Bruce Kennett
Bruce has been involved in Wrestling for over 50 years. He wrestled and played football at West Chester University, graduating 1973. Bruce got his coaching start as the Head Wrestling Coach at Mitchell Main Line Day School 75-76, then became a Lacrosse and Wrestling Coach at Malvern Prep, from 1978-1994. Following a year as an assistant at West Chester Henderson, he moved to Haverford High School as the Head Wrestling Coach. Bruce stayed for 21 years, leading the Fords to 306 wins, and 4 PA Independent School Tournament titles, along with 6 top-ten finishes at Prep School Nationals. What really mattered to Coach Bruce Kennett went beyond all the titles and the win-loss record - it was his relationship with the wrestlers. Bruce has been described "Dedicated to the kids, completely dedicated to the sport, and it just makes him a lot of fun to work with. Everything he does is just perfect, both technique-wise and inspirationally." Bruce is recognized as a positive motivator, highly respected by his wrestlers, their parents, by the opposing coaches, officials, administration and fans. Bruce has coached at many levels including Junior High, Senior High, Club, the Cadet National Team, and AAU Middle Atlantic Grand National Team, all with great success. Bruce is well known as an excellent clinician and has regularly given his summers to PAWF and wrestling programs like Foxcatcher and Club Team Renegade. Bruce has served as a tournament director in numerous events, always displaying a very professional, positive, caring and unflappable demeanor at mat side and during seeding meetings. Bruce was named the Southeast PA Coach of the Year in 2002. He was the recipient of the National Prep Sportsman Award in 2004. He was also recognized as the Michael Mayock Distinguished Teacher-Coach Award. Bruce was inducted into the Haverford High School Hall of Fame in 2011. And, he also served as a Wrestling Official from 1977-1987 . Bruce retired 2016 with an overall Career Record 373-313, a League Championship in 2004, PA State Prep Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, along with top-10 finishes at National Prep Championships those same four years. Bruce coached numerous Pennsylvania Individual Prep School State Champions and 2 Individual National Prep Champions - Terry Gallagher in 1983, and Matt Storniolo in 2002. Storniolo is the current Head Wrestling Coach at Northwestern University in the Big 10 Conference. A father of four wrestlers, a long-time coach, teacher, mentor, and genuine guy, Coach Kennett did it all for wrestling. Bruce and his wife, Sheila, reside in West Chester, PA.
Awards:
Year
2018
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Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
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Chapter/Region
Pennsylvania
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Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations