Larry Kanke
Class of 2002
Geneseo
A native of Rock Island and a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Larry Kanke received his Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois. As a wrestler at Eastern, he placed fourth in the NAIA at 177 pounds. He was a two-time IIAC Conference Champion and was the NAIA District 20 Outstanding Wrestler. He had a record of 28-2 his senior year and won the team’s Most Fall Award.
After serving two years in the U.S. Army, Larry began coaching and teaching at
J.D. Darnell High School in Geneseo. His teams have had a dual record of 393-201-4 and have won eleven NCIC Conference Champions. They have also won five Regional Titles. He has had sixty-six state qualifiers and twelve state place winners. His two sons, Tim and Mike, both placed twice at the state tournament.
Larry has been an I.HS.A wrestling official for twenty-seven years. He has also been an official for USA Wrestling in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman.
At the end of the 2001-2002 school years, Larry Kanke will retire from teaching.