When he isn’ t busy shaping the lives of future professionals, Dench keeps himself in shape by returning to the wrestling room once in a while. Every year on his birthday, Nov. 7, he decides to lace up his wrestling shoes and bestow his wisdom on the next generation.
“ Willard T. Vandiver came in one day when I was in high school,” Dench recalled.“ He was in charge of the AAU / Junior Olympics programs, like USA Wrestling today. He would come out once a year to all of the high schools, show a few moves and talk to the kids. I looked at him one year when he was 60 and I was wondering if I could do that and still be part of wrestling.
“ That’ s what motivated me and I always admired Billy. I do it to honor him, but also to be part of wrestling. I always go into the wrestling rooms, no matter where I was at and show kids some moves here and there who would ask me. A lot of kids don’ t even know I was a wrestling coach, you don’ t see trophies in my office or at my house.”
“ I thought he was going to a frazzled old man but he came out, showed some moves and knew what he was talking about,” Kessinger said.“ I think it’ s awesome he’ s still involved because it shows you never leave the sport. The sport stays with you your entire life.”
According to Dench, he wouldn’ t be where he is today without wrestling.
“ Wrestling has defined me and a lot of people know me as a teacher, but I wouldn’ t be where I’ m at without wrestling,” he said.“ Wrestling matures you and has defined me in life. Everyone has everything they need to overcome and wrestling is a sport that can give you that mental or physical toughness to overcome, whether it be a job-change or tragedy in your life. Wrestlers can handle it. I firmly believe that an individual sport like wrestling will teach you mental toughness that you can use in anything you do the rest of your life. I think wrestling has made Tim Dench into everything that I am today.”
To this day, Dench still rolls around on the mats. Floyd Central junior Tony Kessinger, a standout for the Highlanders, wrestled against Dench last November.
NOV / DEC 2025 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 19