Heartbroken to hear about the passing of, Kevin Randleman. I was a 15 year old kid just getting into wrestling, and in my first week of practice my coach played us an old Ohio State college wrestling VHS highlight tape from 1992. I watched so much elite wrestling that it blew my mind! Mark Coleman, Rex Holman, Adam Disabato, Russ Hellickson, but there was also Kevin. He stood out to me. His passion, hard work, sportsmanship, and freak like wrestling moves were beyond incredible and very contagious. That day ignited a great fire inside me. I watched film of him and the Buckeyes every night before I went to bed for the rest of my high school career, and dreamed of one day wrestling for Ohio State, like Kevin did.
I never got the chance to meet Kevin and thank him for the inspiration he instilled in me to pursue my dreams, but I hope he is looking down now and smiling. I graduated from Ohio State and wrestled for the Buckeyes, and the inspiration he gave me has taken me very far. I know the trauma fighting can cause, and the demons you battle in the fight game, but Kevin inspired many people through his career and although his life was very short lived, the ripple effect he had on people’s lives will continue to inspire kids just like me for many years to come. That is a leader that deserves the upmost respect. #GoBucks via thefloridaboy
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