Wrestling as a Black Kid : Speakers & Interviews

Hi Kenny! I'm not sure if you check this site regularly or not, but I remember us meeting sometime last year. You were visiting Lehigh U. (if I recall correctly) for a tournament. In anycase, I have a great picture from that night that I would like to post, but I'm not sure how to get it to you. When you get the chance, send me an email at . I'd love to hear from you and catch up again! Take care. ~Jada

hey Kenny wassup.....we will be back,,,,we will do this camp and we will see you at practice. tell the boys we say hello! see ya soon!

A westfield kid!

totally true..thank god its different now..atleast in minnesota lol

our wrestling coach. tanner espey used to wrestle with kenny when they were on the tulsa allstars in oklahoma. our coach used to beat up on him for years until they got a little older. then kenny started doing work.

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Great video. It has been my pleasure to watch my son compete against your wrestlers at various nationals. You always was a class act and as an African American parent I can relate to different situations you outlined in the 60's. Some things have change yet some have remained the same. There are many hurdles to still leap. Keep up the good work and come to Chicago next year with your team. Kelly had to do all of the work by himself...LOL

Ken,
I was proud to sit in your corner as one of your National Team Coaches. I tell all of our kids in the New York City Beat the Streets Program about you and your wonderful family.
You are a true American legend and I am better person for knowing you.
Coach Bevilacqua

That's just awesome.

Great video's Kenny. Great stuff. Would like to hear more about matches with Nate Carr, beating him the week before nationals twice, then the 2 losses. Relationship then and now with Carr etc.
Also, as a wrestler, now a youth and HS coach, how do you view kids now, wrestling now.

I can't get this video to play:(

This is very nice that Kenny Monday gets to speak on his great atheletic career, both as a excellent wrestler and now coach. He always was a great pleasure to watch when those of us who didn't live in Oklahoma could only catch him during the NCAA championships and the Olympics.
I also really appreciate Butch Devine's commnets on the endurance of black wrestlers some short decades ago, and the great black wrestlers at Iowa University. I remember other great black wrestlers at Iowa State University too - the "middleweights": Virgil Carr, Veryl Long, Carl Adams and Nate Carr.
It shows that Iowa always has been a progressive state, allowing racial equality and opportunity where others wouldn't.
Thanks Kenny and Butch!

My Father is rather conservative about what he accomplished. Proud of you Dad, and honored to have staired at your shoes in the closet. Drove me to be the best wrestler I could, without half the talent.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is celebrating black history in the sport of wrestling this month as well. http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org

I was spell bound by Kenny Monday's comments as I wasa young black wrestler coming up in the late 1950's. My dad wrestled on Long Island (Amityville) in the late 1930's. When I began wrestling in the 6th grade, he told me storiesy of what he had to endure as a black wrestler in high school. One of them he told me that the white people used to throw tacks out on the mat. He too told me not to let the referee decide the match, and that I should decide the outcome of my matches. I wrestled for Amityville High School, then was fortunate to receive a wrestling scholarship to the University of Iowa in 1962,(only black in the Big 10 for 2years where) I wrestled 1st team for 3 years at 157 pounds for Dave McCusky. Black History month is upon us, and I put a post on Hawkeyenation.com, identifying the black wrestlers, who helped keep the legacy of Hawkeye Wrestling alive. Simon Roberts,(1st Black NCAA Champion), Butch Devine, Chris Campbell, Joe and TJ Williams. We too are proud of Kenny Monday, and we(the former black wrestlers) have a responsibility to show our young black america that they can aspire to be great. Kenny's primary theme,was and still is hard work, commitment and dedication. Yay Kenny!!!!!

Kenny Monday is legend and a credit to all those who wrestle and overcome to achieve greatness. He's done it all and won everything to include the Olympics,UFC and now he coaches the Olympic Team...he is a superior wrestler and athlete who works hard, thats why he is one of the greatest.

Don't let him up til they start sweepin' up. That's good stuff!

Kenny is a tremendous inspiration for any wrestler. You can't help but be a fan of his. I had the privilege of visiting with him in Vegas one year during the US Nationals and hearing some of his stories. His Tblisi tales were priceless !