Click here to read a tribute to our last Honorary Team Captain, Ken Demarchi

Ken Demarchi was born in Bedford, Ohio, the middle son of an athletic family.  He grew up playing tennis, football and wrestling.  He was never a gifted athlete, but he worked harder than anyone around him.  He graduated from Bedford High in 1964 and enrolled at Kent State.  How could you not admire a guy who weighed in around 185, but wrestled heavyweight back in the days when there was no limit to how much a heavyweight could weigh.

There is no Rudy ending to this story.  He never was a superstar.  He was and still is as I introduced him to my team; “Just plain the toughest man I have ever known.”  He taught in intercity Cleveland in the 70’s for next-to-no money to support his family.  When his position was cut from the budget (the day after he signed the papers for the purchase of his first house), he started his own woodworking business out of a building with less than 400 square feet.  Even in the abysmal economic climate in northeastern Ohio, he is currently adding on over 4000 square feet to his existing state of the art 7000 square foot building.  His tiny antique restoration company that could barely pay the bills in 1977 does over $2,000,000 in sales each year now.

What is all this doing on he Seven Lakes Wrestling website?  That is a simple answer.  It sums up everything I have ever tried to teach the athletes that I am lucky enough to work with.  If you want something, you go get it.  If the work is hard, you work harder.  Most of life’s failures can be attributed to a lack of effort on someone’s part.  My dad is my hero, not because of his success in life, but because of how hard he worked to get it.  Thanks, Dad, for the outstanding life lessons.  I am doing my best to pass them on to this generation.

Mike Demarchi

Seven Lakes HS

Head Wrestling Coach and Proud Son.