Patrick Kennedy enters his third season in the University of Iowa wrestling room, but the first with his name penciled in the 165-pound starting lineup.

He doesn’t consider his emergence as a starter a “wait my turn” situation.

“Last year, it was more me losing that important match against my own teammate,” Kennedy said of a 3-2 setback to All-American Alex Marinelli in the final of the Luther Open. “That hurt a lot and there was a lot of emotion behind that. It was another 360-day wait, so I’m excited to get out there now.” 

Hawkeye fans are excited to see Kennedy out there, too. Marinelli was a beloved fixture in the lineup for five seasons, and filling his shoes — and his 99 career victories — will be no easy task. 

“He is a fan favorite now,” Iowa head coach Tom Brands said of Kennedy, a Minnesota native who went to Kasson-Mantorville High School. “I think the fans will gravitate toward him and his style: he’s a hard, hard worker, very physical wrestler, and he lives the right lifestyle. Total package.”

Kennedy has 23 matches under his belt since arriving in Iowa City as a four-time Minnesota high school and 2019 Fargo champion. In 19 of those matches, Kennedy has had his hand raised; the four losses are what motivate him now. Three of the defeats were to Division I All-Americans Mikey Labriola of Nebraska (at 174), Marinelli, and Peyton Hall of West Virginia. 

It was 6-4 overtime losses to Hall and Will Formato of Appalachian State (another NCAA qualifier) at the 2022 Southern Scuffle that opened Kennedy’s eyes to the importance of finishing matches. Against Hall, he took a 2-0 lead and wrestled out of a few sticky situations. But his inability to secure additional takedowns in the first and third periods, and in overtime, kept him from victory.

“When you get to those legs, just put him down and finish and stay in there,” Kennedy said.

There will be plenty of opportunities for Kennedy to finish this season in a varsity lineup for the Hawkeyes, who are ranked No. 2 by FloWrestling. There are six past All-Americans in Iowa’s lineup, including three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee (125), Stanford transfer Real Woods (141), Max Murin (149), Abe Assad (184), Jacob Warner (197), and Tony Cassioppi (285). Receiving an honest report card is the most important thing Kennedy enjoys about being a room full of so many decorated competitors.

“When we need to hear something, we hear it, and that can help a person grow,” Kennedy said. “It helped me grow. There is no beating around the bush and I need to hear it, whether I like it or not. That’s where I have grown the most from in here.”

Iowa opens the season at home against Cal Baptist on Sunday, Nov. 13. Kennedy, ranked 18th in the country at 165, will finally get his opportunity to put his wrestling blueprint into varsity action: score a lot of points and impose his will on the other guy.

“Hopefully I can go out there and give the fans what they want to see,” Kennedy said. “I want to get my hand raised every single time.”