single day. It doesn’t mean you’re going to go through four hours of wrestling live and 100 hill sprints but you’re going to be challenged, (whether) it’s physically, mentally, spiritually (or) emotionally every single day.

“You’re going to leave this program as a better person, I believe. So, that is what I sign up for and they have delivered.”

Some of Kennedy’s classmates and friends moved on to different programs. Brands praised Kennedy for his allegiance, refusing to be swayed by others. He serves as a prime example of hard work and reaping the rewards.

“It shouldn’t be show me the money. It should be show me the money when I perform or when I am loya,” Brands said. “Patrick Kennedy hasn’t listened to the outside noise. The things he states about himself are true and then you can even pat him on the back harder.

“Patrick Kennedy, you should be proud of that. You should be proud of your resilience, of your stubbornness, that’s positive, of the things that are rare these days. Great teammate.”

Plenty of changes have transpired during his time in Iowa City. Kennedy is engaged to be married. His sister, Cori, an accomplished college softball player at Minnesota State-Mankato, was a contestant on “The Voice.” It’s a lot to take in during his time at Iowa.

“It’s just life,” Kennedy said. “Life happens. Sometimes life happens and you roll with the punches. Sometimes they’re more planned out maybe. You don’t know where you’re going to be in X-amount of years, even in six years. You take all of it in but you still have to focus on why you’re here and what you want to accomplish in a short amount of time of your life.”

Kennedy is expected to return to the mat against the Badgers’ redshirt sophomore Luke Condon (6-4). Records and ratings don’t matter to Kennedy. He knows he will face a battle each bout.

“The challenge is always the same when you’re an Iowa Hawkeye,” Kennedy said. “There’s a target on your back, so every time on the mat, no matter a common opponent, if it’s the top-five guy or the guy’s unranked, you’re an Iowa Hawkeye you’re going to get that guy’s best effort to beat you, to take you out.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com