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Pirate wrestler leaves for Army
By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, DADE CITY -- Tye Reedy was wearing women's makeup, a sports bra, a cheerleader's uniform (the one with the short skirt), a wig of long black hair and a purple bandana when he heard the good news from his father, Pasco principal Pat Reedy, over the P.A. system at W.F. Edwards Stadium. "I guess you're going to be the ugliest cheerleader at West Point," his father said during the Powder Puff game. Reedy, 18, left Saturday for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York, where he will spend the next four years studying to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. Monday is "R-Day," or reception day, for all cadets. Then, before his freshman, or "plebe" year, begins, he must go through "Beast to Barracks," a six-week cadet basic training program before the start of school in the fall. But Reedy said he will be more than happy to be up at dawn every morning for those years, undergoing the rigorous physical and academic conditioning that is a part of the service academy's life. "I'm used to that," he said. "I got up every morning at 5 a.m., worked out, went to school, practiced and ran every day. I've never been the big party-type. My friends say I'll pretty much be in prison and never have the usual college lifestyle, but that's not my lifestyle anyway." When Reedy first heard the news, he was more relieved than embarrassed by the announcement because just getting into West Point proved harder than it should have been. As an honor student, Reedy had the grades to get into West Point. As a student leader, he had the credentials to merit the honor. As a state champion wrestler, he had the athletic background the school's wrestling coach was looking for. All that was holding Reedy back was a medical clearance. But it wasn't the left shoulder that popped out during Reedy's state title match that kept him out. It was his sinuses. Which is why a medical review board in Colorado rejected Reedy for West Point. Reedy applied directly to West Point for a medical exemption and got it. Reedy was heavily recruited by wrestling coaches at Virginia, North Carolina State and Duke. But none offered the financial package that Clarion (Pa.) University offered. Reedy's only contact with West Point was to return a survey. Reedy was set on Clarion. And then Army wrestling coach Chuck Barbee called, wanting to see Reedy's film. Suddenly, Army wanted Reedy. And after a March visit, Reedy changed his mind. "It's perfect for me," Reedy said. "I'm going to be around people that want to work hard and want to succeed." Reedy's West Point acceptance was not affected by a senior prank he took part in just before graduation. Reedy and two other students, who officials would not identify, entered the school after hours and popped the "1" keys off of more than 200 computer keyboards. Reedy came forward about his role and had to apologize at a faculty meeting. Hopefully, he said, he'll get the chance to apologize for a few more at a school famous for its ingenious pranks. "At West Point, they're known for pranks," Reedy said. "They stole Navy's goat one year, and another year, they put a cannon in front of the superintendent's house."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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