Eyeing double duty for Titans
KARNS CITY — Anthony Kamenski is following in his father's footsteps — and hopeful of the same results.
The Karns City quarterback-outside linebacker signed a letter of intent Wednesday to continue his academic and football career at Westminster College.
His father, Kevin Kamenski, is a 1994 Westminster graduate and was a three-year starter at linebacker for the Titans.
“We got to a couple of national championship games when I was there,” the elder Kamenski said. “I'd love to see Anthony have similar experiences in that program.”
Kevin Kaminski's wife also graduated from Westminster. The couple met on campus. Their daughter, Claudia, is a junior at the college this year.
“My whole family's gone there,” Anthony said. “My dad told me a lot about it and I like the opportunities I might have there.”
Kamenski also considered Clarion, Tiffin, Geneva and a few other Division III schools before deciding on Westminster. He plans to major in secondary education.
He is the only senior from the 2019 Karns City team — which reached the second round of the District 9 playoffs — to move on to college football.
“The (Westminster) coaches told me that Anthony may see action on both sides of the ball for them,” KC football coach Joe Sherwin said. “They like him as a linebacker and they may use him in some wildcat packages around the goal line on offense.
“I think Anthony made a great decision academically as well as football. Westminster has an excellent program in his field of study and they love his abilities on the field.”
Kamenski threw for 712 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions for the Gremlins last season. He rushed for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns, becoming the first KC quarterback to ever run for 1,000 yards in a season.
In two playoff games in 2019, Kamenski rushed for 251 yards and a touchdown, threw for 170 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
“The coach talked to me about being part of a goal-line package as a quarterback and in other short-yardage situations,” Kamenski said. “That could happen for me right away.”
The Titans return their starting quarterback in junior Cole Konieczka — who threw for 2,273 yards and 21 TDs last year — but he is a drop-back passer who had negative yardage rushing (including sacks).
Kamenski stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds.
“Anthony is a physical runner and a physical linebacker,” Sherwin said. “His body is in good shape. He's done his weight room work and, physically, he can step in and play (at Westminster) right away.”
Kamenski had 56 tackles — 24 solo — and six tackles for loss for KC last year. He had an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered two others.
Westminster returns a bevy of linebackers from last year, including 10 sophomores at the position.
“It may be a while before I work my way into the lineup there,” Kamenski admitted.
Scott Benzel is entering his seventh year as Titans head coach in 2020. Westminster was 8-3 last year, winning the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl. It was the team's fourth ECAC bowl game in five years.
The Titans are 43-21 overall under Benzel.
“My goal is to win a conference championship, play in a couple of those bowl games, maybe even win a national championship,” Kamenski said. “I feel like those things are possible.”
