Oakwood/Salt Fork wrestler Reef Pacot places in IHSA state championships
FITHIAN, Ill. — In his fourth visit to the state championships, Reef Pacot of the Oakwood/Salt Fork High Wrestling team placed 2nd in Class A, his highest finish ever, having placed all four years. The Oakwood/Salt Fork team later finished in 4th place at the state meet, a school best.
His Freshman year, Reef went 42-7, finishing 6th in the IHSA state championships, the first ever to do so as a Freshman from OSF. Coach John Glosser reflected on Reef鈥檚 high school career: 鈥淗e started setting records his Freshman year, and he finished his career setting records.鈥�
Indeed he did, finishing his Senior year with a record of 51-3, and his career with a record of 162-19, both all-time school records.
Reef鈥檚 Sophomore season was a year almost cut short by COVID. Although IHSA cancelled the rest of the season, the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA), a powerhouse in the wrestling community, came forward and ran the state tournament in much the way the IHSA would. Reef finished that season 27-3, standing on the 4th place spot on the podium.
Going 42-6 his Junior year, Reef stood on the 5th step.
Reef鈥檚 successes are not just found on the podium.
Team captain his Senior year, he was a leader in many ways. He would be found in the weight room every day, and other wrestlers certainly followed his leadership. Freshman wrestlers took to calling him their 鈥淲restling Dad鈥�. Coach Glosser went on to say with someone like Reef as captain, 鈥淚t all falls into place.鈥�
鈥淗e is a kid of high character, earns A/B grades, and comes from a great family. Whether he wins or loses, he is all smiles.鈥�
Reef is undecided about his plans for the future, intentionally waiting until his season was over to really think about it. Although several Division I and Division II schools have reached out to Reef, he is considering bypassing college altogether to become a commercial scuba diver.
One thing Reef was not uncertain about was his final day as a wrestler. A great tradition of the state championships is the Grand March of Champions, where the final two athletes in each weight walk around the floor with one person of their choosing.
Reef chose 鈥淯ncle鈥� Vince Chambliss, an older cousin with whom he began his wrestling experience at the age of 5. This season, Vince joined the OSF wrestling coaching staff. It was one of the 鈥渃oolest things鈥� to see, Coach Glosser observed, and then said, 鈥淲hen you do the right things, good things happen.鈥�
Choosing to do right thing is one thing Reef doesn鈥檛 wrestle with.
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