Reigning 5A state wrestling champion Cooper Reves began his wrestling career at a young age, but never planned on becoming a competitive wrestler.

“I started playing football when I was 6,” Reves said. “My dad heard that wrestling makes you a better football player, so I started wrestling and it all went up from there.”

In addition to being a state champion, Reves has traveled to four different countries across Europe for wrestling. Throughout these successes, his mindset remains the same.

“I still have the same goals,” Reves said. “I have to do it again.”

At the start of his sophomore year, Reves transferred from McPherson to Central for better opportunities.

“(Central) was an improved environment from where I was and just overall, helped me to reach my goals,” Reves said. 

Although Reves was successful prior to his transfer to Central, he credits much of his state victory to the Central wrestling program.

“The coaching for one helped me a lot,” Reves said. “Being around better people that wanted to see me succeed also helped.”

Although his primary sport is wrestling, Reves is a standout running back on the football team. This season, Reves was named second team all-league in AVCTL Division ll.

Reves said that football and wrestling assistant coach, Richard Brake, has been the coach to most help him succeed.

“He is always very helpful,” Reves said. “Just uplifting and always has my back.” 

Brake said that Reves always strives to be his best. 

“His mindset is right,” Brake said. “He is as mentally tough as he is physically tough.”

As a coach, Brake tries to push Reves to not only be a better athlete, but also a better person.

“We try to help as much as we can to improve as an individual too,” Brake said, ”and Cooper, he may be ahead of me on that.”

One of Reves’s goals is to be a great teammate.

“You could be on the sub varsity and really struggling, and he’ll take time to talk to you and see what he can do to help you out,” Brake said. “No matter what sport that is, whether it be football or wrestling.”

Sophomore Griffin Hall, both football and wrestling teammate, said that Reves values the team’s success, and not just his own.

“Cooper is always supporting whoever is up to wrestle,” Hall said. “It does not matter if he is up next. He is always cheering you on and trying to make you do your best all the time.”

Not only does Reves uplift his team on the mat, but off of the mat as well.

“Cooper is a really good friend,” Hall said.“He is always really nice to me and helps me be a good person.”

Hall said that watching Reves win the 5A state tournament (175-pound division) was exciting.

“I have never actually seen anybody win high school state before,” Hall said. “It was really exciting for him and for our team.”

Watching Reves win state is what Brake said is the type of moment that makes him want to keep going as a coach.

“Championships are few and far between,” Brake said. “Individual state championships, we have had a couple, but watching it come to someone who has earned it as much as he has was just very gratifying.”

Despite being a dominant wrestler, Hall said that Reves is constantly pushing himself to get better.

“Cooper is always working hard in the wrestling room,” Hall said, “Always going hard whenever the coaches ask us to.”

Reves said he is able to relax more when playing football than he is able to on the wrestling mat.

“Wrestling, I have high expectations,” Reves said. “Football is where I have more fun and I can chill from wrestling.” 

In addition to Reves hard work and dedication, Brake said that Reves is able to recover from setbacks and handles those situations well.

“He is built for that,” Brake said. “He is built to get past that.”

Reves said that wrestling has taught him lessons on the mat, other sports, and life.

“You have to be determined, you have to work hard,” Reves said. “Wrestling teaches you good values for any sport, really.”