By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.– Wrestling has been a big part of Kennedy freshmen Bohden Sowa’s life. He started the sport eight years ago and has been working on his craft prior to entering the High School prep scene, spending some time with the Salem Elite Wrestling Club that has helped him adjust to the grueling demands of the sport.
“Salem Elite has helped me a lot, especially on my feet. I get a lot better movement, a lot stronger, a lot quicker, a lot better mentality working at that club with those members. Better competition,” Sowa said of the club scene.
Sowa completed his first High School Tournament this past weekend, at the Devin Dawson Invite at Harrisburg High School. The frosh didn’t waste anytime as he went to work and finished second at 132 pounds, falling via pin to Harrisburg’s Luke Cheek. Despite the defeat, Sowa will take what he learned in that match and that tournament as he prepares for the three-way dual at Oakland Tuesday and the Scio Tournament this upcoming Saturday.
“Wrestling a lot better on my feet. I need to be a lot more focused, I need to be more aggressive moving forward. I need to be meaner on my feet, I need to get better at hand-fight, I need to work better defending my legs. I just need to be a lot more aggressive for the future,” describes Sowa.
Head Coach Dewey Enos spoke highly of Sowa and the freshman class they got coming in to support the senior class that they have.
Of the 18 athletes out to wrestle this year, roughly eight are seniors on the squad that includes two-time State Qualifier and Team Captain Julio Reyes Hernandez. Reyes Hernandez finished fourth at 132 points at the Devin Dawson Invite on Friday. The senior grappler is hoping to leave his mark and bring up the younger wrestlers for this season and the upcoming season’s for them.
“I’m looking forward to the future program. Getting Bohden ready, everyone ready, for State. That’s my goal,” said Reyes Hernandez.
“Keep everyone in line, make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Keep it nice and firm.”
For Reyes Hernandez, he slowly grew into the sport after his freshman year as he is hopeful to have one last strong year with the Trojan Wrestling Program.
“Freshman year, I felt really lost because I wasn’t sure if I was into it. Sophomore year, I came in and put in a little bit of work, but not much improvement on myself or as a wrestler. But junior year, I really focused on working and I put in the time and I think I grew up,” Reyes Hernandez said. “It made me a better athlete by working, keeping my body in shape for everything, for all the sports and all that. Ready as a person, it was a mental thing. Wrestling is a mental game for me, it was hard losing to people I knew I could beat, I just didn’t know how to. It allowed me to grow as a person.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
