Kenneth Balcerski:
CLASS OF 1981
Roxbury High SchoolClass of 1981
Succasunna, NJ
Kenneth's Story
Life Growing up in Roxbury
My favorite TV program was CBS Wide World of Sports. I watched Bob Beamon USA Long Jump 29' 2 1/2" to smash the world record by almost two feet! I saw Willie Davenport USA in an exciting race to win the High Hurdles and couldn't believe my eyes when a 20 year old named Dick Fosbury made history by taking off with his outside leg, back to the bar in the high jump to win the gold.
I set up small wooden work horses I found in the neighbors trash as hurdles and my father helped me dig a long jump pit next to the garden. I would pretend I was competing against Jessie Owens in the 1936 Berlin Olympics hitch kicking though the air and landing in some fresh upturned garden dirt.
Some things don't always work out as planned and although I never made it all the way to the Olympics the journey has taught me how to embrace pain and hardship. It only makes sense to me now that for everytime I came up short I was that much closer figuring out how to succeed.
Juggling sports as a lifetime passion and competing at the highest level takes more than just heart. It takes commitment, knowledge, patience and training partners. I wish I had of realized 25 years ago that reaching out for help is the only way to truly be the best in anything and that training, emotional strength and inspiration is found through coaching, teammates, friends and family.
Accepting the sting of mistakes, injuries and bad planning has lead me closer to my goals. Taking all responsibility for my ignorances and flaws in the past has given me an avenue to happiness today. Enduring new sports and challenges has made my life worth living.
A few of my old classmates and neighbors probably thought I was just an obnoxious angry kid who did stunts to gain attention. I would pretty much go crazy in grade school, tearing down signs mounted from Jefferson's ceiling, disrupting class and pulling girls hair. Oops! My problems were multi fold and in many instances I couldn't explain why I did the things I did.
I admit I had some issues but Roxbury was a strong community and had a few families that helped me get things back on track. I owe a big THANK YOU to The Alexander's, Rothchild's, Wilson's, Canfield's, Cormey's and Chupick's for not writing me off as a total disaster. I had some solid role models like Tommy Dartnel and Linda King both of which when I look back I can't thank enough for being great examples of how to behave in sch...Expand for more
ool and succeed in athletics. I am super grateful to have had these people as my friends growing up. I didn't realize it then but they would forge my work ethic and determination to not be a total tool in life.
My brother Bob Balcerski, Byron Collins (XC & Track Coach), Mr. French (R.H.S. Athletic Director), Ray McCaffrey (rest in peace) and my neighbors on Cornhollow road were all fantastic influences on my life. They somehow convinced me to bare down, focus on school and pursue a greater vision.
My life, attitude and manners quickly began turning around when I set my sights on a new mission, "College Athletics". I was awarded a full scholarship to Drexel University and my aspirations to become a world class athlete actually appeared obtainable.
Unfortunately I never made it to the Olympic Arena but with the support of some very understanding and helpful college roommates mainly Mark Blaszczyk and Phil Gottlick, I competed on a national level and earned a Degree in Business.
Where did I end up?
I live in So. Jersey off parkway exit 74 Forked River
I still like to play stuntman with the kids. We have a skate board/bmx half pipe, trampoline, polevault pit, jet ski's, motocross stuff and the tons of fun stupid home made garbage that gets recycled on a seasonal basis.
In 2003 while training motocross for the Old Bridge Race of Champions, I caught my foot coming off a jump and severely severed my ankle shattering my lower leg in pieces. Doctors put metal plates, rods, screws, some kind of new human bondo bone plasma stuff and a big clamp on my leg for over a year. They said my running days were over and that I was lucky to the fact I still had a foot.
In 2007 I began to train Jiu Jitsu at Tom DeBlass's OCBJJ and have since regained 90% mobility. I have to give Tom DeBlass credit for convincing me to enroll in his Academy for if it were not for him and my Jiu Jitsu teammates I might still be hobbling around on one wheel.
Today:
Life is as good as it gets! I am married to a incredible women, have two great kids, a dog and cat, own a small glass company, About Auto Glass, LLC serving Ocean and Monmouth Counties, coach Track & Field, Strength and Conditioning, Jiu Jitsu and Paddle Boarding. I still train and compete in sports and I surf as much as possible in the summer months. Interested in coming down to the Jersey shore to train or just tell me some stories? Drop me a message on FB and say hello.
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