Reaching the 1%

Westfield’s Bo Zwiener has a tattoo on his inner right bicep that reads “Be the 1%.”

This past weekend, he lived that personal moniker to the fullest by finishing his high school career in a match that most athletes can only dream of reaching: the state finals.

After a thrilling run at 139 pounds, Zwiener had the opportunity to don his Razorbacks singlet one last time with all eyes watching him under the bright lights at the Excel Energy Center.

“In years past, I’ve made it to the semifinals and fell off after that. This year, I wasn’t going to let that happen,” said Zwiener.

The senior’s biggest moment of the tournament came in said semifinals round when he defeated Staples Motley’s Turner Beachy 4-1, thanks to some late heroics.

While trailing 1-0 late in the third period, Zwiener found himself in a tricky predicament looking for holes in his opponent’s game while Beachy appeared content to wrestle defensively and avoid taking any risks.

Beachy’s conservative approach would prove to be his downfall.

Westfield’s crafty senior showcased his wrestling IQ by remaining patient and picking the right time to strike. 

“He had a stalling warning on him. He hadn’t been doing much all match. I was the only one really on the offense. So, I figured I’d get him another warning and tie it up. Then really push the pace at the end because I could tell he was beginning to gas really fast. Once that happened, I was able to get it done in the end,” said Zwiener.

The emotional win nearly brought the senior to tears. It also ignited a roar from Westfield fan section that packed nearly a third of a section in the lower bowl.

“It was awesome. When I looked up after my semifinal match, we had about six full rows of people. It was awesome to have everyone there. The support was great,” said Zwiener.

Just hours later, Zwiener made his final walk out as a Westfield wrestler to take on Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg’s Trey Gunderson.

Gunderson, a two-time defending state champion, entered the matchup as a favorite boasting a stellar 46-0 record and continued his reign by beating Zwiener via an 18-1 technical fall.

Losing the match was visibly difficult for Zwiener in the moment, as he jogged off the mat straight through the tunnel to make his exit.

However, the pain of defeat eventually shifted into a feeling of gratitude and appreciation.

“It was 100% a dream career. At the end, I didn’t get what I wanted, but I got really close. That’s all that matters,” said Zwiener.

He leaves the Westfield program as one of its most decorated wrestlers.

With a 179-38 record, Zwiener is the Razorbacks’ all-time wins leader, a three-time state placer and now joins Colton Krell as the only Westfield wresters to ever make it to a state final match.

Zwiener might not have lived his storybook ending in St. Paul, but he’s OK with that reality.

His wrestling career is far from over.

Zwiener will ship off to St. John’s University in St. Joseph to be a part of the Johnnies’ wrestling team after graduating this spring.

“It’s definitely going to be a grind, but I’m just excited to get to work with those boys and hopefully make a name for myself up there,” said Zwiener.