Ken Duddridge

Bryce Alderton

That sport, whatever it was, at that exact moment, was what Ken

Duddridge put his entire heart into.

The 43-year Costa Mesa resident and founder of the prestigious

Five Counties Wrestling Tournament, lettered in five sports

(football, basketball, track and field, baseball and tennis) at

Claremont High before getting into teaching physical education and

coaching at the prep level, when he also presided over multiple

activities.

“Whatever sport that kid participates in is just as important to

him as another sport would be to someone else,” said Duddridge last

week prior to his 80th birthday, which he celebrated Friday.

Duddridge was the athletic director at Fountain Valley High during

its heyday in the 1970s, when multiple school teams excelled.

He retired in 1983 from Fountain Valley after 33 years teaching

and coaching.

“I tried to make all coaches feel their sport is important,”

Duddridge said. “I didn’t lose that many coaches and that is

important, to stay in the program.”

Before his stint at Fountain Valley, Duddridge coached and taught

at Westminster, Huntington Beach and at Campbell High in Northern

California, where he unexpectedly thrust himself into the wrestling

world.

The wrestling coach at Campbell suffered a heart attack and the

school’s athletic director asked Duddridge to take over and a

newfound love was born.

“I learned everything I needed to about wrestling and we won the

Northern California championship before I left,” Duddridge said.

“What I liked about wrestling was every kid, regardless of size, had

an opportunity. I got down there with the guys.”

Duddridge said it was easier to play multiple sports when he

attended high school because “the sports didn’t overlap each other

like they often do today.

“I just liked participating in high school,” said Duddridge, whose

son Dan was a first-team All-South Coast League selection under Mesa

Coach Tom French in 1976, rushing for 705 yards that year. Mesa went

8-2-1 that season to win its first league championship.

Dan was one of the top wrestlers as a prep (147 pounds). He twice

won the Five Counties Tournament and also pole vaulted on the track

team. He also was a JC All-American halfback for Orange Coast College

in 1978.

The elder Duddridge graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1950 with

degrees in physical education and industrial art.

Duddridge builds furniture as a hobby.

One of his nine grandchildren plays lacrosse and Duddridge likes

watching them compete in cross country meets.

He has been married to wife, Dorothy, for 48 years.

Until back surgery took some physical toll during his 60s,

Duddridge played in senior basketball and track leagues.

He still either walks or rides a bicycle for two hours every day

and likes to fish, golf and play with his grandchildren.

“I have too many interests,” Duddridge said. “Some people can’t

retire because they are afraid of boredom, but I’ve never had a

problem with retirement.”