By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.– Kennedy sophomore Bohden Sowa sure did make some noise his freshman year with the Trojans.
His District Title at 126 pounds was the first time that a Kennedy freshman won a District Title. His run to the 2A/1A State Semi’s was the third-time ever that a Trojan has reached that far as he finished fourth in the weight class.
Over the Summer, he put in work with Salem Elite. Honing into his craft, sharpening his skills for a strong start to this Winter as he eye’s another District Title here in two weeks up at Colton High School. This time at 150 pounds.
“It was awesome to be able to do that as a freshman and go to State and perform. It wasn’t to the level that I wanted to, but still I was up there. I competed with the best guys at the highest level,” Sowa said of his freshman year. “This year, coming into it with that same mindset that I’m going to win a District Title and that I’m going to win a State Title and see where I need to be and I know I’m there.”
For what it’s worth, the Kennedy wrestling program has never had a Boys State Champion. Alex Geschwill won the first wrestling State Title in program history back in 2023 when she won the 4A/3A/2A/1A 130 pound State title.
For Sowa, to represent the Kennedy and Mount Angel community, it means a lot to him as he continues to build off of what he’s already done in the past.
Most days include two workouts for Sowa to better himself, especially against the bigger kids. The physicality is there with the size differential between what he got used to in the 126 weight class to the 150 division, a four weight class difference in one year.
But he’s adjusting to it. Sowa’s undefeated on the year at 24-0 according to FloSports and showing that he is ready for the end of the season work that is ahead of him and his Trojan teammates.
“It’s a lot of fun for me. I really like competing, I like being aggressive and going after it every time,” Sowa starts about representing the community.
“It’s a lot more physical. I got to mentally lock-in and be ready for war every match. It’s a lot more physical wrestling,” Sowa continues about the jump to 150 “I think it’s going great. I’ve been wrestling well, I’ve been wrestling fast, fast paced. Locked down defense, wrestled hard.”
The District Meet will be on February 13 and 14 up at Colton High School with the State Meet at the end of the month in Portland.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
