Boulder High’s wrestling team has made a big turn around from previous years. Last year their dual meet record was seven wins to one loss, and the previous year the team didn’t win any duals. Part of the reason why is because the team has grown pretty full, whereas years prior there were around seven kids. A new coach, Will LeBoeuf, took over, and alongside assistant coach Liam Henderson helped turn the program around. Boulder High defeated their Fairview rivals and had three students place at regionals, as well as two students qualify for the State tournament. Joey Airola, currently a sophomore, and Theron Sovndal, currently a junior, both qualified for State last year. Sovndal put in two hard-fought matches at State but ultimately came up short both times; however, Airola dominated his first few rounds, ending up in the finals. When in the finals, Airola fought hard and got second place at State — as a mere 106-pound freshman. Airola and Sovndal are continuing to wrestle and look forward to another successful season. Beyond the wrestling team’s two big stars, other competitors for Boulder High look to do well this season with the heart and determination they have learned.

In order to prepare for this season, Theron Sovndal has been an active leader, even showing up for offseason practices. Over the summer he also went to Jeff Jordan wrestling camp in Ohio, which is a very intense camp coached by some of the best wrestlers in the country. Every year the team grow as humans; Theron not only has more experience now, but he knows how it feels to go to State and he wants it badly. His motivation is exactly that: he had a good season last year and he wants to improve on it. When talking to him he stated, “I don’t want to just be good, I want to be great and I’ll do whatever it takes to get to that.” Still only a junior, Theron has time to improve and he will take advantage of it. Make sure to watch out for what may be a great wrestling season this year.

Joey Airola has been preparing for the season by going to offseason training and doing a lot of camps and outside tournaments. One tournament was FARGO in which the best high school wrestlers in the country come to compete, so if that doesn’t show his skills then you just have to watch him. At FARGO, Joey went two for two which is nothing to sleep on, especially this young. Coming in second place at State is good, but Joey strives for greatness and wants to be number one. He uses that second place loss to motivate him into working harder. Joey is very intense and technical, which he plans on improving even more so he can achieve his dream and win multiple State titles.

Taken by Dylan Tepedelen Feb. 10, 2018. Joey hanging out before his State Championship match in Denver. 

Theron and Joey plan on yet another great season but it’s not just them who are trying hard. Other people who qualified at regionals want to go to State, everyone has the talent to make it this year it just comes down to the will power and determination. This is the best the team has looked in a few years and there’s a lot of hope. Lots of kids have gone to offseason and are working so hard because they want to achieve the boulder high sports dream, beat Fairview and win State.