Returning From Injury, Kahanic Wins State Highland Games Title

HERKIMER — Describing himself at “80 percent,” Nick Kahanic was still good enough — and healthy enough — to claim the Highland Games New York State Championships last weekend.

Competing at the Great American Irish Festival, the Falconer native placed first in all seven events — braemar stone, open stone, heavy weight for distance, light weight for distance, heavy hammer, light hammer and caber toss — in his return to the sport for the first time in 22 months.

The former world and North American amateur champion hadn’t taken the field since the end of 2016, recovering from both a shoulder injury and total reconstruction of his anterior cruciate ligament eight months ago.

“I would say my strength is farther along than my agility,” Kahanic said. “It’s coming. I’ve got a ways to go, but it’s coming.”

For a while, the 32-year-old thought about retiring from the Highland Games, but his friend and fellow Falconer native, Aaron Lee, encouraged him to get back into it.

“He’s my best friend and like a little brother to me,” Kahanic said.

Also last weekend, Lee found success in his first-ever strongman competition where he placed fifth out of 12 at the state qualifier in Buffalo.

“He’s the reason I competed this weekend,” Kahanic said. “I would trade 100 state championships just to hear the joy in his voice, telling me about the strongman competition. His passion was back.”

Kahanic and Lee were competing to honor the memory of Lee’s 2-year-old son, A.J., who passed away in June.

“We both got ‘A.J. Strong’ tattoos,” Kahanic said. “With me winning states and (Lee) qualifying for states, I’d say we were ‘A.J. Strong.'”

Next on Kahanic’s schedule is a Highland Games competition in Lockport on Aug. 18, the site where he broke the world record in the open stone in 2013. He’ll also appear in Mayville on Aug. 25.

“It’s nice to be back at it,” he said.