January became a turning point for State Champion Gage Reed

BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Gage Reed truly earned a first for the Oakwood/Salt Fork program.

Until Saturday, the Comets had a total of 12 individual state placers in wrestling, but no Oakwood athlete had ever earned more than one medal.

Reed became the first while also becoming a state champion.

The junior dominated his final two matches – not allowing a point in either– and took top honors in Class 1A at 113 pounds with a 3-0 championship-match decision over Tolono Unity’s Tavius Hosley at the UI State Farm Center.

Reed placed fifth in the same weight class as a sophomore, losing a one-point decision in the semifinals.

He ends his junior season with a 43-3 record.

Head coach Mike Glosser pinpointed one key difference in his standout.

“He really turned the corner on his mindset,” Glosser said. “This year, he believed he was one of the best wrestlers in the state.”

His game plan was similar for virtually all opponents.

“Non-stop offense,” Reed said. “Stay aggressive on offense.

“Offense. Offense. Offense.”

Wrestling is a sport that requires discipline, commitment and patience.

As great as the season ended – and perhaps the reason the season ended so well – a mid-season meet provided a critical learning opportunity for Reed.

The date was Jan. 7, and it was the first meet of the new calendar year. The Comets went to Unity and also faced Mount Zion that night.

Reed wasn’t in the lineup. He didn’t make weight.

Even though Oakwood/Salt Fork was forfeiting the next weight class (120 pounds), coach Mike Glosser had no inclination of allowing Reed to bump up and fill that spot in the lineup.

“He has to know it’s unacceptable (to not make weight),” Glosser said. “Wrestling is a sport of discipline and character.”

It was a tough night for Reed as he sat on the sidelines.

“Sitting out, watching my team get beat, was one of the hardest feelings,” Reed said.

It may have also been the best thing for him.

“I knew, ‘OK, it’s time to get my act together.’” Reed said. “There were times I was undisciplined (eating). I’m glad Coach reacted the way he did.

“If I didn’t have that, it could have haunted me in regionals or sectionals.”

From then on, Reed was unstoppable while reaching the highest pinnacle possible.

“He got on a mission, a little bit,” Glosser said. “He was more fanatical with his nutrition and his weight was great.

“It was a good lesson for him and he grew up from it.”

By keeping his weight under control, Reed didn’t need to expend energy before weigh-ins to drop a few extra ounces.

It showed.

“He had lots of energy in his matches,” Glosser said.

The only time Reed didn’t know what to do on the mat came when the final buzzer sounded in his 113-pound state championship match.

“I had so many emotions,” Reed said. “It was the greatest feeling.

“I didn’t know whether to jump up and down, scream or put my hands in the air.”

Showing restraint, Reed did none of the above.

“I try to stay as humble as I can,” Reed said. “I hate it when people celebrate against me. I did not do any of those things.”

Once he left the mat, however, Reed let loose.

“I don’t think I’ve ever jumped so high,” he said, recalling his leap into Glosser’s outstretched arms.

Twenty-four hours after achieving a state title, the celebration had barely slowed down.

“It’s still non-stop happiness,” he said. “Me and my family have been celebrating like there’s no tomorrow.”

Reed was treated to a homecoming parade on Sunday in Oakwood.

“I didn’t think so many people would show up,” Reed said. “That was awesome. I never expected to get something like that.”

Even the coach – who tries to be calm and maintain an even demeanor – got caught up in the moment.

“It was a pretty cool experience,” Glosser said. “A lot of people showed up for him. The town lined the streets.”

It’s a good thing Reed doesn’t need to weigh in today. His celebration involved stops at a couple of restaurants.

“I had a good breakfast (on Sunday) at Hank’s Café,” Reed said. “I haven’t been to Hank’s since wrestling started.”

His plate included an omelet with gravy and hash browns.

For lunch, he joined family and friends at another local favorite, the Little Nugget.

“I had a 12-ounce steak and fries,” Reed said. “I’m going to have to go and run tomorrow.”

Reed came through a tough bracket at state. Among his wins during the three-day tournament were over athletes who placed fourth and fifth.

The state crown is the second for an Oakwood wrestler. The first title was captured by Charles Lomax in 1974 at 119 pounds.

This year marked the third time in the last five years under Glosser that the Comets have had an individual in the championship bout. In that five-year span, the program has produced six state medal-winners.

The other Comets who recently reached the Grand March and then competed for a state title – Cody Ayers and Mason Ajster – paved the way for what happened early Saturday evening with Reed’s breakthrough in the finals, Glosser said.

“It got kids to believe anybody can do this no matter where you’re from,” Glosser said.

The ripple effect from Reed’s championship weekend came quickly for Glosser.

“It kick-starts it,” Glosser said. “I’ve had kids texting me already wanting to know when the next practice is. They’re saying, ‘I want greatness like Gage.’

“I hope this is a turning point, not just for Gage, but the kids around him. They’re talking about taking it seriously all 12 months and not just for four or five.

“They are hungry for more. I can see the look in their eyes.”

For the second year in a row, the Oakwood/Salt Fork cooperative program had two state-placers.

Freshman Reef Pacot (42-7 season record) ended sixth at 106 pounds. He was decisioned 4-3 by Riverdale’s Collin Altensey in the medal round.

Pacot lost by a point in overtime in Friday’s semifinal round and then dropped a 6-3 decision in Saturday’s first match.

The program’s third state-qualifier – 132-pound Joe Lashuay – also won a match at state, but fell short of earning a medal.

Lashuay’s win was 8-4 over Nazareth’s Josh Fowler. He was ousted in the wrestlebacks by Sandwich’s Braulio Flores, 4-3. For the season, Lashuay was 28-8.

From Glosser’s perspective, he will remember more about Reed’s season than where he stood on the podium for the awards’ presentation.

“He never stopped having fun,” Glosser said.