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By Jesse Utz 

Senior profile: Kaleb "The Hitman" Horn

 

Last updated 9/19/2018 at 5:42pm



As you all know by now, I like to profile some seniors at Lake Roosevelt so you can get to know them a little better before they go out and conquer the world. This year there are some outstanding students that I am excited to tell you more about, but I decided to start with the man in the class who has accomplished so much already. I will start with a name you know well already: Kaleb Horn, the youngest of Jason and Erica Horn, brother of Kody Horn, and a man on a mission for his final year as a Raider.

When I asked him how his senior year was going so far, he answered with that little smirk of a smile that is always just seconds away from breaking out. “Good,” he said with confidence, “I am happy with my classes and really just want to get through it and graduate.” Kaleb answered all of my questions with that same confidence, as if he was stating a fact, and I believed they were facts by the time we were done.


As we all should know by now, the Horns are synonymous with wrestling. Jason a state champ, Kody a two-time champ, and now we have Kaleb going for three. He has already got one at 113 pounds and another at 132 pounds, and this year’s goal is for one at 145 pounds.

“We should easily tack on a third state title,” Kaleb said, without even missing a beat.

I then asked Kaleb about things he has overcome in life to get to where he is today. He thought for a second and responded with just as much confidence.

“When I was little,” Kaleb said, with a serious look now on his face, “I was small, so team sports were harder for me; I was always overlooked because of my size. … But then wrestling found me. I could be an individual. My size did not matter anymore; it became more about skill and heart.” Kaleb again smiled. He knew he had said something powerful. Obviously, Kaleb has the skill and heart; his track record proves it. He is also a captain this year for Raider football. He’s not the smallest anymore, and he packs a punch with every tackle he makes.

Kaleb’s future is set, but it is set a long distance away.

“I am going to St. Cloud State University on a wrestling scholarship, and there will be national championships in my future,” he said.

The smile had returned to his face and now he was talking about the things he loved. He is looking forward to this next adventure, filled with wrestling, fishing for muskies and hunting big whitetails — all things that make Kaleb who he is. He says without a doubt that he will be able to handle being away from home and the cold winters in Minnesota.

We then talked about Kaleb’s influences at Lake Roosevelt. He mentioned teachers and coaches who have helped him with everything. “Obviously, Coach Hood,” he said with a shrug of the shoulders. “He is always available to anyone, always a text or call away. He is like having an extra dad; he is more than just a coach.”

He quickly added one more to his list. “Mr. Crollard, too ….” There was a long pause, and then he continued. “We have had some late-night talks on the phone about wrestling, football and life. He just really understands what’s going on in a student athlete’s life.”

We then started talking about his dad. “My dad is absolutely the biggest influence in my life,” he said. “We are basically the same person. We have everything in common, we have been through everything together, and he has been there for everything — I mean EVERYTHING.” Kaleb continued: “He has never missed a day in my life; even when he is sick, he is there for me.” That is a big statement coming from this young man who sees classmates every day struggling without their parents.

His advice for future seniors: “Don’t let it get in your head. Even as a senior, we can’t take it easy; if you fall behind, it will be a struggle to get caught up.” Coming from the soon-to-be three-time champ, I think that is advice we should all listen too.

It has been a pleasure to see this young man grow up and to see him setting his goals in life so high. I can’t wait to see him posing with a giant whitetail deer, a record muskie or for a national championship. More than likely, though, it will be all three. Good luck, Hitman. Keep on rolling.

 

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