TIM DENCH, RIGHT, TALKS WITH ANTHONY“ TONY” KESSINGER AND MAX KESSINGER, LEFT, AT FLOYD CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DURING A CLOSED PRACTICE. DENCH, 72, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN WRESTLING SINCE THE 1960S WHEN HE COMPETED AT FERN CREEK HIGH SCHOOL. in. Also, it’ s an individual sport as well as a team sport. I could excel if I worked hard and I knew that if I worked harder, then the more I won, and that motivated me.”
And win he did. During his high school career, Dench only lost three matches – two during his sophomore year and one his junior. He went undefeated his senior year and finished seventh in the nation.
Dench went on to wrestle at Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky. from 1971-75. During his four-year career, he competed in the 118- and the 126-pound weight classes. Dench won the Indiana Open and the Kentucky Open state titles. In the Tri-State Tournament, which included colleges from Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, he advanced to the finals.
After graduating from MSU, Dench decided to return to Fern Creek and assistant his high school coach, Jim Richardson. The Tigers had finished as the state runners-up in 1973 and 1974. In Dench’ s first season as an assistant, Fern Creek won its first Kentucky High School Athletic Association state title. The next year, Dench took over the program.
“ Jim came and changed the culture of Fern Creek,” Dench said.“ I came back for a year and then he stepped aside for me to take over, so it was a smooth transition.”
BECOMING A COACH
In 1976 Dench became the bench boss at his alma mater.
“ I knew when I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to be a wrestling coach because I knew I couldn’ t wrestle forever,” he said.“ I was sitting in gym one day and I thought:‘ Man I would like to do this for the rest of my life. Being in the gym, around sports and wrestling, that would be a great life.’ Of course when you’ re 14, what do you know?”
PAGE NO. 16 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE NOV / DEC 2025