EFFINGHAM — Kaiden Stewart had two goals heading into his senior year.
He wanted to reach 100 wins and become the all-time leader in victories.
Stewart accomplished both before the New Year circled around.
“That moment was huge for me,” Stewart said. “It was emotional for me and my family. I was proud of myself.”
Competing in the 120-pound weight class for Effingham, Stewart has racked up 116 wins heading into the regional competition today at Lawrenceville High School. The previous record-holder was Jon Perry — who graduated in 2022 — with 107.
“If you come in and you’re the only one in the weight class, you’ll have a lot more opportunity to get that 100 wins,” Flaming Hearts head coach Bryan McMillan said. “Now, you’re limited to 45 matches a year and when you go to tournaments, we want to make sure you have five matches, but you only get three, so that cuts back on your chances.
“It’s still a big accomplishment; a lot of kids don’t get it and are just shy.”
Stewart came in as a freshman raw and unsure if this was the sport for him.
Quickly, that changed.
“It was a whole new world, coming into high school,” Stewart said. “As a senior this year, I feel I have a lot more power and an advantage over people. I go out with the mindset of, ‘I got to do well and I got to make sure my team does well.'”
Stewart credits a lot of people for his success.
That starts with his father, Dave, who is an assistant on the team, along with his other current high school coaches.
“My dad disciplined me and helped me with everything at home and outside of practice, making sure that I could get it,” Stewart said. “The coaches in the ‘Room’ pushing me and getting me better each day really helped me out.”
Over the years, McMillan said that Stewart has become more “calculated” with how he wrestles.
He also has a maturity that stands out.
“He’s become more of a careful wrestler,” McMillan said. “When he came in as a freshman, he didn’t think much. He went out there and just wrestled. Now, he’s a little bit more calculated and when he goes out there, he has a gameplan, knows what he has to do and has become more aware of where he’s at on the mat.
“He’s also become a more mature wrestler, knowing the fact that he’s not going to win all of them, but if you go through it and you work hard in practice, you’re always going to have more of an edge.”
Stewart’s success isn’t based on major decision victories, either.
If possible, he looks to get in and get the match over quickly.
“I go straight for a pin if I get the opportunity,” Stewart said. “If I have to beat them by points, it’s a win, but pins give us more team points and it helps us win.”
Stewart has a 31-10 overall record this year. Twenty of those wins have come via pinfall.
Going for the pin first has been the mantra for McMillan’s program.
“With the pin, you get the match done quicker. Some coaches want mat time for the kids, but when you’re wrestling in a tournament, it’s best to get it done, get it over and get your rest time in,” McMillan said. “No matter how good of a wrestler you are, there’s always a chance you can make a mistake and get caught.”
That philosophy isn’t just with Effingham’s program. McMillan said other programs have adopted it.
“I think a lot of them do go for the pin,” McMillan said. “There’s always some wrestlers that ‘show-boat.’ With me, I only give an offensive and a defensive award [at the end of the year]. I don’t do a ‘takedown’ award for the most takedowns.”
The pinfalls, and wins, will hopefully continue to rack up for Stewart today when the regional competition begins.
Brackets and seeding weren’t available at press time.
Stewart believes he will enter his regional weight class as the third seed.
“Going in, I should be the third seed. My toughest competition will be the Oakwood kid,” Stewart said. “He’s got the first seed and he’s a state qualifier. I’ve beaten the second-seeded kid several times, but this last match, I got caught in a silly move, and, unfortunately, he beat me, so he’ll get the seed over me.
“I’m hoping to make it to the championship round.”
McMillan hopes Stewart continues to take it one match at a time, just as he has continued to harp on all season.
“I’m always trying to remind him to do things smarter and to not get in your own head,” he said. “Take matches one at a time.”