By Bob Bakken
MaxPreps.com
Former state champion wrestler Ryan Kocer of Wagner was honored with the ESPY Award for Top Male Athlete with a Disability last Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The awards show aired Sunday night on ESPN and was hosted by Justin Timberlake.
Ryan took fourth place in the state Class B meet last spring, despite having lost a leg above the knee in an accident on his farm last August. Kocer wrestled his first match since the accident last January and qualified the next month for the state tournament at 152 pounds.
Before the accident, Kocer had won three state high school championships for Wagner and was a favorite for his fourth straight crown, until he was injured in the farm accident.
Other nominees for the award won by the Wagner wrestler were Matt Scott (basketball), Phil Scholz (swimming) and Marthell Vazquez (soccer).
SDHSAA Releases Start Dates
The South Dakota High School Activities Association has released the dates for the first practices and first competitions of its fall sports schedule.
Golf and girls tennis teams will be able to start practice on Aug. 11. Volleyball, cross country and football squads can begin workouts on Aug. 18.
The first meets for boys and girls golf teams can take place on Aug. 16. Girls tennis teams can begin competition on Aug. 23 and the first competitive events for volleyball, cross country and football can be held less than a week later on Aug. 29.
Football: Iowa Recruit from Parkston Arrested
A Parkston native who was recruited by the University of Iowa football program was arrested on public intoxication charges. Riley Reiff was also charged with interference with official acts in an incident that occurred in Iowa City, Iowa, late this week.
According to the Des Moines Register newspaper, Reiff was arrested after leading over a half-dozen police officers on a foot chase that lasted about 20 minutes. He was observed being disoriented and had some of his clothes off when approached in an alley. A police report said his speech was slurred, eyes bloodshot and balance unsteady. Reiff then ran and was later caught. He refused a blood alcohol test when apprehended.
In an e-mail to the Register, athletic director Gary Barta was quoted as saying, “Kirk and his staff have worked extremely hard throughout the summer setting a tone and laying out expectations. I don’t yet have the details on the situation, but Riley and the other young freshmen coming into our program have to understand the responsibility that comes with being a Hawkeye.”
Reiff is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end who was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year last season. He is a two-time South Dakota Elite 45 choice and was also a two-time All-State selection at tight end. A team captain at Parkston, Reiff made 261 tackles, 23 sacks and picked off eight interceptions in his high school career.
Also an accomplished wrestler, Reiff was a three-time state champion with a career record of 121-1.