Topic: News:Kelenc Survives Crash,Places 2nd @ FL HS WL Champs

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Learning Experience: Kelenc Recovers From Injuries in Dirt Bike Accident
By Byron Saucer
 
SPARR - Fourteen months ago, Ivan Kelenc was sitting in a hospital bed contemplating his future.

The North Marion student had been riding his dirt bike with a buddy when a car hit them from behind, catapulting each into the air briefly, before the violent return trip to pavement. Kelenc suffered a severe laceration to his head and a nasty cut to his knee. His buddy, Jeremy Reynolds, was air-lifted to Shands with injuries to his back, while Kelenc took the lengthy ambulance ride to consider his fate.

The wounds amounted to 13 staples in his scalp, three stitches to the knee, three weeks of bed rest and nearly two months of recuperation. Kelenc, who was ticketed for a driving violation, swore off motorcycles. Instead, he turned to the sanctuary of the weight room.

"Made a wrong choice and got punished for it," Kelenc said of the accident. "I felt the back of my head - it was bleeding - looked down at my knee, and my first words were: Coach is gonna be mad at me.

"It made me want to come back and do better."

So that's just what he did. The Colts linebacker threw himself into his own rehab program, using the NMHS weight room as his own personal gauge in the road to recovery.

One year later, the 183-pound junior hoisted 605 total pounds at the state weightlifting meet - pushing up 330 on the bench-press and another 275 on clean and jerk. The total was good enough for second-place in the 1A classification and secured 2006 Star-Banner Weightlifter of the Year honors.

For his coach, Bob Panitzke, Kelenc's ability to succeed is a simple matter of priorities.

"The fact that he loves being in this weight room," said Panitzke. "When other guys are wanting to go hang out with their girlfriends or their buddies, this is where Ivan is gonna be.

"He's gonna out-work you. If you're five pounds heavier (lifting) than him, you won't be next week, because he's gonna catch you."

Kelenc started lifting at 13. With an eye on football glory at North Marion, he turned himself over to the coaching staff. Since then, it's blossomed into something more.

"I was planning on playing football, because I wanted to try something new, so the coaches just got me in the weight room," Kelenc said. "Now it's my hobby.

Four to five days a week, Kelenc throws himself into a 90-minute regimen that pushes his limits. From calves to shoulders, he hits it all. And if he sees another plate go on teammate Shad Price or Curtis Thornton's bar, he adds two to his.

The one-ups-manship motivates all of the Colts, who have grabbed back-to-back county weightlifting titles.

"Ryan Williams, Shad Price, Curtis Thornton - we push each other," Kelenc said. "The more competition, the better."

And while Panitzke has enjoyed the local success of his team, he has his sights set on a bigger prize next year.

"Last year we took two (lifters) to state, this year we took four," Panitzke said. "We've put together a program that we believe in - coaches believe in it, players buy into it - and they're coming in here working hard.

"County champions is always good around here, but it doesn't translate much in the state. We want one of their big trophies they've got down there."