2013-14 Results and Media Coverage

 

Brusly High School wrestler Kendon Lee defies labels as well as he pins opponents. Lee’s 33-1 in the 126-pound weight class and sees himself as anything but a surprising phenom going into Saturday’s Brusly Invitational.

 

“This is something I’ve been working toward for years,” Lee said. “I played baseball some when I was younger, but I knew wrestling was the sport for me.”

 

The idea of a 14-year-old planning to become a star is expected in football, basketball or baseball. But wrestling? Lee’s dreams started in front of a television screen.

 

“I loved WWE (professional) wrestling when we lived in Missouri,” Lee said. “I watched it all the time and wanted to learn how to wrestle. People didn’t wrestle there.

 

“We moved here (to Brusly) when I was 8 and my mom found out there was a wrestling program for kids. I joined when I was in fourth grade and found out I loved it way more than WWE.”

 

What happened next surprised Brusly wrestling coach Jimmy Bible, who also coaches Brusly’s club team.

“We take kids starting in the fourth grade for the club team,” Bible said. “What they do is folk-style wrestling, which is more about technique (and) doesn’t allow some of the throws and athletic moves you have in freestyle wrestling.

“They knew how bad I wanted to be part of the team. I was always watching and trying to learn. I figured that would help me be not as nervous when my time finally came.” KENDON LEE, Brusly wrestler

“Once their season is over, our high school kids do freestyle and Greco-Roman. Kendon’s mother called and asked if he could work out with the older kids. I guess he was in fifth or sixth grade then.

 

“I was reluctant to do it, but she asked me if he could hang around and watch. Right away, the older kids took to him. He started going everywhere with us. He was our mascot at first, and by the time he got to middle school he was our team manager.”

 

It was all part of Lee’s master plan to get ready to wrestle for the Panthers, who have won nine state titles in the past 10 years, including the last two in Division III.

 

“It seems like I waited for this forever,” Lee said. “I’m grateful to the guys who took me under their wing and worked with me. Guys like Trevor and Austin Schermer and Wyatt LeJeune.

 

“They knew how bad I wanted to be part of the (Brusly) team. I was always watching and trying to learn. I figured that would help me be not as nervous when my time finally came.”

It is important to note that Lee is also successful off the mat, where he carries a 3.0 grade point average in honors classes.

But it’s the honors he’s collecting on the mat that have been impressive. He has not lost to a Louisiana competitor and was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler at the Florida-based South Walton Tournament earlier this season.

 

“Technique-wise, he’s solid,” Bible said.

 

Ever the perfectionist, Lee sees ways he can improve his repertoire of moves.

 

“I had no idea I’d do so well. One thing I know I need to do is get better on my feet,” Lee said. “My goal is always to finish stronger than I start. But I also need to work on taking more shots earlier.”

 

In addition to working out with his teammates, Lee also studies other wrestlers, including former Oklahoma State star Jordan Oliver and current Penn State standout David Taylor.

 

Plenty of people will be watching next weekend when Lee and Panthers compete in one of the state’s most prestigious tournaments, the Louisiana Classic.

 

Lee said competing in the Brusly Invitational also is a “dream coming true.”

 

His goal this weekend is simple.

 

“A sweatshirt and a medal ... that’s all I want,” Lee said. “That will mean I won and I helped the team.”

 

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