FIRST-PERIOD PIN STREAK OVER, BUT PIQUA JUNIOR KEEPS WINNING
It’s not always easy to notice, but Piqua High School junior Lance Reaves-Hicks sometimes battles more than his competition on the wrestling mat.
“I just want to win. A lot of times in my matches I’m fighting with myself trying to be more aggressive. Usually I’m able to find it,” the Indians heavyweight said.
Reaves-Hicks improved to 28-2 with 25 pins following another tournament title run, this time at the Benjamin Logan Raiders Invitational last weekend. ReavesHicks pinned all four of his opponents, including the first two in the first period. That extended his streak of first-period pins to 19. That streak ended, though, in the semifinals with a pin over Alter junior Matthew See in 2:57.
Reaves-Hicks just missed that first-period pin, too. After a restart with 17 seconds left, Reaves-Hicks got See on his back with 10 seconds left but ran out of time. Reaves-Hicks pinned Centerburg junior Ross Boyd in 2:59 for the title.
“I’m not trying to boast, but I’m not really surprised (at the fast pins),” ReavesHicks said. “I’ve worked pretty hard. During football season I transformed into a better player. This just transferred over to wrestling.”
In football, Reaves-Hicks had 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position last season. He qualified for the Division I district wrestling tournament last season, but he wants his college future to be in football.
There’s one sport, though, he doesn’t plan on pursuing. His father – who is just as intense watching his son’s matches as Reaves-Hicks is at winning them — has done some MMA fighting.
“I don’t really like to fight. I prefer football,” he said. “This is my second love, I guess . ... I really didn’t like wrestling at first. My dad made me. It’s physical and it makes me tougher for football. It’s just made me better as an athlete and a person overall.”
One of Reaves-Hicks’ losses came to defending D-I state champion Jacob Padilla of Wayne in his first match of the season.
■ Trotwood-Madison senior Jorden Zigo improved to 27-4 with 22 pins following his 120-pound title at the Benjamin Logan Raider Invitational on Feb. 1. Zigo pinned his first three opponents in 5:26, 1:19 and 28 seconds. He pinned Clinton-Massie sophomore Ethan Johnson in 1:36 in the final.
■ Xenia senior Desmond Diggs claimed the 132-pound title at the Milford Invitational on Feb. 1. He won his pool matches with a pin and two major decisions, then beat Monroe senior Joseph Rivera 8-3 in the semis and Lakota East junior Max Boaz 8-7 for the title.
■ The OHSAA Dual Team regional tournament will be held Saturday. Each division has eight regional sites with the champion from each advancing to the state meet Feb. 16 at St. John Arena. Among the highlights:
Beavercreek, seeded No. 3, hosts the Region 7 bracket that also includes top-seeded Springboro and No. 2 Centerville. No. 4 Lebanon and No. 5 Northmont are also among the top contenders.
In D-II at Hamilton Ross, Chaminade Julienne enters Region 15 as the top seed. Among other area teams, Valley View is No. 5.
Defending D-II state champion Graham hosts Region 16 as the top seed. No other area team is ranked among the top 10 teams.
The D-III, Region 23 bracket at Brookville has Covington the favorite at No. 1. Xenia Legacy Christian is No. 2, host Brookville is No. 3, Troy Christian is No. 4 and Miami East is No. 5.
In D-III at Coldwater, topseeded Versailles leads the Region 24 field.