Kai Goodrick prefers to ‘slow it down’ on the mat. A gymnast, too, the Naperville North senior looks to stay in control.

Kai Goodrick goes against the grain.

For one thing, the Naperville North senior doesn’t push the pace on the mat.

“I am very unorthodox in that I like to wrestle slower than most people do,” he said. “I am not out there jumping around wasting energy. I like to slow it down to my pace in order to control the match.”

That strategy has worked for Goodrick (18-6), who wrestles at 160 pounds.

“Wrestling at my pace is the most important, but I think I am also very smart,” he said. “I don’t push or do stupid things out there. I always keep the score in my head, and I am always focused on winning the six minutes of the match.”

But Goodrick has always operated outside of the box. His other sport is gymnastics, and he’s a captain for Naperville North’s boys team.

“The two sports complement each other very well since both require a strong amount of upper body strength,” Naperville North boys gymnastics coach Christian Stanicek said. “By the time he gets to gymnastics in the spring, his body strength is very advanced.”

Naperville North boys wrestling coach Tom Champion recalls his first impression of Goodrick, who was a 5-foot-2, 118-pound freshman but was wiry and intense.

“He has always been deceptively strong, and I was very confident from observing him in those first few practices that he would become a significant part of the varsity program,” Champion said.

Goodrick has grown 10 inches and moved up a few weight classes since then.

“I really like making the transition to 160,” he said. “At the lower weights, everything is faster-paced, and that was not something that suited me as well. At 160, the guys are slower, and I can work with that much better. I bring it down to my pace and make people wrestle where I want.”

As he has gained length and mass, Goodrick has refined his methods and technique, and he has found a way to bridge his two sports.

“One of the best parts from gymnastics is hand strength and learning how to grip because the most important physical aspect of wrestling is being able to hold on tight,” he said.

Goodrick is versatile on the mat. He can work out of the neutral position on his feet or toggle between the top and bottom.

“Kai has always been a wrestler who was dangerous from every position,” Champion said. “Basically one is never safe from a pin in wrestling him.”

Regardless of the sport, Goodrick wants to excel.

“Kai does not undertake challenges merely for decoration,” Stanicek said. “He always makes sure his participation reflects his very high standards.”

Success has begotten more success for Goodrick.

“My confidence has definitely increased through the two,” he said. “Getting your hand raised at the end is the best part.

“I am focused on wresting my best. I go into every situation knowing that as long as I try my best, I am going to be all right.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.