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Photo by Bob Pennell Ken Wharry has spent a lot of time in the wrestling room carving a niche out for himself on the international front. Wharry isn't weary of his art Ex-NAIA champion earns bid to world veterans tourney By KRIS HENRY Ken Wharry has taken the notion of leading by example to new heights. The South Medford High wrestling coach recently captured first place at the Veterans National Championships in Seattle and earned a berth in the World Championships in Budapest, Romania. Wrestling in the age 35-40, 167-pound division, Wharry proved unstoppable at the national tournament. The 35-year-old former national champion at Southern Oregon University either pinned or earned a technical fall in his first three matches, then went on to top Clay Holly 11-2 for the national title. "In nationals, I think I snuck up on some people," Wharry said of the June tourney. "I don't think it will be that way at the World Championships." Wharry won his NAIA title wrestling at 134 pounds in 1988. He hung up his wrestling singlet after the Olympic Trials in 1996, but decided to return to the mat this past year. "I just wanted to see if I could actually still do it," Wharry said. "I've wrestled competitively for so many years, I just wanted to give it another chance." Besides having to shake off the rust, Wharry has had to balance his competitive urge with family responsibilities. In his time away from competition, he got married, became the father of two and inherited a young Panther wrestling program. "My daughter doesn't really like me wrestling because she thinks I'm getting beat up," Wharry said of 2-year-old Kendall. "She doesn't really understand wrestling yet. Even if I'm winning, she thinks I'm getting beat up." Four-month-old Kenny Jr. has showed far less reservations, while Wharry's wife Summer has made a big impact on his mat appearance. "She started fattening me up," Wharry said, noting that his days as a sleek 134-pounder are long gone now. "I'm sure not getting any taller." Wharry has been wrestling four days a week to prepare for the September championships. To help his cause, Body Mechanix Fitness Center donated a membership to take care of Wharry's weight lifting and cardiovascular training. Wharry said his wrestling schedule will change to every day of the week about three weeks before he leaves for Romania. That's also when he will decide whether to stay at 167 or drop to 152 for the championships. "Everybody has been trying to talk me into going down to 152," Wharry said, adding that the desire is to see him face reigning five-time world champion Russ Kozart. Peer-pressure aside, Wharry said he has no preference of which weight to compete in at the championships. "I think I'm going to win if I go at 152 or 167. That's just the way you have to think," he said. And that's exactly how he wants his South Medford wrestlers to think this coming season. Those wishing to help sponsor Wharry in his fund-raising attempts for the World Championships may contact him at 608-0541. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.