Class of 2023

Michael Kitts started wrestling in 7th grade for Fulton modified Coach Rick Bush. Coach Bush taught Mike what it meant to be a Fulton wrestler in one of the top wrestling programs in NYS. Mike went on to become a four year varsity letter winner for Hall of Fame Coach Mike Conners. In his four year high school career, Mike was a member of two NYS championship teams (94, 95) and his teams compiled an overall dual record of 73-2. Coach Conners guided Mike to the 1996 Class A, Section III, and NYS Championship in the 167 lb. weight class, finishing runner-up in the MOW voting at the state tournament. In his senior season Mike went 40-1 and ended his career with a 103-18 overall mark. Upon leaving the program he had set the single season records in Fulton's storied program for most wins (40), most tournament titles in one season (6) and most team points scored in one season (269.5).

Mike also excelled in other sports, in his senior year he was First Team All-League in baseball and Third Team All-State and First Team All-CNY in football. Mike was also a national nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman. Mike earned a nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was a member of the 1996 Army football and wrestling teams. Mike later transferred to Cornell University to finish out his wrestling career and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in 2000.

Upon graduation from Cornell, Mike earned his Master's degree in Education from Oswego State and took a Social Studies teaching and JV wrestling coaching position in the Hannibal Central School district. Mike was the JV wrestling coach from 2002-2004. Starting in the 2005 season, Mike was elevated to the head varsity coach. In his 14 year tenure as head coach, Mike helped build Hannibal into a competitive team in division two. Mike's teams won 181 dual meets, four league titles ('06, '08, '11, '18), and were runner-ups in the league five times. Mike was named Liberty/Patriot League Coach of the Year three times. Mike coached his teams to four berths in the Section Three Dual Meet tournament championship ('09, '10, '11, and '14) and were Class B tournament runner-ups in 2011. Two of Mike's teams finished the year ranked in the small school NYS rankings (2010 #22, 2011 #19). Mike coached nine different wrestlers to over 100 career wins. He coached 8 class champions, 20 sectional place winners and three state place winners. In 2018 Mike coached Zach Williams to the first ever individual sectional championship for Hannibal, a huge accomplishment for a program that has had wrestling since the late 60's. Mike served on the section three wrestling committee for 8 years and had a reputation for being intense in the coaching corner and hard on officials. Mike however was once quoted as saying, "We wrestle all over the state in a bunch of different sections and there is no doubt that section three has the best wrestling officials in NYS." Mike demanded attention to detail from everyone, from his wrestlers to officials and even opposing coaches. Mike's teams took the lead from their coach, they were not flashy but they were hard-nosed, tough and never gave up.

Mike currently lives in Fulton with his wife of 21 years Michelle. He is an 8th grade American History teacher, head varsity football coach, modified wrestling coach and the president of the Hannibal Faculty Association for the Hannibal Central School district.