Chaska senior Michael Gillette became the second Stormhawks wrestler to reach the 200-win milestone, but his impact extends far beyond the mat.
When the referee raised Michael Gillette’s hand after his championship victory in the 172-pound division at the Takedown on 22 Tournament, the Chaska senior had just accomplished something only one other Chaska-Chanhassen Stormhawks wrestler had ever done: win his 200th career match.
But as the moment sank in, Gillette didn’t celebrate with teammates or pose for photos. He ran straight to his parents.
“They’ve supported me throughout my whole career, injuries and all,” Gillette said. “So when I accomplished this achievement, all I wanted to do was go hug them.”
It was a fitting first instinct for an athlete whose greatest strength might not be his technique or conditioning, but his understanding of what truly matters.
The 200th win capped a four-match run in Maple River. But the milestone almost didn’t happen at all. Just four matches into this season, Gillette’s shoulder completely dislocated during a match, and the trainer couldn’t get it back in. The diagnosis was devastating: a complete labral tear that would require at least three weeks away from the mat.
“That broke me,” Gillette admitted.
For most athletes, a major injury in their senior season would be cause for despair. For Gillette, it became a catalyst for gratitude. When he got cleared to return, he pushed himself harder than ever, even when he could barely raise his arm above his head.
“It taught me how lucky I am to be able to wrestle with my friends,” Gillette said. “When I look back on this season, I’m going to be proud of myself for not quitting when it got hard.”
That perspective — finding gratitude in adversity — comes from somewhere deep within.
“I believe that without my faith, I would be a sliver of who I am today,” Gillette said. “Being a Christian is more than a title for me. It’s how I want to present myself. I know that through everything, Jesus Christ is my cornerstone, someone I can lean on during the hard times where I feel alone. No matter the outcome of a match or a game, it means very little compared to the rest of my life I get to live through Him.”
Gillette has spent the past four years teaching a middle school youth group every Wednesday night, an experience he describes as one of the best parts of his life. As a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Chaska High School, he has helped grow the program to its largest size in over a decade, working alongside fellow captains Dane Krull and Josh Schmidt.
“Michael has become deeply involved in Chaska High’s FCA during his high school years,” said Chaska-Chanhassen Stormhawks Wrestling head coach Erik Rogness. “He consistently shares positive messages with our team and leads with character, humility and purpose — qualities that have strengthened both our culture and our program.”
One of Gillette’s favorite stories involves a moment of inspiration that became a powerful tradition. During his junior year in football, he asked the other linebackers if they’d like to pray with him before a game. They said yes, then asked their friends, and word spread. When the time came to gather, nearly the entire football team showed up.
“I have never been so nervous before,” Gillette said. “But I let the Lord talk through me and then it became routine. I would pray with the whole team before every game, all because of an accident my junior year that I’m so happy happened.”
Before every wrestling match, Gillette follows a simple ritual: thanking God for the blessing to compete and praying that both he and his opponent stay safe. It’s the kind of prayer that reveals character — asking for protection for the person trying to beat you.
A standout linebacker and captain for the Hawks football team, one of Gillette’s favorite memories came during his sophomore year against highly-ranked St. Thomas Academy. Playing next to his older brother Russell, Gillette made a crucial fourth-and-one tackle that sent the stadium into a frenzy. Chaska won in overtime, and the student section rushed the field.
“That was so fun — seeing all my friends and celebrating,” said Gillette.
“Michael is one of the toughest kids I have had the opportunity to coach,” said Jayme Sussner, Chaska’s linebackers coach. “He treats every challenge as an opportunity to push past his limits. Michael pairs competitiveness with accountability and empathy. He leads by example — working hard, staying composed under pressure, and setting high standards — while also lifting teammates up and putting the team’s success ahead of their own stats.”
That servant-leadership shows up in the details. Gillette regularly stays after practice to review techniques with junior varsity wrestlers. He works with the Stallions youth program, developing the next generation of Stormhawks. Since his sophomore year, he’s served as Rogness’s primary point of contact for team communication — the coach’s voice when the athletes’ voice needs to lead.
“Michael has been a staple of the Stormhawk Wrestling program for the past six years,” Rogness said. “He has treated the program like family — something that comes naturally to him, as wrestling has been a significant part of his family’s life.”
Athletics run deep in the Gillette family. Three of his four brothers wrestled, and three played football. Russell shared the mat with Michael for four of his six seasons in the Stormhawks program.
With 203 wins and counting, Gillette is now chasing the school record of 211 victories, held by 2016 graduate Brenden Olevson, himself a coach on the current Stormhawks staff. But Rogness remembers when the journey was just beginning — when an eighth-grade Gillette was the only Chaska-Chanhassen wrestler to qualify for that year’s State Tournament.
“He was elated and jumped into my arms as if he had just won the state title,” Rogness recalled. “I was incredibly happy for him, but I also knew that moment was only the beginning of what he was capable of accomplishing.”
Last season, Gillette became the first of his brothers to place at the State Tournament, finishing sixth. This year, he’s determined to climb higher on the podium.
Looking ahead, Gillette doesn’t know exactly what’s next — whether he’ll continue competing in college or what path his life will take. But he knows what won’t change.
“No matter what happens, I’m grateful for everything Chaska-Chanhassen wrestling and Chaska football has given me,” Gillette said. “Friendships that will last and memories I can’t forget. I will continue being a leader even if I don’t have the title of captain, and I will spread the word of God.”
For an athlete who just hit 200 wins, those might be the most important victories yet to come.
Michael Gillette and the Chaska-Chanhassen Stormhawks Wrestling team compete in the Section 2AAA Individual Tournament on Saturday at Farmington High School, starting at 10 a.m.
