Family and faith: the driving forces which make Extra Effort winner Sigmon a success
Posted May 13, 2021 10:56 p.m. EDT
Updated May 13, 2021 11:10 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — Grace Christian's Kaden Sigmon will play college baseball at Dickinson College, perhaps bound for medical school after that. Before he sets sail on a no-doubt successful voyage, we had a going-away present: the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award. Whenever he takes the diamond, great things tend to happen for the Eagles.
"One hundred percent confidence in that kid," said Grace Christian School baseball coach Williams Brewer. "Not just in his demeanor, his maturity, the way he will just handle pressure, and then he turns to his teammates because he knows they've got his back. He knows it's not just him, it's nine guys out there."
Teammates, more like brothers really, considering the team captain's been enrolled at Grace since kindergarten. The school's long-standing ultimate utility player: tutor, mentor, new pupil ambassador, school student chaplain for the past two years, and student council representative as far back as the third grade. Heck, he even took on a summer job as a facilities and maintenance assistant.
Not to mention, a four-year volunteer buddy for the Miracle League of the Triangle. Faith and family are his guiding lights.
"When you have faith in God and your family and they have your back, nothing can stop you," said Extra Effort Award winner Kaden Sigmon.
Even in those beyond trying times. Three years ago, Kaden's mother Kellie was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.
"He said, 'well what do I need to do?' and I said 'what you can do for me is you focus on your school, baseball, and enjoy your life because that's going to make me feel good to know that you're okay," said Kaden's mother, Kellie Sigmon.
"She's always been there for me, and I just did the little bit that I could to help her out," Kaden smiled.
"He almost asked me too many times, 'are you doing okay? Do you need something?'" Kellie laughed.
"She's the strongest person that I know," nodded Kaden.
Kaden held up his end on all fronts, a final four appearance for the boys of summer while finishing with a 4.47 GPA, good enough to be dubbed salutatorian of his graduating class.
"Exceptional," described Zane Smitley, Grace Christian School Anatomy and AP Biology teacher. "I know people use that word a lot and it's easy to call someone exception but he really is the complete kid."
For being a great ballplayer, but an even better student and son, we're proud to call Kaden Sigmon a winner, of the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award.
