Transfer student leads Demons into county wrestling duals

The Macon Telegraph

February 01, 2008

The news of his transfer spread quickly, if not altogether accurately.

Rumor had it that Kevin Ciciora hailed from Wisconsin, from the state capital of Madison. Others thought the Warner Robins senior had moved here from Pennsylvania. One fact was less debatable for those who watched him compete: The dude could flat-out wrestle.

Spreading 140 pounds along his lean, six-foot frame, Ciciora is tall and light - a wrestling anomaly. He said every guy he wrestles comments about his height. Most struggle to deal with it.

Ciciora has yet to lose a dual match this season. He won the Santa Slam at South Forsyth and placed fourth at the prestigious Sequoyah Invitational.

'I've got a little more leverage, but they have a little more to grab,' Ciciora said Wednesday, which was his 18th birthday. 'Longer arms do give you better shots.'

The ability to strike from long range makes Ciciora especially dangerous in the neutral position. But he said he is just as comfortable wrestling up or down on restarts.

'If they choose top, I'll just do my best to escape and get back on my feet,' he said.

Today, Ciciora leads his Warner Robins High teammates into the county duals beginning at 9 a.m. at Houston County High School. The Demons are hoping to knock off the defending county champion Bears, with whom they've already shared a few close matches this year.

Individual matchups will be key, so is it possible Ciciora will move off his usual weight class?

'I can't tell you that,' he said with a smile.

Ciciora did say he is from no farther north than Danielsville, where he wrestled three years at Madison County High School. When his stepfather took a new job in Middle Georgia, Ciciora considered hanging around his old town for his senior year.

After all, Ciciora was coming off a season in which he qualified for the GHSA Class AAAA state meet at the 140-pound classification. While lettering, he amassed 47 wins as a junior, according to Madison County coach Richie Houston. Ciciora figured to play a large role in his coach's plans for the 2007-08 campaign.

Beyond that, Ciciora had good friends on the Red Raider wrestling roster, including seniors Carey Crowe (215) and Brent Russell (defending Class AAAA heavyweight state champion). Leaving wouldn't be easy.

But over the summer, Ciciora met with Warner Robins wrestling coach Skip Johnston and Athletics Director Bryan Way. Afterward, he felt more comfortable about the move, which was completed in September.

Johnston felt better as well, when Ciciora finally made the move. 'He's one of the best I have in the room,' he said.

The transfer bumped Ciciora up into Class AAAAA, where wrestling bad boys Collins Hill, Parkview and Union Grove hang out. Performing well against the likes of those schools increases the likelihood Ciciora will receive college scholarship interest.

Houston said Ciciora is a good bet for a top four finish at state, although Ciciora has placed no limitations on what he can achieve.

'I want to win it,' Ciciora said.

He figures to enter state with a high seeding. While he has yet to face anyone from Valdosta, Ciciora has beaten every other 140 in Area 1-AAAAA. Winning the area title Feb. 16 would grease his path to state glory.

A veteran of USA wrestling, Ciciora participates in the sport year-round. He also dabbles in soccer (he led Madison County in goals last year) but has yet to decide if he'll play for the Demons this year.

He has time. The wrestling season doesn't end until after the finals on Feb. 23 in Gwinnet County.

And while Ciciora's city of origin may have been the source of doubt and uncertainty, his destination is clear.

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