Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280067
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The sophomore spends the football season blocking immense defensive tacklers so his teammates can run for touchdown glory.
But there's one place where his mere presence can thrill fans into a frenzy: Wendy Bates' second-grade class at Kipps Elementary School.
That's where DiNapoli spends an hour twice a week, hanging out with Karl Wedin and his classmates.
On any given day, athletes clad in Tech sweatshirts can be seen towering over fourth-graders in the cafeteria lunch line or playing outside with the first-graders during recess.
The athletes help pupils with their reading or math skills, praise and encourage them.
The program is one of three at Kipps where college students mentor their younger counterparts.
Counselor Ann Ferrel knew what good role models student athletes make for younger children - her husband, Eddie, is a trainer for Tech's football team.
But it wasn't until Tech graduate student Jimmy Whitten began his fall practicum at Kipps that the "buddy" network actually came to reality. Whitten also works in Tech's weight room, and persuaded about 25 student athletes to volunteer time.
Ann Ferrel said the athletes are paired with pupils who "could benefit from an extra something in school."
Though DiNapoli focuses much of his attention on Karl, the entire class has adopted him as their own 258-pound mascot.
Just before the showdown between Tech and the University of Virginia, Bates turned DiNapoli's game prediction into a math lesson.
"What will be the final score, Gennaro?" she asked.
The hulky sophomore, who squashed his 6-foot-3-inch frame next to Karl's miniature red chair, answered: "Tech, 30; UVa, 7 ... We'll give 'em one."
"No way," responded one fan across the room. "Make it 100 to 0."
DiNapoli laughed as he helped Karl subtract the winning point margin.
"Twenty three!" the second-grader said, beaming at DiNapoli as they slapped hands for a high-five.
Karl said he doesn't mind sharing his buddy with the rest of the class. He's the only who knows their secret handshake, he says with a shy smile.
The two talk football - lots of football - and just spend time together "hanging out," he said.
Timmy Holbach, a third-grader with cerebral palsy, communicates with his buddy, Bill Conaty, through his word processor.
"He tells me what plays to run," the offensive guard said.
Steven Baker says he isn't too impressed with football. Still, the fourth-grader clings to defensive lineman J.C. Price.
"We're going to read 'Runaway Ralph,'" Price explained as the boy, a quarter his size, dragged him by the arm into their classroom to the waiting book.
DiNapoli started visiting Karl last spring and said he hopes to continue until he finishes college.
Track star Katie Ollendick said she couldn't imagine stopping her visits with third-grader Mercedes Jones.
"It doesn't matter how busy you are," she said after she hugged Mercedes goodbye. "How can you say you can't come back?"
by CNB