Eastern Iowa High School Wrestler Ranked #1 in Nation

[UPDATED Sunday, January 13]

Unfortunately, Aden Reeves won't have the opportunity to win a third straight state wrestling title. He announced an injury has ended his high school career Sunday on his Facebook page.

A few weeks ago during a home dual, I suffered a serious knee injury that has brought me to make the difficult decision to end my season and have surgery.

I am so thankful for all the support I have received during my career at Albia and cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for everything this team and community has done for me!

Even though I am saddened that my high school career had to end this way, I am excited to see what the future brings and I know that God has a plan!!!

Forever Go Blue!!! #AGOD

[ORIGINAL STORY] He's already stood at the top of the podium in Des Moines twice in his high school career. Next month, he hopes to vie for a third state title and he's currently the top-ranked wrestler in the entire nation at 126 pounds. He's Aden Reeves (in blue and red above), a native of my hometown of Sigourney who straps on his headgear for the Albia Blue Demons wrestling team.

Reeves, who has wrestled his entire high school career for Albia, won Iowa state titles in both his sophomore season (52-1) at 113 pounds and junior year (50-0) at 120 pounds. He finished third at Wells Fargo Arena during his freshman season at 106 pounds. Reeves entered his senior season with a record of 142-3 and hopes to become the first Albia wrestler to ever win three state championships.

Albia coach Dave Wenger shared with the Ottumwa Courier that he knows Reeves' success isn't an accident:

Aden is one of the most goal-oriented individuals that I’ve ever met in my life. He writes things down, he visualizes success, but most importantly, he goes through the things that he has to do to get it all done. There’s no magic wand involved.

Aden's goals for the remainder of the 2018-19 wrestling season aren't just to win his third state title. He told KTVO, he wants to,

Separate myself. After last year, obviously I had a pretty good year, the goal this year is to have the most dominant season in Iowa high school history.

They don’t raise your hand because you’re ranked higher than the other kid. It’s coming in and making the investments everyday and still improving.

Reeves has signed a national letter of intent to stay in his home state and wrestle for the Iowa State Cyclones. He is one of two 2019-20 recruits for Iowa State that are currently ranked number one nationally. The other is Ryan Anderson of Bethlehem Catholic in Pennsylvania. He's the top-ranked wrestler at 145 pounds, according to InterMat.