KURT KESNECK

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL AND PENNWEST CALIFORNIA

He was a four-year scholastic baseball starter who played all of the outfield positions as well as shortstop, first base and pitcher. Kurt was a member of the 1979 section champion team which also was the WPIAL runner-up and first team from Washington County to qualify for the PIAA Championship Tournament. At PennWest California, Kesneck was an all-conference outfielder in 1987 and led the team in hitting during the 1986 season. He led the Vulcans in pitching wins during the 1987 season, helped the 1985 team win the PSAC-West championship, and offensively he still holds the career walks record (110). On the football field, Kesneck was a 1979 All Southern Conference honorable-mention selection. He was C-H 1980 team’s (6-4) starting quarterback and defensive back. Again playing QB and DB, he helped the 1981 Bucs win the West Hills Conference championship with a still-school-best 11-1 overall record. Following his senior season, Kurt earned all-conference honors for both positions, was also named a WPIAL Class A All-Star, All-District as well as honorable-mention All-State accolades as a defensive back. In wrestling, he compiled a scholastic career record of 70-36-6. After being a Class AAA section runner-up and WPIAL individual qualifier in 1980, Kesneck was a 1982 section champion, finished third at the WPIAL Individual Championships and was a PIAA State Qualifier. Kesneck was a member of two WPIAL Class AAA championship teams in 1981 and 1982 with the ’82 squad also winning the PIAA Team State Championship. Kurt was also a wrestling official for 31 years and refereed seven state championship tourneys (5 ind, 2 state), 32 regionals and 30 section championships. He was named the PIAA Chapter Secretary of the Year in 2024 for service to the PIAA and Washington County Wrestling Officials Chapter. He retired after 35 years at C-H of which 21 were as athletic director and assistant principal as well as a teacher.