Cayden Kim ’26 is a four-year Senior originally from Kuwait City, Kuwait, who currently lives in Doha, Qatar. He’s been a member of Varsity Wrestling since his Lower Mid year and is currently co-captain of the team. He is also a proctor in Hurst Hall and co-head of the Volleyball club.

Head Coach Cooper Puls said, “Cayden is a high-performing athlete who is willing to try new things and gives a lot of effort to get better. He’s been wrestling now for two-and-a-half years. When he started he had almost no ability, and now he has some really fantastic ability. He has been able to do that because he’s willing to say, ‘Hey, I don’t know how to do this, and I don’t really know how it works, but I’m going to try it and eventually get it right.’”

Why did you choose to start wrestling?

I joined the team Lower Mid year after quitting hockey my Prep year. I chose wrestling because I thought choosing a sport where I have to face my opponents head-on instead of running away would be better for character development.

What are some of your favorite things about wrestling?

It’s really great that you don’t have the option to run away. Even if you’re scared or tired, you have no choice but to keep engaging with the other wrestler. On top of it being really fun and a great bonding activity with all your wrestling partners and team members, it’s good for general health and fitness too.

Why did you choose to come to Hotchkiss?

My old school in the Middle East didn’t have the academics I was looking for. I ended up applying to the best schools I could find on Niche. The Hotchkiss website showed photos of the happiest kids, so that was why I chose to come here.

How has being a part of the wrestling team here shaped you?

It’s made me much more disciplined. When you do something hard like wrestling for numerous hours each week, everything else feels a lot easier to deal with.

You can really feel your body becoming more fit, which helps with confidence as you go through your daily life.

The friends that I’ve made through wrestling have also been integral to my school experience.

What are some of your favorite memories competing for the school?

I remember after a meet at Deerfield, we got either Five Guys or Chipotle as a team. Even when you’re all really tired and beat up from wrestling a quad meet, it is fun to joke around with the guys and girls and eat burgers and milkshakes on the party bus.

What are your wrestling goals for college and beyond?

I’m not really good enough to compete at a high level in college, but wrestling is such a good sport for keeping yourself fit, accountable, and for overall character development. I think I’m going to continue it casually or at the club level and keep wrestling in my life.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring wrestlers?

Wrestling is one of those sports where if you don’t have the desire to get better, it’s impossible to do well. But as long as you want to, there are always going to be ways to improve.

The team is really welcoming and our coaches are great, because everyone’s going through a hard thing together.

Both the friends that you make through wrestling and the physical and mental progress that you make are sizable.

So I’d say to give it a shot, even if you’re unsure about it.