The Day's 2015 All-Area Wrestler of the Year: Norwich Free Academy's Khaleed Exum-Strong

April 23, 2015 12:00 am • Last Updated: April 23, 2015 9:49 pm

By By VICKIE FULKERSON

Khaleed Exum-Strong made his name in football in the fall, leading Norwich Free Academy to a Class LL state championship berth. In the winter, he won the ECC, Class LL and State Open wrestling titles at 220 pounds, being named The Day's 2015 All-Area Wrestler of the Year. (Tim Cook/The Day)
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Khaleed Exum-Strong will be remembered at Norwich Free Academy for a substantial list of things.

For 2,146 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns his senior football season, leading the Wildcats to the Class LL state championship appearance for the second time in his career.

For being Homecoming King.

For his genuinely personable demeanor, his toughness, his Mohawk.

He just never thought wrestling was going to be one of them.

“I wasn’t going to wrestle,” said Exum-Strong of his senior year, planning to take the winter off after a memorable football season. “I always had wrestling as one of the fun sports. … The first day of practice (first-year coach Kirk Jenkins) told me I was going to be a champion. I didn’t believe it.

“… I can’t believe it. It’s been a great year. I’m very proud of this year. It’s one of the greatest. I’m glad it’s my senior year.”

Exum-Strong became a high school wrestling champion, surpassing his Eastern Connecticut Conference brethren by becoming the league’s only State Open title-winner, claiming the 220-pound division. He won the ECC championship, the Class LL crown and then, on a day where perhaps you had to see it to believe it, Exum-Strong beat top-seeded Ogadinma Ikani of Hall in an excruciating, exhilarating State Open semifinal en route to the title. Ikani was 6-foot-4.

Exum-Strong has been named The Day’s 2015 All-Area Wrestler of the Year.

“Yeah, I did,” Exum-Strong, who was 5-10, 198 pounds (constantly outweighed in the 220-pound class all year, just like football season), asked if he thought he had one more takedown in him against Ikani.

“I knew if I never gave up … I gave it all I got and I did it with eight seconds left (in overtime). I knew if it went to (an ultimate tiebreaker, where one wrestler has to try to hold down another wrestler for the full 30-second period to score a win), I didn’t think I could do it. He was a tree.”

Exum-Strong, bleeding at the time, looked over to Jenkins, who was enacting a series of wrestling moves in the corner, giving Exum-Strong his cues.

Exum-Strong won 6-4, rested, ate and came back to top Ledyard’s Daric Johnson 5-2 in the final.

Jenkins called Exum-Strong, who is looking to attend prep school next year and play football, one of the strongest wrestlers he’s ever coached, along with former St. Bernard star Lucas Bowman.

“Lucas and him are the two strongest; you’ve got man strength and you’re not even men yet,” Jenkins said. “He’s one strong guy. I wrestle him and I have to jump the whistle. I get to cheat. I always come in the next day with a limp or a (sore) shoulder.

“Khaleed was just a guy I knew he had it in him. Once he won his first tournament, he caught fever. He went home with a piece of cardboard (commemorating the bracket for his weight class) and a big, cheesy, $10 smile on his face. He’s a humble kid. It’s hard to find that.”

Rhonda Exum, Khaleed’s mom, calls him driven.

“When he gets his mind on something, he gets it done,” she said.

Exum-Strong attributes that trait to his parents.

“My mom is a very driven person. I learned a lot from her,” he said.

Exum-Strong also has a special fondness for his father, DeJohn Strong, who died when Khaleed was just 1. DeJohn Strong is kept very much alive in spirit by his wife and three children. Khaleed even has a special shirt with Strong’s photo that he wears underneath his shirt and tie at special events.

“I wish he could watch him play football, watch him wrestling,” Rhonda Exum said of her late husband. “We talk about him. We keep his spirit alive.

“… For me, not that I didn’t feel (Khaleed) was capable, but he surpassed all of our expectations.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Twitter: @vickieattheday

NFA's Khaleed Exum-Strong, celebrating his victory over Windham's Seiji Arzuaga in the 220-pound championship match at the ECC tournament, went on to win the Class LL and State Open titles as well. In addition to rushing for 2,000 yards during the football season, Exum-Strong's wrestling achievements made for a memorable senior year. (Tim Cook/The Day)
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The Day's 2015 All-Area Wrestling Team

Player of the Year — Khaleed Exum-Strong (NFA)

106 pounds — Noah Caskey (Montville)

106 — Jarod Kosman (Fitch)

113 — Matt Dowler (St. Bernard)

113 — Matt Foster (NFA)

120 — Joel Morth (Montville)

126 — Alejandro Paulino (New London)

132 — Tommy Wynosky (Montville)

138 — Sam Lindblom (Waterford)

145 — Austin Concascia (Montville)

160 — Billy Goff (Fitch)