The senior number two distance runner for the Wildcats was born in Chita, Russia and at age four-and-a-half was adopted. Koby weighed 25-pounds at the time he was adopted.
"It wasn't anything bad, I was just really light and they said my knees were disproportionate to my body so the thought of running sounded funny," said Koby. "But my mobility was still really good. I wasn't a Forest Gump or anything like that. I don't remember a whole lot, just that I was in an orphanage and I didn't really socialize much because of being born with cleft palate. Which means I was born with no upper lip. So my speech wasn't that good."
Moving forward in life Koby started to learn lifelong lessons and use his talents to the best of his ability for not only himself, but others.
"Kyle, from day one has been the most enthusiastic and encouraging young man, I have had the opportunity to be around," Woodmont boys coach Tony Williams said. "He always put the team first and was determined to get faster and faster. As well, he is a big goofball."
Koby balances practice, meets and school duties, including his responsibility as student body president. "There are certain days where I have to set SGA off to the side and go with cross country," he said. "Then there's others days where I have to set cross country off the side and go with SGA. I also am the treasurer for the Junior Civitan. I am involved in Beta Club. And I also help lead and organize FCA. This is my first year involved with SGA, second in Beta club, fourth in FCA and second with JC."
"One of Kyle's best qualities is that he knows what he has to do to be a student-athlete. He communicates his schedule and makes sure that he gets his run in or before academics and other extracurricular activities," said Williams. "He has done a great job of proving that if you plan your work, you can work your plan."
Koby lived in Ohio with his foster family prior to moving to South Carolina at age 10.
Koby did not start out as a distance runner and did not like cross country when it was required as a member of the high school wrestling team.
"When I got to high school I started with wrestiling and coach made us run cross country, which I hated," said Koby. "Now that I found out that I'm okay at it I like it more. I want to go to Anderson (University) or some Christian college where I can pursue a major in ministry."
"Once he got hooked on the running, he went from an average runner to one of the top runners in the Upstate and in the state after finishing sixth in 2008," said Williams.
Koby along with number one Woodmont runner Aaron Ramirez, who also wrestled, hope to finish one and two at the Class AAA state meet Nov. 7 in Columbia.
He played several others sports before high school including baseball, basketball, and wrestling.
Future plans for Koby after college include mission work or serving as a pastor, he said.
"God allowed me to have an ability to run so I give him all glory and credit. God has a plan for my life and he has a plan for everybody's. I'm just thankful for the opportunity to use my abillity to glorify God."
"Kyle is one of the true leaders on this team. Kyle has always been one of the biggest advocates for Woodmont cross country teams. He and Aaron have played a huge role in helping me get this sport resurrected at Woodmont. I will remember that I was very fortunate to have the chance to coach two great runners, as well as two great young men. I hope I have the opportunity to coach 100s more like those two. Kyle and Aaron have set a high standard here at Woodmont."
"Running has helped me mentally, because running is 10-percent physical and 90-percent mental and you don't give up until you think you have to give up," Koby believes. "But, if you push your self through the pain mentally it helps and benefits you in the end. In life we all have situations where we think physically we can't go on, whether it's getting fired from a job or someone dying or whatever, but if you allow yourself to get defeated in your mind then you will allow yourself to get defeated in your life.
"I don't want to be remembered for what I've done, but rather be remembered for what I stood for in my faith with Jesus Christ."