Kasson-Mantorville's Joey Kennedy makes his University of Iowa dream a reality

KASSON — Joseph Kennedy fell in love with the University of Iowa a bit more than two years ago.

A high school sophomore then, his brother Patrick was enjoying his second year in Iowa City and Joey began to see why Patrick made the decision he did.

Yet, at the time, Joey, the youngest of six children, thought his eventually going there was just a dream.

Monday, Kennedy officially turned fantasy into reality, committing to wrestle for Iowa, one of the top programs in the country.

“I’ve always seen myself going there,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t really fully believe it, then I started to believe a little more and more every day. Now I’m here.”

That belief started to take shape last year when Kennedy staked himself as one of the best in the state in his weight class. He went on to capture a Section 1, Class 2A title before placing second at 145 pounds in the Class 2A state tournament, falling to three-time state champion and current North Carolina State freshman Koy Buesgens. Then, in the summer, Kennedy stayed with his brother Patrick for about a month in Iowa City. There were times when it felt like Kennedy was already part of the squad, getting to train with his brother and experience the college life a little bit.

“I just don’t see anywhere else beating Iowa City. You have everything you want,” Kennedy said. “You can live close right next to Carver(-Hawkeye Arena), where you can throw baseball in the training area. If you want to get out of the city, drive 10 minutes and you’re out in the country. You walk out of the training room, you have your free fuel station with everything you need. Everything’s efficient to the max down there.”

Of course, it was great to spend extra time with his older brother, who is currently ranked No. 9 in Division I at 174. As good as he is on the mat, Patrick seems to be just as good in the kitchen — another aspect Joey made sure to enjoy during his stay.

“Patrick is the best cook in the family,” Kennedy said. “All of us are pretty good in our own ways, but Patrick is the best.”

Many more of Patrick’s meals are on the horizon for Joey. And of course, being around him a little more is a positive, but at the same time, the younger brother is focusing on becoming known as more than Patrick’s brother.

“Yes, wrestling with my brother’s a plus, but I also want to wrestle and be myself down there,” Kennedy said. “I want to be my own thing.”

That is something Kennedy has battled with during his own prep career. The pressure that comes with being the younger sibling of a four-time state champion can be a lot.

“I think every little brother that has an older brother who’s known as being really good goes through the same thing and same process of chasing that older brother’s dynasty or they’re the prodigy,” Kennedy said. “But really, you’re still your own person. My brothers talk to me about that. I still have a long way to go to before I’m done, too. I look at that as upside. But I kind of stopped caring, in a good way, not in a bad way, in a good way that Patrick is my brother. I just stopped caring about that and focused way more on me. And once I did that, it was no longer an issue. It took care of itself, really went away.”

Now Joey will leave his own legacy behind at K-M. He has his sights set on making it back to another Class 2A individual title match and he’s currently ranked by The Guillotine as the third-best 152-pounder.

He will be remembered fondly for his ability to work with the youth as well — something that was apparent in K-M’s annual youth camp right before the season.

“That was the funnest thing, watching (Joey) work with the kids,” K-M coach Ryan Hill said. “You get some crazy kids out, that were in the classroom way too long all day. They needed to burn off some energy and, you know, watching him get on them. And I had to tell Joey afterwards, hey, you know those kids. You were yelling at to quiet down, I was like, that was you man. It’s been a lot of fun watching him grow up. I think last year you saw the results of it.”

“I just want to prove to be a good example for the program,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy has been able to do just that. Now he has a chance to do it at the highest of levels next year.