AHOSKIE – Whether he was racing 90 yards for a touchdown, hitting a three-pointer or passing off a baton, Reggie Wiggins was at the top of his game.

The senior from Hertford County High School excelled in all areas during the 2003-2004 campaign. He was a solid contributor in every sport he participated in and each of those teams made post-season play.

&uot;He’s got great work ethic,&uot; HCHS assistant football and basketball coach Brian Overton said. &uot;If they make him work, the sky’s the limit for him.

&uot;I think that’s where a lot of his success came from is working hard,&uot; he added.

Wiggins’ hard work and determination led to his receiving a scholarship to North Carolina A&T University. He will play cornerback for the Aggies and said he will probably run track.

Wiggins began his season with a spectacular football season in which he was selected All-Northeastern Coastal and All-Roanoke-Chowan.

&uot;My best game was Currituck when I had 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the first half,&uot; he said. &uot;It was a fun game for me.&uot;

Former Hertford County football coach Dealton Cotton said Wiggins was a major factor in his team’s 9-3 season.

&uot;He was the backbone of our offense,&uot; Cotton said. &uot;He was a leader on and off the field.

&uot;Reggie represented the school well,&uot; he added. &uot;He did a good job academically. A lot of the others looked up to him. He wasn’t just a good football player, he was a good guy.&uot;

Overton said Wiggins was also the Bears’ biggest threat on the field.

&uot;He was probably our biggest threat to score,&uot; Overton said. &uot;He was a threat to score any time he touched it. Then, defensively, he was a shutdown corner. He cut off one side of the field. He made us ten times better.&uot;

Wiggins said his success in the future would be directly linked to Cotton’s tutelage this season.

&uot;I think it means a lot that he got my name out there for college coaches,&uot; Wiggins said. &uot;His leadership skills were also very important for me.&uot;

In basketball, Wiggins was key on the defensive side of the court.

&uot;He was our defensive player of the year,&uot; Overton said. &uot;Every game we put him on their best player. He impressed me because he didn’t care about his stats.&uot;

Wiggins said he enjoyed the basketball season and that his highlight of that season was beating Bertie every time they played them this season.

&uot;Those games were exciting because there were so many people there,&uot; he said.

Wiggins said head basketball coach Charles Simmons helped him learn the game.

&uot;He taught me a lot about basketball,&uot; Wiggins said. &uot;He is very knowledgeable about the game and I learned a lot from him.&uot;

Simmons’ said the defensive effort from Wiggins was a major contribution.

&uot;He was one of best defensive stoppers,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;He was one of those type players that was a good enough athlete I could tell him go guard this person and he was up to doing that.&uot;

One of his other basketball mentors was Overton, who also helped him in football.

&uot;I’ve been with Brian since ninth grade,&uot; Wiggins said. &uot;He has been a big teacher for me in football and basketball.&uot;

The final season this year was track and field. There, Wiggins was part of a 4×100-meter relay team that made the state championship meet.

&uot;We did better than last year,&uot; Wiggins said. &uot;That showed a lot of improvement on our part.&uot;

The HCHS graduate said head track coach Maurice Franks made his season fun.

&uot;He is one of the most fun coaches I’ve ever been around,&uot; Wiggins said. &uot;He made sports enjoyable.&uot;

Another key to the success Wiggins enjoyed were the fans of Hertford County High School.

&uot;Probably the most memorable thing for me will be the support of the Hertford County fans,&uot; he said.

Wiggins was also thankful for the support of his family.

&uot;My parents have meant every thing,&uot; he said. &uot;Without their support I might have quit. They told me to strive for the best in everything and keep God first and I’ve tried to do that.

&uot;Getting the scholarship meant a lot to me because it made my mom and dad so proud,&uot; he added.

His parents were key for him becoming a quality person, which helped as he played sports.

&uot;Reggie’s just a top-notch kid,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;He is the type you like to coach, or if he was your son, you would want him around.

&uot;His parents did a great job with him,&uot; he added. &uot;He’s an all-around good guy.&uot;

Overton echoed those thoughts.

&uot;He’s a great kid character-wise,&uot; Overton said. &uot;He is well-mannered, which comes from home. He is a perfect kid to coach. He’ll do anything you ask, smile doing it and be good at it.&uot;

Simmons, who serves as HCHS Athletic Director, said the school was losing a great athlete.

&uot;We’re losing a three-sport standout,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;He was effective in basketball and track and was one of our better football players.

&uot;We are losing a great athlete and one that represented us well for the past four years,&uot; Simmons closed.

Wiggins was a key element on every team he played for during the 2003-2004 season and that success and character is why he is the Male Athlete of the Year.