It’s been quite a wrestling career for Oakville High School senior Talia Reed, though it’s nowhere close to being over as she has signed to continue her academic and athletic journey at Missouri Baptist University.

Reed said Missouri Baptist “just felt like home,” leading her to her decision to attend there in the fall. 

“I chose MBU because of the environment. The people that are on the team really made me feel like MBU can be my new home,” Reed said. “I talked to my mom and my coach about my decision, because their opinions matter to me. I just wanted to see what they thought about me picking MBU, but in the end, it was my decision because I’m the one that has to go there for the next 4 years.”

Though not yet finished with her high school career, Reed has already left a mark on Oakville’s wrestling program. She will depart as a 3-year varsity captain, a 3-time second-team all-conference member and a one-time first-team all-conference member. Her name will additionally forever grace Oakville’s record books as she is the first female in school history to win 30 matches, as well as a district title. 

“(This season) I was the number two seed in my bracket and the top 25 in Missouri,” Reed said. “Just recently, I not only qualified for state, but I won districts, which was a really big accomplishment for me. I beat a lot of high-ranked people, which I’m very proud of. I’m just very grateful to have had such an amazing senior season. I’ve been working for these things since freshman year.”

Reed’s dedication to her wrestling has clearly paid off as she is a vastly different athlete from her freshman year self.

“Thinking back to my freshman season and comparing it to now, I’ve gotten a lot better,” Reed said. “These past years, I worked really hard and got better not only as a wrestler, but as a person also. I went from going 0-2 at tournaments, to qualifying for state, becoming the first district champ(ion) at my school and going to college to continue my career with this only being my fourth year ever doing wrestling.”

This work ethic will serve Reed well as she begins her transition to the next level of athletics.

“Building my craft and competing at a higher level will be a fun challenge that I’m ready for,” Reed said. “I’m preparing by doing things like off-season wrestling stuff. Like for instance for women’s college wrestling it’s only freestyle, so last year I started preparing for that by joining a club team, which also helped with my high school season (folkstyle). This summer I will be competing on two different club teams to make sure I’m always working on my skills and perfecting my craft.”

Though excited for college, endings can be bittersweet. Reed said she will miss competing for OHS next year and hopes to find the same bond with her next coach that she has had with Oakville’s head coach Devonte Shivers. 

“I think what I will miss most about competing at Oakville is how comfortable I became with my current coach and how we had a special bond that I will be looking for in college,” Reed said. “I think I just got so used to him and now he won’t be in my corner coaching me anymore.”

“He’s been someone I can depend on for the last four years on and off the mat,” she added. “He’s helped me become not only a better wrestler, but a better person in ways he doesn’t know. I know he will always be someone I will have in my corner supporting and rooting for me, and that’s a good feeling to have, knowing I have a person I can lean on for the good and the bad.”

As for what the future holds for Reed academic-wise, she is currently looking at majoring in criminal law, with the hopes of becoming a criminal lawyer.