Hard working wrestler
It’s been a stressful year for North Idaho College wrestler Kenny Gray, who lost his family home in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina.
“We lived just south of Lake Pontchartrain, in the uptown area,” said Gray, a sophomore wrestling in a backup role at the 197-pound and heavyweight classes. “My family said that lightposts were lifting out of the ground and puncturing buildings. It was horrible, they said.”
After the storm, Kenny’s mother, grandfather, a brother and three sisters were able to stay with relatives in Atlanta. “Since then, a local church in Atlanta donated a house to my family, and now things are looking up,” he said. “My mother and grandfather have jobs, and I wouldn’t be surprise if they stayed in Atlanta rather than move back to New Orleans. They’re doing great now”
Gray had a high school record of 45-10 in New Orleans.
“Kenny is accountable and a real hard worker,” said NIC assistant coach Jeremy Zender. “He is always at practice and has become a good addition to our program. He walked on (no scholarship) last year, and was red-shirted (did not compete), but won his first match against an opponent from Lasson Junior College at the heavyweight (200 pounds and up) recently.”
Zender said Gray will be competing regularly in exhibition matches and will have a chance to get into the lineup through the team’s challenge process.
Gray’s plans for next year are still up in the air.
“A local four-year college has shown some interest in me joining their football team,” he said, declining to name the school, just in case things fall through.
Gray has spent a year and a half in North Idaho and said he likes his circumstances.
“North Idaho (College) is a great school. Its (academic) program is tough but good. Except for the weather, it’s cool. I am still not used to bundling up this time of year, but this area has much less distractions than my hometown, so it’s better for me.”
Gray misses the New Orleans area but has grown to love the Inland Northwest.
“My girlfriend and I spend a lot of time on the beach here during the summer, and we spend time in the lake as well,” he said. “I really like Oregon as well, and also Pullman and the Seattle areas.”
Gray said he would like to teach history or English at the college level once he gets his degree.
“I’d like to move back to the South, but I don’t know. Maybe I’d miss the greenery here, the mountains and all,” he said. “There’s a lot to like about this area of the country.”