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As the proud oldest of 4 brothers, this comment from Mike…

As the proud oldest of 4 brothers, this comment from Mike Kinney about his brother, NCAA AA and Iowa HS State Runner-Up, Todd Kinney hit me in the feels…

Mike Kinney: “To my brother Todd Kinney it’s just a picture. But to me l have this same picture framed above my desk in my office. I’m so proud of him.”

I love seeing that. Always warms my heart when I read of others out there being just as proud of their siblings as I always have been. It’s awesome that he has this pic framed in his office to this day!
Cool stuff, Mike!

Todd Kinney graduated from Dewitt-Central HS in 1988 and was a multi-sport athlete. He excelled in football, wrestling and track and field. As a Senior, he was 1st team All-State as a defensive lineman. In track, he raked in several prestigious awards in the discus, for as a Junior, he placed 3rd at the Boys State Track meet and as a senior he was the Big Bend Champion, Iowa High School Athletic Association Discus Champion, and set the school record which stands today at 163 feet-9 inches.

However, wrestling was his passion. He had a very good career, finishing 6th and 2nd at state. His Senior year, he finished 2nd behind John Oostendorp of West Liberty in the finals. In offseason work, Kinney was a Junior Freestyle State Champion, Junior Greco Roman State Champion, and placed 4th in the National Junior Olympics, Freestyle Division. He went on to wrestle at Iowa State University. As a Sophomore, he was the Big 8 Heavyweight Champion, a feat he matched during his Senior season. During his Senior year, Todd also was a semi-finalist in the NCAA Wrestling Championships, eventually finishing 6th and earning All-American status. It should also be noted that he defeated longtime rival, John Oostendorp in this tournament. This was the only defeat Oostie suffered in this tourney, for he went on to fight back for 3rd place.
1988 2A Heavyweight

1 John Oostendorp, West Liberty
2 Todd Kinney, DeWitt Central
3 Tom Chiles, Greenfield

4 Mitch Olson, Carlisle
5 Keith Lamfers, Sheldon
6 Chuck Coulter, Centerville

1993 NCAA PLACERS HWT
First Place: Sylvester Terkay, NC State
Second Place: Don Whipp, MSU
Third Place: John Oostendorp, Iowa
Fourth Place: Ruin Gardner, Nebraska
Fifth Place: Billy Pierce, Minnesota
Sixth Place: Todd Kinney, Iowa State Seventh Place: Steve King. Michigan
Eighth Place: Justin Greeniee, Northern Iowa 🔨

HOW DO YOU RANK THESE NCAA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS?

Jim Jackson of Oklahoma State: 3X; 1976, 1977, 1978

Chris Taylor of Iowa State: 2X; 1972, 1973

Tab Thacker of NC State: 1984

Kurt Angle of Clarion: 2X; 1990, 1992

Steve Mocco of Iowa and Oklahoma State: 2X; 2003, 2005

Brock Lesnar of Minnesota: 2000

Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State: 2025

Isaac Trumble of NC State: 2026

CHRIS TAYLOR; Dowagiac High School

Chris Taylor was a HWT for the lowa State Cyclones who is said to have weighed as much as 440 lbs at one point. This was when an “unlimited” division existed in college wrestling. Taylor won 2 NCAA Championships in 1972 and 1973. He also won the Bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich! After his wrestling days, Taylor did some professional wrestling

Sadly, Chris passed away in 1979.

QUESTION: What is your favorite Chris Taylor story?!

HYPOTHETICAL MATCHUP, WHO WOULD WIN?

1989 KENDALL CROSS; Mustang HS (OK)/Oklahoma State Cowboys

VS.

2026 LUKE LILLEDAHL; Christian Brothers College/Wyoming Seminary/Penn State

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KENDALL CROSS; Mustang HS (OK)/Oklahoma State Cowboys

After moving to Oklahoma from Montana, Kendall Cross became an Oklahoma HS State Champion in 1985 while wrestling at Mustang High School in Oklahoma. He placed multiple times as well. In 1986, he placed 3rd at the Oklahoma HS State Tournament AND 3rd at the World Championships. At the college level, Kendall would compete for Oklahoma State University as their 126 lber, where he won the NCAA title in 1989 and earned All-American honors in 1988 and 1990. In 1996, Cross won the Olympic title that year in Atlanta, Georgia at 57 kg. He also 6th in the 1992 Olympic Games! ,He was a Junior World Bronze medalist in Freestyle in HS. He won 3 other national titles at that age as well. He won the Sunkist International Open games titles in 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995 and was a World Cup champion in 1997. Also in 1997, he was honored as the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year! He also won U.S. Open titles in 1992, 1995 and 1996, earning the meets’ MVP honors in 1992 and 1995.

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LUKE LILLEDAHL; Christian Brothers College/Wyoming Seminary/Penn State

Luke Lilledahl was the 2026 NCAA Champion at 125 lbs. Last year as a Freshman, Luke placed 3rd at NCAA’s at 125 and was the 2025 Senior U.S. Open Champion at 57 kg! Prior to coming to PSU, Luke won a HS state title in Missouri for Christian Brothers College as a Freshman in 2021 at 4A 106 before transferring to Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania for his final few years going 1-1-1 at 120-120-126 and went and placed 3-1-1 at Prep Nationals in those years! Luke also won the World Freestyle Championships at 51kg in 2022 and then the 2024 U20 World Championship at 57 kg! He also won the Super 32 meet, the Walsh Jesuit Ironman meet his last two years of HS, participated in the 2024 Olympic Trials and not only did he win the 2024 U20 World Team Trials at 57 kg, but was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament, outscoring his opponents by a combined 67-3 score!