By Jackson Teal
The exhilaration of knocking a ball over the fence or getting a last second pin cannot be matched … definitely not by sitting behind a desk.
Which makes you wonder why senior Kaeb Stebbins might soon have to switch it up.
As time moves on sometimes so must you. For many athletes this means leaving their high school sports glory days behind them.
”It definitely feels different that I’m not gonna play the sports again, but it’s a new part of my life that’s coming and I have to explore that,” Stebbins said. “I guess that’s a good feeling, but at the same time, it’s kind of a nostalgic one.”
For some superior athletes high school is not the end of the road for their sports journey.
Stebbins has accepted that his wrestling career has come to an end.
Going into his spring 2025 baseball season, however, he has the chance to make a name for himself and continue his athletic career.
Collegiate level sports has become a trend in the Stebbins family.
Kaeb’s grandfather Monte Stebbins played basketball for the University of Evansville, his father Tyce Stebbins played football for Southeast Missouri State, and his aunt Chanda Stebbins played volleyball and basketball for the University of Florida.
Head coach Devin Wilburn plans to help Kaeb follow in those footsteps with his experience in the recruiting process.
“I think he’s a guy whose best days are still ahead of him and I’m not the only coach going to see that,” Wilburn said.
A bright spot for Kaeb is his three-dimensional view on his future. If baseball is no longer an option he won’t hang his head.
He will be ready to pursue his new plan in life, cybersecurity. His goal is to get involved at a large corporation.
“Cybersecurity stood out to me because I’ve always been interested in technology,” Stebbins said.
The position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in college for an entry level job.
If you stay true to the process of getting involved in cybersecurity you can reap great benefits, making six figures.
As just a high school kid Stebbins is actively ensuring himself a future in the cybersecurity field.
He spends the last two periods of his day as an intern in the IT department doing various tasks such as fixing Chromebooks and completing teachers’ IT help requests.
“He has done an excellent job as our intern,” Assistant Technology Director Noah Henry said. “All of us in the technology department agree that he has a bright future in tech.”
His future is looking bright, but what could he be leaving behind?
Stebbins is a standout wrestler and a baseball player who has many accomplishments that have defined his high school career.
He has been a part of teams that have won four sectional titles, two regional titles, two semi-state titles and an Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association 2A Team State Championship.
Individually, Kaeb has two podium finishes (7th and 4th) in the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals that he holds in the highest honor.
Kaeb’s attributes his wrestling success to his Central Indiana Academy of Wrestling coaches paired with the Delta wrestling coaching staff.
Stebbins came into high school wrestling in just the 126-pound weight class.
He not only physically grew nearly a foot and and put on 50 pounds throughout high school, he grew as an athlete.
He never even qualified for state until his junior year where he placed seventh.
“I think that jump can only be attributed to my hard work and the guiding hand of my coaches,” Stebbins said.
The wrestling mat wasn’t the only place he experienced growth.
In Kaeb’s junior season he became a whole different player on the baseball diamond.
“That change was big for him; he’s a guy who can challenge the fence for us now as well as being one of our big power threats in the lineup on the mound,” Wilburn said.
Kaeb is going into his senior season as a “crafty” and “technical” weapon in the eagle pitching arsenal, Wilburn said.
In his senior year he has a large weight on his shoulders.
He has two big things on his mind: completing some unfinished business from last season and making it all the way to state as well as granting himself an athletic path to college.
“All I want is for our guys to keep improving,” Coach Wilburn said. “I try to take all that individual pressure off of them.”
Whatever Stebbins’ future brings, it is likely to be bright.
