That’s where the younger Kennedy got his first taste of wrestling. He would work out with the Bloomsburg University wrestlers as a first, second and third grader, learning a bit about the sport and soaking everything up.

“I don’t even know how old I was. Kindergarten I was going up there and elementary, middle school, working with Bloom University guys. Summer comes by, high school year I’m going to the Bloomsburg University room,” Kennedy said. “I was with him like my whole life going through there. Every guy coming in and out as a freshman.”

Once he hit fourth grade, Kennedy realized he had been wrestling for awhile and decided to try other sports.

“I really liked it for a while, I think it was about fourth grade I’m like ‘I’m so sick of wrestling, I’ve done this for so long’ and I think I did every single sport that year and I was like this is too easy,” Kennedy said with a laugh. “I was like there’s no adrenaline in it, I have to go back to wrestling. And I’ve loved it ever since.”

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette David Kennedy of Montoursville tries to hold onto Bradley Wagner of Mifflinburg during their match at 127 pounds during the PHAC Tournament this season. Kennedy’s win this past Saturday in the 127-pound final at the Central Sectional tournament gave him 150 for his career. He joined his father Dave as the only father/son duo in District 4 history to have 150 wins.

He’s been on the wrestling mat ever since that epiphany and has been having a lot of success. On Saturday at Hughesville’s Central Sectional, Kennedy added to that successful career he’s already etched out.

In the finals of the 127 pound bracket, Kennedy earned a second-period fall over Montgomery’s Carden Wagner in 2 minutes, 54 seconds and in the process, earned his 150th career win.

He also made history by joining his father Dave as a 150-win wrestler. The Kennedys became the first ever father/son duo in District 4 history to each reach 150 victories.

His dad was a standout at Athens High School who ended his career with exactly 150 victories after an undefeated 38-0 season in 1985 when he won state gold. His son will move past his dad with his next win.

“It’s a cool atmosphere with the family just doing well and all that,” Kennedy said of the historic milestone.

While Kennedy is still searching for that first state medal — he’s gone three times but has yet to place — his father was a three-time state medalist and took both silver and gold in his career.

Kennedy, however, is having a standout season this winter. He’s 31-6 and has posted 17 wins by fall. He’s also looking to reach 100 career wins, and has 89 after Saturday.

“It feels pretty good (to win gold at sectionals). Especially with a pin, I’m trying to work on 100 pins, I’m at (89) now so that was a big deal getting the pin. I’m definitely hunting for it,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy admitted that he likes to keep matches slow and methodical and when he gets a chance, he goes for a pin. If a wrestlers knee gets near his head, he’s going for the fall.

“I’m going for a cradle or if his shoulder goes under, I’m going for a half,” Kennedy said. “I’m always looking for pins.”

Kennedy posted two falls on Saturday. in the semifinals at 127, Kennedy pinned Hughesville’s Casey Mook in just 35 seconds.

While Kennedy has 150 victories under his belt and is chasing down 100 career falls, the Warrior noted how much wrestling in his mind is a mental sport.

“I honestly think it’s like 90% mental. In the mat room I see guys that I called ‘motivated, not dedicated,'” Kennedy said. “They’ll do sprints and try to pass me and they won’t. But the whole time I’m sprinting and they’re sprinting, slowing down, sprinting slowing down. I keep the pace and keep the hard work going.”

The Warrior standout, who was one of seven sectional champions for Montoursville, is excited to get back at it this weekend for the District 4 tournament.

“Just keep it going and wrestle six minutes, one at a time,” Kennedy said. “Get to semifinals you make it automatically to regionals, but obviously I’m going for gold.”

Kennedy has been battle tested this year, as has most of Montoursville’s roster.

Kennedy has wins this year over Bishop McDevitt’s Greyson Music (returning PIAA Class AA silver medalist), wrestled against and loss to BIshop McCort’s Jax Forrest (returning PIAA Class AA champion), edged out Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by decision 6-5 (returning PIAA Class AA sixth-place medalist), lost narrowly to Mifflinburg’s Bradley Wagner 5-4 (returning PIAA Class AA seventh-place medalist) and lost to Greater Latrobe’s Luke Willochell by fall (returning PIAA Class AAA fifth-place finisher).

In total, Kennedy’s faced 20 wrestlers this year who were either sectional, district, regional or state qualifiers throughout Pennsylvania. Kennedy knows what it takes to excel at the top and knows what it will take to get back to Hershey.