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Magnolia’s Riley Nice Reflects On 100th Career Victory

Reached milestone at Wheeling Park Duals

Photo by Cody Tomer Magnolia’s Riley Nice, right, wrestles Licking Valley’s Gunnar Carpenter during the 126 weight class during the Frank Ferguson Brooke Classic.

NEW MARTINSVILLE — Reaching the century mark in the win category is an outstanding accomplishment no matter the sport, but for Magnolia’s Riley Nice, it means much more as a wrestler.

Nice, a senior grappler for Eric McKeever’s Blue Eagles reached the amazing milestone at last month’s Wheeling Park Duals and it has finally sank it.

“Earning my 100th career win is a great feeling,” Nice said. “I have been wrestling for a pretty long time now and my goal coming into that day was just to win. I always try to win as many matches as I can.

“For me, wrestling is the hardest sport to take a loss in. It just hits the heart more than anything else I think.”

Nice, who is the leader of a very young Magnolia wrestling squad, is also a key member of the Blue Eagles soccer and track teams, but with such a young group, his presence on that mat is crucial to the success of his team.

“Riley supplies a lot of leadership,” McKeever said. “The kids look up to him and they follow his lead. He is a quiet leader but when he does say something, they listen up. He is motivational and receives a lot of respect, not just from his team, but by his opponents as well because of the way he carries himself. He is a dangerous wrestler.”

It has not been the ideal season for McKeever and the Eagles, who have lost members of the teams to injury, relocation and just not signing up, so they are a very young team.

“We have had a lot of mishaps this year,” McKeever said. “That happens though. We are a young team and Riley and Caleb Nice, no relation, are the home-run hitters for our squad.”

Caleb Nice is another strong grappler for Magnolia who garnered runner-up honors in the Frank Ferguson Brooke Classic.

With Riley Nice being a leader on a young team, he has to work extra hard to not only prepare himself but to set an example for others. In fact, he can even be found putting in the extra work on his day off.

“On a day off I always try to work, run and do some strength training,” Nice said. “During practice we do a lot of drills and conditioning.”

The hard work put in by the senior leader has not gone un-noticed.

“He is one of the hardest workers on the mat,” McKeever said. “He is fun to watch and every match he is in is an exciting one.”

Anybody who wants to be successful in sports or in life in general must be willing to put in the time and effort. Also, surrounding themselves with positive influences is another key factor that can help somebody reach their goals and it is no different for Riley Nice.

“My dad has helped me a lot through everything in wrestling and in high school,” Nice said. “My middle school coach, Doc Holliday, along with my high school coaches have also been big supporters and mentors for me.”

Accumulating 100 career wins is a remarkable achievement at the high school level and he has already made an important impact on the younger guys on the team, but what does the future have in store for the senior standout?

“I would like to either attend West Virginia University and not wrestle or West Liberty with the possibility of walking on the wrestling team,” Nice said. “I would also like to be around some of the young guys here at Magnolia next year to help them out.”

No matter what Nice decides to do next year, he has already made in impact on Magnolia Wrestling and will continue to make an impact wherever he goes.

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