Warren’s Aaron Stewart Commits to Illinois for Football and Wrestling

In the city of Warren, Illinois, junior athlete Aaron Stewart has made headlines by committing to play both football and wrestling at the collegiate level. Having started playing football and wrestling since kindergarten, Stewart’s passion for sports has only grown stronger over the years.

Stewart, who stands at 5-7 and weighs 175 pounds, is widely considered one of the state’s premier multi-sport athletes. He excels in running, wrestling, and has even shined as a sprinter in track. A standout in wrestling, he holds the title of a four-time Fargo national champion at the youth level and has an impressive record of 86-4 during his first two high school seasons. Last year, he made waves by winning the Class 3A championship at 157 pounds. Currently, he is ranked No. 13 nationally in Flowrestling at 175 pounds.

Although known more for his wrestling, Stewart’s football career has also seen significant success. In the 2023 season, he carried the ball 239 times for a remarkable 1,683 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading his team to an impressive 9-3 record and a spot in the Class 8A quarterfinals. This past season saw him increase his workload, with 343 carries yielding 2,465 yards and 34 touchdowns, helping the Blue Devils reach the 8A quarterfinals again.

“This year I just started coming up for football,” Stewart explained. He emphasized that while wrestling was his initial priority, continued success on the football field made him reconsider pursuing both sports in college.

Stewart chose the University of Illinois because he feels a strong connection to the school. “To me, it always seems like home,” he said, mentioning that both of his parents attended the university and his sister is currently enrolled there as well. Both the football and wrestling programs at Illinois have received recognition for their quality, with the football team finishing 16th in the Associated Press poll and the wrestling team ranked 16th in Flowrestling.

Growing up around sports, Stewart’s father, Ryan, who is now an assistant coach at Warren, initially introduced him to football. A teammate encouraged him to try wrestling, starting a journey that has shaped his identity as an athlete. Now accustomed to the demands of balancing practice in both sports, Stewart shared, “At this point, it would be weird not to do both.” It seems clear that Aaron Stewart is well on his path to a fruitful college career while continuing to embrace his dual-sport journey.