Ryan Boersma’s busy summer continues with Mizzou commitment, state title, nationals win
CHICAGO (BVM) — Ryan Boersma has always been a talented wrestler. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound rising senior competes in the heavyweight division and continues to excel. What he has accomplished in what has been an amazing summer has only further proven his talent.
Despite trying out many sports as a kid, the now 17-year-old found his love in fourth grade with wrestling.
“I just figured I might as well try wrestling and see if I like that,” Boersma said. “I liked it a lot from the time I started it. I really like the individual aspect of the sport. Although you do get really close to your teammates, it’s ultimately up to you to control how well you do.”
Boersma has done quite well since his initial beginnings on the mat. Despite a rocky start in his first year, the wrestler won state for his age group in fifth grade. He would accomplish the feat once again in seventh and eighth grade.
During the summer prior to high school, Boersma won national titles in both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling.
“That was one of my favorite memories before high school wrestling,” Boersma said.
Boersma has made even better memories during his high school career, however. In his first two seasons, he wrestled at Providence Catholic High School, and it didn’t take long before he found his footing at that level.
“The adjustment was quick because I had been used to wrestling older opponents,” Boersma said. “I was so big, so there weren’t many guys my age I could wrestle with. I feel like that really helped me get off to a strong start those first two years.”
Despite the strong start, Boersma’s fifth-place finish at state was disappointing for his standards. Then, after a move, Boersma ended up at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. While the move went well, it was having his wrestling season pushed back to spring that created some additional challenges yet also opportunities for the wrestler.
“The transition went really smoothly,” Boersma said. “Mount Carmel was very welcoming to me. With the schedules moved around, I just took advantage of what I could.”
By the time Boersma was allowed to get back to sports in the spring, it would begin with a six-game slate in his other athletic love that started in eighth grade: football.
“I’m still relatively new to football,” Boersma said. “This past season was awesome, we had a really special group, especially on the O-line. I was really close with a lot of those guys and just getting to know that unit was probably one of my favorite memories football wise.”
Once the wrestling season began, things were still limited, as Mount Carmel only competed in a handful of dual meets and no tournaments during the regular season. Prior to the campaign, it also appeared there would be no state tournament, as the IHSA was not planning to host one due to the pandemic.
However, the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) stepped in to host a state meet, allowing Boersma and his Mount Carmel teammates a chance at a title.
“It was pretty nice to hear that news,” Boersma said. “I was excited and I was very determined. I was not happy with finishing fifth as a sophomore and I wanted to bring home a title.”
Boersma and the rest of the Caravan wrestlers took full advantage of the opportunity. As the anchor of the team in the heavyweight division, Boersma not only brought home his first individual state title in the final match, but also a Class 3A team championship for Mount Carmel.
“It was awesome, definitely a different feel and the team title was really great,” Boersma added. “We had a really good tournament and I’m excited for next season with the team.”
For his senior season, Boersma’s goals are plain and simple: repeat as both an individual and team state champion, this time through the IHSA.
As he looks ahead to the upcoming season, Boersma has continued to cap his summer strong, particularly at the USA Wrestling junior national championships held in July in Fargo, North Dakota.
At the meet, Boersma was absolutely dominant in the Greco-Roman division, winning all six matches by eight points or more, and earning technical falls in five. Despite some tough competition in the way including 2019 champion Jacob Barnes — who Boersma defeated 11-1 — the Mount Carmel wrestler cruised to the 285-pound title.
“I was looking to win both freestyle and greco,” Boersma said. “I just wrestled the best I could. I won 15 straight [matches] to win that tournament. I’d say that’s probably my best accomplishment. Fargo is pretty much unequivocally one of the best high school tournaments in the country, and to win that is just awesome.”
Prior to competing in greco, Boersma wrestled in freestyle. Despite suffering an early loss, he fought back to win multiple matches and earn third place as well as double All-American status.
“I was very proud,” the Mount Carmel rising senior said. “I feel like that’s probably the best tournament I’ve ever wrestled. I wrestled tough and fought all the way back.”
It’s not the first time Boersma has made noise on the national stage, and likely won’t be the last. Soon, he hopes it may come in the form of an NCAA national championship. This summer, Boersma also made his college commitment, deciding on competing with the Missouri Tigers.
I am excited to announce that I am committed to Mizzou wrestling! Thanks to everyone who helped me get here. #TigerStyle @MizzouWrestling pic.twitter.com/L2gXZ0neCd
— Ryan Boersma (@RBoersmaXXL) June 12, 2021
“I was talking to a wide array of schools, but I had been talking to Mizzou for one of the longest times,” he said. “They believed in me and they know what I can do. I love the coaching staff there and they have great facilities. It just feels like a perfect fit.
“We’re going to have a really good team and I’m excited to be a part of it. Hopefully we’ll bring home some team and individual national titles.”
At 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, Boersma may look like an imposing athlete. But he also dominates when it comes to the classroom. With a 4.7 GPA, an ACT score of 34 and as a two-time regional math team champ, Boersma will look to keep his academic success going at Missouri while studying biomedical engineering.
“Academics have been very important to me,” Boersma said. “Depending on whether I want to wrestle after college or not, I’m going to try and get into med school with the ultimate goal of becoming a family practitioner.”
Any way you slice it, the future is bright for the Mizzou commit. Growing up, Boersma has enjoyed watching Big Ten wrestlers such as Michigan’s Adam Coon, or Ohio State’s Kyle Snyder. Both of those guys have gone on to accomplish amazing feats whether it is win world championships or compete in the Olympics.
Boersma may only be in his senior year of high school, but soon following in the footsteps of both those guys as a Division I wrestler, he is beginning to see that same potential in himself.
“I feel like I have the potential to win an NCAA title at Mizzou and maybe make an Olympic team afterwards,” Boersma said. “I definitely would have to work very hard to get to that point, but I feel like I could definitely pursue that option.”
