Kinney a tough guy to pin down on mat
By Carmine Frongillo | Lowell Sun
PUBLISHED: February 5, 2019 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 11, 2019 at 12:00 a.m.
CHELMSFORD — Evan Kinney has few peers when it comes to grappling with success.
Chelmsford High's sophomore standout is following up his stellar freshman campaign by continuing to pin down wins.
Last season, Kinney became the first wrestler in the history of Chelmsford's tradition-rich program to win a Division 1 state title as a freshman. A school choice student from Townsend, Kinney emerged as an immediate impact performer in his first varsity campaign, posting a 45-3 record on a Lions' club that won the Division 1 State and All-State team championships.
Thus far, Kinney has avoided any type of sophomore slump. Kinney heads into Wednesday's dual meet finale at Lowell with a 27-2 record, competing primarily at 106 pounds. He finished first at 106 at the prestigious George Bossi/Lowell Holiday, Big Red (Tyngsboro) and Woburn Tournaments.
Kinney has thrived on dealing with the challenges that accompany the burden of great expectations.
"Personally, I put pressure on myself to keep getting better," said Kinney. "I'm sure (Chelmsford) coach (Bruce Rich) has high expectations for me all the time. But I put pressure on myself. I'm always working at getting better.
"I never look past anyone. I take a lot of pride in my preparation and performance."
Kinney, who stands 5-foot-2, doesn't fit any mold as a wrestler. His ability to think on his feet enables him to break down opponents with his athleticism, speed, superb balance and technique.
"I enjoy coaching him," said Rich. "He's a good kid. He's a lot of fun. He has a great work ethic. He goes a thousand miles an hour at whatever he does. We try to get him to slow down and he just won't.
"When he drills live in the (wrestling) room, we need a referee over in his corner. I've never seen anybody practice like that and work that hard. He just really gets after it."
Kinney certainly got after it in the postseason last winter, capturing the 106 crown at the Division 1 North Sectional and State Tournaments. He then posted a fourth-place finish at the All-State Tournament.
With the Division 1 North Sectional scheduled for Saturday at Methuen High, Kinney is determined to pick up where he left off last winter.
"He is so quick," said Rich. "He uses that quickness. It's really amazing to see some of the things he can do. On his feet you think he's going to go one way and all of a sudden he's going the other way. If somebody shoots on him, in a flash he's behind them. He just spins faster than anybody I've ever seen. His technique is solid. But on his feet, that's his strength. He's a great takedown artist."
Kinney's father, Mark, was a former football standout at Chelmsford High. His younger brother, Trevor, is a talented wrestler. And his mother, Charlene, has provided him with lots of support during his wrestling career, which dates back to grade school.
While he has compiled an extremely impressive varsity record in a short period of time, Kinney knows he is still very much navigating the learning curve as a wrestler. Kinney is a master strategist. He prides himself on having a through knowledge of his opponent's tendencies before every match.
"You talk to him before his match and he always has a plan," said Rich. "He does his homework. He watches film. He's kind of like Tom Brady. He's a true student of the game."
Not one to rest on his laurels, Kinney views every loss as a learning opportunity.
"I'm always learning from my mistakes," said Kinney. "Any loss no matter how close, you have to look back and say, 'What could I have done better? How can I improve?' It's a big part of developing and taking that step up to the next level."
Drilling with Lion teammates such as Patrick Hughes and Evan Goodall has helped Kinney raise his wrestling IQ.
"The team is a big part of my success," said Kinney. "Everyone has helped me so much. I feel like I belong right here with them. I couldn't be in a better place. Winning has everything to do with your mentality. This team's winning mentality rubs off on you. This is the time of year I say, 'Let's go for it.' "
Follow Carmine Frongillo on Twitter @cwfrongi
Carmine Frongillo | Multimedia journalist
Carmine Frongillo covers high school, college and professional sports. He has worked as a sports reporter at the Lowell Sun since 1986. Carmine is a Massachusetts native and graduated from Bridgewater State University.
Follow Carmine Frongillo @cwfrongi
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