Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994 TAG: 9402030283
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Kenyon, one of Blacksburg's best wrestlers, is into sculpting. Body sculpting.
He plans to be the Michelangelo of the gridiron and the wrestling mats. He envisions himself as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound well-chiseled hulk by next year, when he reaches the tender age of 16.
"I haven't hit a real growth spurt yet," Kenyon said.
That has to be a frightening thought to those who will oppose Kenyon in upcoming years. At 6-2 and nearly 190 pounds, he's already built like sculptor's marble.
And he's just 15 years old.
An Eagle Scout with an artistic bent, Kenyon has made it his personal project to craft himself into a real-life colossus.
"Kip knows where he wants to go, maps out how to get to where he wants to go, and he gets there," said Blacksburg football coach Dave Crist, who started Kenyon on the line last fall. "There are not a whole lot of adults who can do that."
Currently, the sophomore is wrestling in the 189-pound category for the Indians, who were an early surprise in the New River District before slipping recently. Blacksburg's slide can't be blamed on Kenyon, who was unbeaten in NRD competition and 16-4 overall heading into this week.
He placed third in the prestigious Big Orange wrestling tournament this year and he will be the favorite to win the 189 title at Friday's NRD tournament at Christiansburg. As a freshman, Kenyon was the district champ at 171 pounds, back when he was a little guy.
He put on 30 pounds prior to last football season, when he started as a tackle on both sides of the ball for a Blacksburg team that won the NRD and advanced to the Group AA Division 4 semifinals.
The added weight was flab-free. His bulk is mostly muscle - he already bench-presses 300 pounds - and his body fat is under 7 percent.
. If he's still 6-2 next year, he wants to weigh about 220 pounds by football season. If he's taller, he plans to add more weight for football, then drop some of it for wrestling. He could be wrestling in the heavyweight division next season.
Of course, nature doesn't always abide by the plans and expectations of man - or 15-year olds - but it sounds like Kenyon is ready to give nature a hand.
"I'll play it by ear," he said. "I can add the weight through intense [weight] training and diet. If I keep my muscle percentage higher, then my metabolism will be higher. That way, I can gain weight and keep my body fat [percentage] low."
There's no fat in his noggin, either. As brainy as he is brawny, Kenyon has a 3.9 grade point average in some tough courses.
One of his best classes is art, which is taught by his wrestling coach, Lee Worley. Kenyon does some of his best artwork at home, where he makes pieces of American Indian jewelry.
"He's got artistic ability," said Worley. "He brings in things he's done at home. He carves out his own handles for knives, beaded necklaces, craft stuff. He has a good eye for composition, organization and color theory."
He lives through his art. Kenyon, who says he has some Cherokee in his background, has been influenced by the heritage and traditions of America's first citizens and he has found ways to combine his interest in history and his love of the outdoors.
When he goes bowhunting for deer, he keeps his arrows in a quiver he made out of deer hide. In the past year, he has taken an interest in black-powder hunting.
He is mostly self-taught in his artistic endeavors. He reads books on American Indian ceremonies and rituals to get ideas for his craft. He learned taxidermy simply by reading a book on how to mount a fish.
He's inquisitive on the field and in the wrestling room, as well. Articulate, yet soft-spoken, Kenyon often eschews verbiage when a solid hit will say more.
"He doesn't talk a lot, except to ask a question," said Crist.
Crist also coached Kenyon's brother, Kelly Holbert, who later was a linebacker at Virginia Military Institute.
Because of his size and strength, Kenyon appears on the way to having a fine college career of his own. Then again, one must remember, Kenyon's future is still a long way away.
Because of his size and strength, one forgets that Kenyon is still 15 years old. Except Kenyon.
"I kind of like planning ahead," he said. "I have goals I want to reach, things to shoot for; but I don't have everything totally mapped out."
by CNB