BOONVILLE, Ind. — Wyatt Ulrey and Sam Howard weren’t too fond of wrestling when they joined Boonville’s youth program.
They were encouraged to start wrestling by their fathers, who were both high school grapplers — Ulrey’s dad is a Pioneers alumnus. But Howard admitted he didn’t want to put in the effort it took to be successful.
As they got older and started to win more matches, their attitudes changed. Howard still remembers running over to and getting picked up by his father after he won his first youth tournament in Jasper, and Boonville coach Dusty Marchand always sees Howard smiling whenever he steps onto the mat.
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With a combined record of 91-1 as freshmen, Ulrey and Howard are two of Southwestern Indiana’s best wrestlers. Both clinched Pocket Athletic Conference, sectional and regional titles this season as they aim to be the Pioneers’ first state qualifiers since 2020.
They also could be the first freshmen in program history to advance to the finals.