Donahue extremely devoted to wrestling

MOUNT VERNON - From the cradle to Cornell College, wrestling has played a major role in Kevin Donahue's life.

Everything he does relates to wrestling. So much that it's hard for him to conceive of one after he's finished scoring takedowns and winning matches.

“I have memories from when I was a little kid just walking around the wrestling mat in diapers,” Donahue said. “This is my last year competing. It's mind-boggling what's going to happen after this when I'm done putting on the wrestling shoes to compete every Friday and Saturday night.”

Donahue has plenty of matches ahead in his senior season with the Rams. The two-time NCAA Division III All-American wants to be wrestling for gold the final time he laces up those same shoes for a match.

“Winning nationals was the goal I've had since I was 11 or 12 years old,” Donahue said. “It's definitely been a long dream that I've been pursuing. I've gotten pretty close. I think just a couple more pushes will get me to the top.”

Donahue placed fourth at the 2010 national meet. He entered the season with 79 career wins and owns an 8-3 record with three pins this year. Donahue is ranked as high as third by d3wrestle.com and is seventh in the Brute-Adidas National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings. Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said Donahue's picture would be in the dictionary by the definition of leadership, letting his actions lead the way for the Rams.

“This kid is so dedicated,” Duroe said. “He's done everything we've asked him to do in terms of his preparation.”

Donahue was a four-time Virginia prep state champion from Mechanicsville, Va. Duroe said he knew he had the potential to be a special athlete. It was the connection with Duroe, who Donahue met at a University of Iowa wrestling camp, that sold Donahue on Cornell.

“I came out here for my visit and it was icing on the cake,” said Donahue, calling his experiences at Cornell some of the best times in his life. “The message that Coach Duroe sent me was the killer more or less. The expectations he had for his team and for me. I liked the confidence he had in me.”

It isn't an exaggeration to describe Donahue as someone who eats, breathes and sleeps wrestling. Donahue said Cornell assistant Shawn Voigt has even encouraged him to step away and turning his thoughts elsewhere, keeping his mind fresh from the grind of the season.

“Sometimes, I think, he gets so wrapped up in his preparation he actually ends up putting too much pressure on himself,” Duroe said. “For him to be successful and feel good at the end of the season he needs to keep doing what he's doing but also needs to really focus on staying relaxed and enjoying his senior year.”

Donahue plans to stay in school, studying for an advanced degree. Imagining days that aren't centered on wrestling is strange.

“Honestly, it's kind of tough to say because wrestling has enveloped my life,” said Donahue, noting that is especially true while wrestling for the Rams. “It's been such a huge part of my life. Everything I do relates to what I do here in some way or another.”