Wrestling: Tim Bova becomes second Arlington wrestler to reach 200 career wins
When Tim Bova recorded a first-period pin last Saturday, it was “business as usual,” his wrestling coach said.
It really was routine, considering many of his matches this season have been decided in that way, and that quickly. But in Bova’s estimation, so too was the accomplishment.
As teammates and friends celebrated the Arlington High School senior notching his 200th career victory, he didn’t understand all the hubbub.
“There’s joy in the moment, in winning, but I didn’t think much of it,” Bova said, still a bit perplexed about his phone being flooded with messages and social media alerts. “I didn’t think it was that big a deal until my friends got so excited and everyone was congratulating me.”
It was a big deal because he became only the second Arlington wrestler to reach that threshold, and did so despite being limited to 10 matches last season amid the pandemic.
After pinning Aidan Jones of Schuylerville-Greenwich in 54 seconds to win a 152-pound match at the Coxsackie-Athens Duals and hit the milestone, Bova reacted with little more than a smile.
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“He’s unassuming,” coach Dave Grafmuller said of Bova, who is 37-0 with 36 pins this season. “It’s a huge moment in anyone’s career, but he’s got bigger goals and, to him, that was just another step.”
It’s that attitude, in part, that has helped pave for him what has been a sterling path.
Bova, since middle school, has been consumed with competition and improvement.
He wrestles year-round for his school and club teams, travels often for tournaments, and takes only a month off from training each year. What little free time he does have often is spent thinking about wrestling. As each accomplishment is checked off the list, his focus turns immediately to the next one.
"It's a testament to the hours and hours of his life that's he's spent on mats, in cars, on planes, in hotel rooms, in gyms," Grafmuller said. "His success is as a result of everything he's put in."
There is extreme competitive fervor during his bouts, the coach said, but Bova almost immediately goes back to being that quiet unassuming kid after his arm is raised.
The team was sure to celebrate the achievement on Saturday, showing its appreciation to the star. But Bova's evening afterwards was spent in the gym. And there was practice the following morning.
“I’ll be satisfied with a state title,” he said. “Since I came up to varsity, that’s been a goal of mine and a dream I’ve wanted to fulfill.”
Bova used to playfully tussle with his older brother, and get tossed around the house. He was into soccer and swimming back then, but Scott Bova starred as a wrestler for Arlington and there always was an urge to follow in those footsteps.
“I probably wouldn’t have wrestled or even been introduced to the sport if it wasn’t for him,” Tim said of his brother, who graduated in 2011 and went on to compete for Oswego State.
Tim quickly fell in love with wrestling and became so dedicated to it, he gave up his other sports to “focus my energy” on that.
By junior high he was turning heads as a tenacious athlete with technique and skills belying his age. He was promoted to the varsity team as a seventh-grader, despite Grafmuller then-head coach Fred Perry not knowing much about him.
“We brought him up, sight unseen,” Grafmuller said with a chuckle. “One of the other coaches talked him up, plus Scotty had been great, so we took a chance. He came up as a 99-pound wrecking ball.”
Tim Bova approached each of his matches with aplomb and the coaches never had to “hide” him, Grafmuller said. He competed against anyone in his weight class, including the all-state standouts.
Even in bouts against kids who were older, stronger or more skilled, and even in losses, Bova never seemed overwhelmed.
“He was never in a bad position, and that set him up for success,” the coach said. “We knew right away he was gonna be something.”
Something this good, though, they probably couldn’t have predicted.
Dennis Robin set the program record for wins in 2020. His 266 victories are the most in Dutchess County history and second all-time in Section 1. Bova has successfully carried the torch, losing only 31 times in six seasons and winning two section championships.
In fact, he maybe would be approaching that record had COVID-19 not robbed athletes of almost an entire season.
“He might’ve had another 35 wins if not for the pandemic, which makes this even more remarkable,” Grafmuller said. “From the standpoint of team bonus points, with all his pins, he’s singlehandedly won us tournaments and dual meets over the years.”
The Admirals have flourished this season and Bova has an excellent team around him. Arlington has dominated most of its competition — sans a loss to Fox Lane in the Section 1 Dual Meet tournament in December — and its other stars have blossomed.
Dillon Arrick, a sophomore, earned his 100th career win earlier this month and is the top-ranked wrestler at 110 pounds in the section. Amon Frye, Jack Frustace, and Nick Bronzi are among a slew of others enjoying superb seasons.
“It creates a great environment and makes it so much better, when you’re in the room and everyone is having fun,” Bova said. “When you’re thinking about what’s going wrong in a season, it changes the mood and can put you down. But with everyone doing well, it’s a great support system for each other.”
The team, Grafmuller said, has been clicking especially over the last month. Their goal, of course, is to “peak in February.”
Bova considered himself a legitimate state championship contender as an 11th-grader, but the tournament was cancelled then. Now, as the top-ranked Section 1 wrestler in his weight class, there is “serious” belief this will be the year.
“I know anything can happen and anyone can have a bad day,” he said, “but I truly believe I can do this. I’m in a good zone and I’m training with some of the best guys, so that makes me confident.”
So confident, in fact, he thinks big bro would be no match now.
“He’s a lot stronger than me and has a lot of muscles,” Tim said of Scott, “but I could 100% beat him right now. I could definitely take him.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Wrestling: Tim Bova reaches 200 career wins as Arlington dominates
