A standout runner for the Avon Lake track and field and cross country teams, Stives was named the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete in 1987. He was Avon Lake's cross country MVP his sophomore,junior and senior years. A state qualifier his junior year in cross country, Stives was also an All-SWC selection his junior and senior seasons.

Stives really made an impact on the Shoremen track squad, where he competed at the varsity level all four years. A state qualifier in the 800 his junior and senior years, Stives set a school record in the event his senior year with a time of 1:54.36. Stives earned All-SWSC first team honors for this accomplishment, and was also voted the team MVP that same year.

Stives also earned All-SWC second team in the 4x400 relay his senior year. He earned second team status his junior and senior years in the 4x800 and was a second team selection in the 800 his junior year as well. A district champion in the 800 his junior and senior years, and a regional runner-up the same years, Stives earned All-Ohio first team status. He also placed seventh in the Midwest Meet of Champions in the 800 his senior year. Stives continued his running career at Bowling Green State University, where he earned four varsity letters all four years on the track squad. He took first place at the All-Ohio Championship meet in the 800 in 1990, third in the Mid-American Conference Championship in 1991 and sixth in the MAC Championship in 1990. He was part of the second-place 4x800 relay squad at the Dogwood Relays at the University of Tennessee in 1990. Stives earned the Most Improved Athlete for the BGSU track squad his sophomore year.