Quinn Bowles (I) has been participating in the wrestling program at Boston Latin School since his sixie year and is now set to join the wrestling program at Case Western Reserve University in the fall. This past season, he beat a two-time All-American champion, making it to the Division I State Finals for the first time, where he placed second. Wrestling Head Coach Jeffrey Gibbons describes the outstanding victory: “It earned him ‘Takedown of the Week,’ and the news traveled to the other divisional tournaments like it was Paul Revere riding through the early streets of Massachusetts.”
Bowles’s achievements didn’t stop there. On March 7 and 8, Bowles wrestled at the New England Championships, where he placed top 8 as the only wrestler from Boston and the third wrestler in program history to make it to day two.
Taking inspiration from his cousin, who convinced him to join the team, Bowles began wrestling in the seventh grade. His family has been extremely supportive throughout the years. Bowles says, “They’ve stayed by my side and supported every decision I have made in this sport.” He is especially appreciative of his dad, who has come to all of his matches and watched him grow as an athlete. His family also served as an inspiration during his wrestling career, with his grandfather inspiring him to continue working despite being tired or unmotivated.
This season, Bowles focused on staying proud of the effort he has given instead of focusing solely on the result. He has learned to accept that some things are out of his control and understands that putting his best effort, regardless of the outcome, is the most successful method. He would tell his younger self to grow from each result and to be happy with the work he has put into the sport.
To Bowles, wrestling is a matter of keeping your head on straight and not losing focus. Before each match, he zeroes in on each task without thinking of anything else, creating a routine. This helps him to think of each match as the same and keeps up his confidence. He hopes that people will remember that hard work matters more than anything else, because he put in a lot of effort to reach this level of wrestling.
Coach Gibbons says that he has not only watched Bowles grow as a wrestler but also as a leader. Bowles demonstrates respect for his coaches and teammates and is thoughtful of others, along with possessing innate leadership qualities. He likes to give the team a pep talk before their warm-up and cheers loudly from the bench during others’ matches. Maximo Greene Barrios (IV), a wrestler on the BLS team, shares, “Quinn has been a mentor, inspiration and brother figure for me for three years now. His persistent and constant encouragement has been a large reason why I am the wrestler I am today.”
Outside of wrestling, Bowles enjoys playing the guitar, which gives him something else to focus on besides his sport. This can come as a relief during stressful times in the wrestling season. He believes that he is a quiet person who focuses on his future, trying to set up everything as well as he can.
Bowles has been an influential member of the wrestling team whose contributions will not go unnoticed. Greene Barrios concludes, “Quinn will forever be a hero in my eyes, and I’ll never forget all he’s done for me.”