Brawley celebrates three college commitments

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA-KECY) - It was a special morning at Brawley Union High School, as three student-athletes officially signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the next level.

Leading the way was Jacey Reeves, who made history as the first girls flag football player in school history to sign and play at the collegiate level. Reeves is headed to Arizona Christian University after a standout senior season that helped put Brawley’s flag football program on the map.

“I plan on playing it in college as well—it’s opening a lot of new doors for girls,” Reeves said.

Reeves played a major role in the Wildcats’ historic run to a CIF championship appearance, racking up more than 1,300 rushing yards and 1,400 receiving yards during her senior season. Her performance earned her Second Team All-CIF San Diego honors and helped elevate a program that’s still in its early stages.

For Reeves, the decision to commit came down to more than just football.

“My brother goes there, so I’ll have that support, and my family is close enough to come watch,” she said. “And the faith side of it was a huge deal for me—it just felt right.”

Also signing was offensive tackle Jack Fischer, who is headed to Ottawa University. Fischer’s path wasn’t easy, battling for playing time early in his career and dealing with injuries, but he credits his teammates and tough competition for helping him grow.

“A lot of those guys beat me up every practice, but it made me better,” Fischer said. “Iron sharpens iron—you’ve got to go against someone good to improve.”

Fischer said the recruiting process required patience, especially coming from a smaller market like Brawley, but a last-minute visit sealed the deal.

“We went on a quick trip, and we loved everything about it,” he said. “That’s when I knew that’s where I wanted to go.”

On the wrestling side, multi-time CIF standout Ricky Ortiz is headed to Southern Oregon University after finishing as a top-eight medalist at the CIF State Championships.

Ortiz says his decision came down to trust and familiarity—especially with his older brother already part of the program.

“He’s going to be coaching me, so that’s pretty cool,” Ortiz said. “I didn’t think I’d end up there at first, but he convinced me.”

Three athletes, three different journeys—but all reaching the same milestone. For Brawley, it’s another sign of a growing tradition of sending talent to the next level, with Reeves’ historic signing marking a new chapter for the Wildcats.