Bees’ two-sport standout thrives in California

by: Alfred Hood

Kenny Cunningham, a former Brecksville–Broadview Heights High School soccer standout, has traded in dribbles for deals.

Now an investment banker in Los Angeles, the 2011 graduate fondly recalls his Ohio years, from kicking the ball around at Blossom Hill as a youngster to dazzling fans with his foot skills at Brecksville High School and Ohio State University.

Cunningham credits much of his athletic success to his time at the Internationals Soccer Club. He said coaches Louis and George Nanchoff instilled in him a sense of responsibility and a drive to excel by encouraging him to assume ownership as a developing player and to “never be satisfied with only scoring one goal.”

“We’re not looking at you as a freshman,” he recalled the one-time Cleveland Force teammates and brothers saying. “We’re looking at you as a starter.”

At BBHHS, Cunningham was a four-year midfield starter, helping the Bees go 18-1-1 during 2010 season. The loss came in the Division I regional semifinals.

“Brecksville historically has had a very good soccer program,” he said. “We’ve won, I think, five state championships and had a ton of guys go Division 1. I just felt it was an honor to be able to start and play as a freshman.”

He also swarmed that basketball court for the Bees, including a season under the guidance of current coach Steve Mehalik in his first year as head coach. Cunningham capped off his high school hoops career with a memorable 20-point performance against Avon Lake, resulting in the school’s first share of the Southwestern Conference in 19 years. 

Despite an athletic scholarship offer from Boston College, Cunningham decided to stay closer to home and attend Ohio State University. At his father’s suggestion, he visited the Buckeye soccer coach in person to inquire about walking-on to the team.

Cunningham admits he was “surprised” to get called back within a week and offered a roster spot as a forward. He was even more surprised to be named one of four starting freshmen, given the fact that he was not recruited.

Cunningham ended up playing 14 games in his inaugural season before becoming injured in a game against Michigan.

“So, I actually hate Michigan more than the typical Ohio State fan,” he joked. 

The accounting major continued as regular offensive playmaker for the Buckeyes in his sophomore and junior year. He was sidelined with an injury for the 2014 season and returned as a red-shirt senior in 2015 but was injured early in that final season.  In total, Cunningham appeared in 62 contests for the Buckeyes and started 47 games.

These days, Cunningham works in business development for the California-based investment bank Critical Point, a private equity firms that seeks to buy businesses. He still enjoys playing soccer when time allows and has occasionally run into Arnold Schwarzenegger at the famed original Gold’s Gym.

“I know a lot of people look back on their high school times, and they’re not really fond memories. I couldn’t have a more opposite feeling,” Cunningham said. “People ask me, ‘Are you ever going to move back?’ I don’t know. I don’t really have a plan. I’m just kind of going a year at a time.” ∞

Photo: Kenny Cunningham put the lessons he learned locally to practice as an offensive play-maker for the Ohio State Buckeyes soccer team between 2011 and 2015. Photo submitted.