By Kathy Brown
Right before COVID-19 stopped sports in its tracks, the UConn Wrestling Club traveled to Allen, TX March 12-14, 2020 for the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Nationals. Mackay Revis, HKHS ’16, competed with the team. Mackay is the son of William and Karen Revis of Higganum. UConn finished 15th as a team, and 4th in the Division II team race, while Mackay finished 5th in the country in the 165 lb weight class.
The NCWA is an organization that allows students to wrestle at the collegiate level. Division I and Division II teams compete in the same tournament, though Division I teams have more rules and regulations. The UConn team has finished in the top 5 for Division II four times in the last five years. Mackay went 5-2 at the tournament. “I won my first match against Zach Wolanin of Ohio State University by pin,” said Mackay. “I then beat Kevin Klein of Central Washington University 9-6. I got a reversal and a set of backs with 30 seconds left in the match to win. I then lost to David Cox of Liberty University 16-1 in the Quarterfinals. In my first consolation match, I beat Adam Aldridge of East Carolina University 10-3, securing a top-8 finish and All-American status. I then beat Anthony Rallo of Rowan University 7-5. I got an escape with 1:38 left in the third period, and a take down with 28 seconds left to win. I lost in the consolation semifinals to Desmond Bowers of Grey’s Harbor by pin. I then beat Max Henry Nelson by pin in 3:31 to finish 5th place.”
Mackay wrestled for three years at Haddam Killingworth Middle School under Coaches Matt Thomas and Sy Soobitsky, then wrestled for four years at Haddam Killingworth High School under several different coaches, Doug Stevenson, Geoffrey Korper, Kenny Markwatt, and Nick Adler.
“Mackay started wrestling with our Middle School program, and showed he was destined for success via his hard work, athleticism and dedication to the sport,” said Matt Thomas. “Our team was relatively new, and I was happy he wanted to be part of it. I loved coaching Mackay. In 8th grade Mackay was elected a captain of our team, and led our team to a successful season. I continued to follow him through high school and college. I loved knowing that as far as Mackay was going with the sport, he never forgot where he came from. Mackay will always be HK Wrestling Family.”
At the Northeast Regional Championship, held at Springfield Technical Community College in February, Mackay finished second place. UConn had seven finalists, with four individual champions. They finished second as a team for the second year in a row behind STCC.
Mackay finished this season 22-7 with 12 pins. He was a 4-time national qualifier. While wrestling at HKHS, he was a 4-time state open qualifier. In 2016 he was the Class S runner up.
“To be successful in college, Mackay had to make alterations stylistically and philosophically at a fundamental level to truly reach his peak potential,” said UConn Wrestling Coach, Chris Warran. “He’s always been talented but it wasn’t translating to wins for him early in his career. He embraced a process of change and made the adjustments necessary to really grow and develop without losing some of his natural instincts that served him well during his high school career. That kind of development can be frustrating.” He went on to explain, “He had to reinvent aspects of his wrestling, which is a very difficult task after years of training. He wasn’t deterred. A lot of athletes don’t reach outside of their box. They stay in their comfort zones and it can limit their performances and potential achievements. He bought into that process and it culminated in All-American status and a 5th place finish at Nationals, ultimately finishing his career by pinning his final opponent. His progression over the last four years has been what I’m most proud of him for.”
Mackay has already earned an Associates Degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Turf Grass Management from UConn in 2018, and in May will receive his Bachelors Degree in Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems with a concentration in Turf Grass Management.
Congratulations!!!!!