GBI Magazine

McBride said. "He has taken that on." Along with his work ethic, Enekwechi's personality has been a welcome addition to the team. "He's just a happy-golucky kid," McBride said. "He dances, he sings, and he idolizes Michael Jackson. He's just fun to be around." Before he became obsessed with the technical nuances of throwing a shot put, art and dancing were the activities that consumed Enekwechi's free time, passions that he still pursues. Among Enekwechi's creative exploits that McBride Tom Campbell noted are a penchant for imWaiting until high school to even try throwing, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has come a long personation videos. way in a short time. "Growing up, I was an introvert, so I had to entertain redshirted to improve physical- with. We are able to talk through ly. Standing at only 5-foot-11, he things, especially as he has add- myself," Enekwechi said. "I don't doesn't have the prototypical height ed the hammer throw, which is need a lot of company to have a good for throwing events, but his work something he didn't throw in high time. I have been interested in art and dance my entire life, and I love in the weight room helped elimi- school. nate any strength deficiencies gap "He has the mindset to be suc- to have fun on social media. Those during that redshirt year. cessful; he has taken that on and videos have gotten some good re"I improved my bench press from his numbers in the weight room sponses, so I have a good time with it." 335 pounds to about 430 pounds and show that." Enekwechi and McBride have my squat from 600 to 715 pounds," McBride has played a big role in Enekwechi said. "Those increases bringing Enekwechi up to speed in been able to develop a strong raphave really helped." the event. The school record hold- port with one another, constantly Enekwechi's work ethic hasn't er himself, McBride competed at working on new techniques to imgone unnoticed by Purdue throws Purdue from 2001-04 where he plement. The two have embraced a coach Keith McBride. was the Big Ten runner-up in the give-and-take approach to improvIn his second year coaching hammer throw and was a first-team ing Enekwechi's performance. "Coach McBride is really throwers at his alma mater, Mc- All-American in 2003. Enekwechi's Bride has seen Enekwechi's evolu- willingness to learn and allow Mc- open-minded about finding new tion in his first two years on cam- Bride to coach him have been inte- and creative ways to get better in each event," Enekwechi said. "I've pus. gral in his development. "He has absolutely worked since "We know how to do it here, we benefited from his willingness to be the day he got on campus," McBride have the facilities, and you just flexible. As a smaller athlete, we've said. "He is the best kid to work have to have the right mindset," been able to implement different Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5

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