Mark Stewart

Mark Stewart graduated from Kokomo High School as one of its most prolific wrestlers and standout football players.

A late bloomer to wrestling, Stewart did not hit the mats until his freshman year as a way to help augment his football skills. With steady improvement over his first two seasons, he entered his junior season with high expectations before finishing as the 1972 IHSAA state champion in the 167-pound weight class.

One year later, Stewart rolled through the regular season with only one defeat as a 177-pound wrestler. In the 1973 IHSAA state finals, he avenged that lone loss in the state championship match and became the third Wildkat grappler with back-to-back state titles. He also helped lead Kokomo to two consecutive fourth-place finishes in the IHSAA state team standings.

Stewart also excelled on the football field. He was a unanimous all-NCC performer his junior season after rushing for more than 1,000 yards and leading the conference with 74 points scored. An injury sidelined Stewart for most of his senior season.

Stewart continued his career at Purdue University, where he lettered in the wrestling program. His efforts on the mat earned Stewart a spot in the Indiana State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1989.