Live Oak
wrestler sets sights on state’s wins record
Robin Fambrough
rfambrough@theadvocate.com
WATSON — Cody Hill has no shortage of wins or high
school wrestling credentials.
The Live Oak senior is 50-3 this season, is a two-time Division II
state champion and has 216 career victories.
This weekend’s Louisiana Classic offers another opportunity for Hill
to showcase his skills. For Hill, it’s as much about the drive as it is
the skills or the thrills that go with winning.
“It’s a big deal for me,” Hill said. “This is my last year and my
last chance to accomplish the big goals I’ve had for high school. One is
to break the state record for wins and the other, bigger goal is to help
us win state as a team.
“So I’ve got to keep working to push myself to get better and to push
my team. It’s a big year for all of us.”
Hill’s high school career coincides with Live Oak’s move into
wrestling prominence. Division I Catholic High and Division III Brusly
are recognized as state powers. Live Oak, now in its seventh wrestling
season, placed third in Division II a year ago as teammates Jacob
Chenevert and Seth Bosarge also won individual state titles.
Like Hill, the Eagles want more of everything and view the Louisiana
Classic as a regular-season staple. The 50-team, two-day tournament
begins at 3 p.m. Friday at Exerfit and brings top competitors in all
divisions from across the state, along with some out-of-state teams.
“(The Louisiana Classic) is definitely the biggest and best tournament in
Louisiana,” Hill said. “It pretty much says who the state champions are when you
match up the teams from all the divisions. You’re not going to win a state title
this week.
“What it does is give you confidence for when you go to the state meet.”
Hill won the 120-pound weight class at the Louisiana
Classic two years ago. A different kind of staple was an issue. Hill was on
track to win at 126 pounds last year, but suffered a cut in the top of his head
in the semifinals. The wound required six staples to close, which ended his
weekend.
So far, Hill has wrestled in the 126- and 132-pound weight classes this
season. The move between weight classes helps wrestlers garner better matchups
and team scoring, so the weight-class choice is crucial this weekend.
Two of Hill’s losses this season were to Paul Klein of pre-meet favorite
Brother Martin, a Division I power. The other was to Airline’s Christian Walden.
Based on weight placement, he may not encounter either competitor this weekend.
Each win will pull Hill closer to Louisiana’s career wins record of 230 set
by Evangel Christian’s Matt Kimmel over six seasons. Hill is trying to set the
mark in four seasons. The single-season mark of 73 wins set by St. Paul’s Connor
Campo is also a possibility with just more than a month still left in the
season, Collier said.
Given his list of accolades, it’s perhaps no surprise that Hill wants to
wrestle in college. That feat is typically not easy since most colleges that
offer wrestling are located in other parts of the country and seldom offer full
scholarships.
Former St. Michael the Archangel standout Ben Willeford of Cleveland State is
a current success story. Willeford completed in the NCAA tourney last spring.
“Just wrestling all the time and not taking a break has helped me get
better,” Hill said. “I wrestle all summer and go to national tournaments in
other states. My goal is to place or win a (national) tournament in Fargo, N.D.,
or Virginia Beach.”
Those national tourneys have piqued the interest of colleges, including Duke,
Ohio University, Arizona State. Northern Illinois, Pitt, Buffalo and The
Citadel. The fact that Hill carries a 3.5 grade point average, has a 29 on the
ACT and plans a pre-med college major doesn’t hurt either.
“I think he has what it takes to go away to school and be successful,”
Collier said.
“But the best thing about him is what he brings to the team. He’s a great
practice partner and a vocal leader. Competitive-wise, he never stops.”
