Keith Cupp

(In memory- 4/21/83 – 7/22/18)

2001 Graduate

Keith Cupp is the son of Donna Lewis and the late Michael Cupp. Keith started his honorable wrestling career with his best friend and brother, Cody. Keith has one sister, Christian, whom he joins in heaven. Four more sisters are Carmen, Courtney, Kelli, and Katy.

Keith grew up in Columbus attending a few different schools which led to him becoming a Ranger from 1999-2001. Although Keith ended his high school career as a Ranger, that is not how his career began. Keith started his wrestling journey as a Westland Cougar. There he would learn all the basics that would put him on a path of many achievements. From 1994-95 he would join the Northeast Ohio Allstar Wrestling team and travel all around the US competing. Some of the states he competed at included Michigan, Illinois and Iowa making some of the very best memories and friends for a lifetime. This all-star team would lead him to meet a few celebrities like Josh Byrne from Step By Step and Mason Gamble from Dennis The Menace. Even Randy Josselyn from Family Matters and Joseph Barbera from The Hanna Barbera Company. But his favorite achievement from that time would be winning the Tournament of Champions in 1995 and getting to meet and shake the hand of Ronald Reagan.

Keith attended various high schools including Grove City and Teays Valley before landing at Hamilton Township High School. Although he was only here for his Junior and Senior years, what an impact he had. His Hamilton record stands at 80 wins and 0 losses in the 152-pound weight class. This included winning his second State Title during his Senior season. He went on to the prestigious National Wrestling Coaches Association and competed in the Senior National Championships. After defeating multiple State Champions and one 4-time state champion from Florida, he finished as a national runner-up after a close one-point decision in the finals.

After graduating from Hamilton, Keith went on to wrestle on a full ride scholarship to Kent State University and Neosho University. He would end up leaving those schools and was offered a third scholarship to Cumberland University. Keith would then lead his team at Cumberland to the NAIA Championships where he would take first place in the 174-pound weight class. After leaving Cumberland, Keith went home and created a life like anyone else. Above all other things, Keith has two beautiful children he loved most in this world. Jackson Ray may have been born during a losing Ohio state game, but Keith knew he would always be a winner. Jackson and his dad share a love for the library and that will never go away. Lennon Madison will always be Daddy’s Little Girl.

You would think that his wrestling legacy would live on through Jackson, but you would have to see Lennon get a takedown. She looks just like her dad when she does his infamous headlock on someone. It is evident that being great doesn’t just happen...it takes hard work, dedication, and the ability to never give up. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.