Hooked on grappling

Steve Virgen

It’s a question that will most likely be asked more than once in

the Chene brothers’ lives.

Who would win a wrestling match between you two?

Older brother Scott, 11, answers the question with ease ... at least

at this phase in their lives.

“Me,” Scott said of beating his 10-year-old brother Kyle. “Big time.”

“You can’t pin me,” Kyle said. “I’ve already beaten him once.”

Said Scott, “That was one time!”

When they aren’t wrestling each other, the Chene brothers have made

their opponents wish they would.

Scott and Kyle Chene capped a remarkable club wrestling season with a

grand run in the state championships in Fresno last month. Both compiled

a 7-1 record at the state tournament and finished in the top four at

Selland Arena, where there were 15 mats and more than 2,000 wrestlers

competing.

Wrestling for the Calvary Chapel club team, they built identical

records throughout the season, 42-3, as they also matched one another

with tournament titles. They each won six out of the eight tournaments

they wrestled in, including trips to Las Vegas, San Diego and

Bakersfield.

The Chenes also wrestle at the same weight, 70 pounds, but Scott is in

the Schoolboy division and Kyle grapples in the Midget division of USA

Wrestling.

Scott, who was the Newport Beach Boys and Girls Club’s Youth of the

Year, recorded 17 pins this season. He started wrestling at age of 5 and

has built upon his love for the sport ever since.

“I like how (wrestling is) so physical,” said Scott, who, like Kyle,

is preparing for the upcoming football season with the Newport Beach

Seahawks. “I like the butterflies. I just love the feel of wrestling. I

get nervous when I start to wrestle, I get butterflies, I get excited and

I’m so focused.”

Scott’s focus used to be so intense, he would vomit before matches. He

was under so much pressure because he was determined to protect an

unbeaten record, which extended through his first three years in the

sport.

Scott mostly plays at linebacker when he straps on the helmet and his

character fits the mold. As his father and wrestling coach, Kevin Chene,

said, he’s all heart.

On the other hand, the younger Chene, Kyle, is the one who relies on

his physical skills and is less emotional. But, that doesn’t mean he runs

away from competition.

“I like the big wrestling tournaments,” Kyle said. “It’s a tougher

challenge. I like that.”

With their high marks in the state tournament, the Chene brothers had

the opportunity to enter the national tournament. But Kevin Chene chose

to hold them out, so they could prepare for the football season. He also

plans to take them on a summer vacation trip.

“I’ve been begging my dad to find me a wrestling tournament,” Scott

said.

The two brothers have a strong love for sports, including wrestling,

lacrosse and football. They both want to be NFL players when they grow

up.

Scott draws inspiration from Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin

James, while Tyler gains motivation from Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide

receiver Keyshawn Johnson and Tennessee Titans pass-rushing threat Jevon

Kearse.

Scott and Tyler also share a love for basketball because it offers the

one-on-one scenario.

“I beat him at basketball once, too,” Kyle said.

“But that was outdoors,” Scott said. “No one can beat me inside.”