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Destined for glory?

Boswell may serve with 2012 Olympic medical staff

Athletes, coaches and trainers might spend their whole life trying to make it into the Olympics. Dedication and a little bit of luck has sent many individuals in the past to compete at the international level, and one North Idaho College employee wants luck to be on his side this summer.

Randy Boswell, an athletic trainer for almost 20 years at NIC, has built up his career and may earn a chance to serve with the 2012 USA Olympic wrestling team medical staff in London. He has been placed on a list to be considered as an alternate for the team.

“I don’t know where on the depth chart I am for the Olympics,” Boswell said. “You have to be good at what you do and have a good relationship with the people on the committee and the coaches. It is very important to be available at any time. It’s a 24/7 type position when you go on trips like this.”

Boswell has been working with USA Wrestling and had recently traveled to Russia for one of the world’s most prominent wrestling tournaments, the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix held on Jan. 27-29. NIC head wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb played a pivotal role in getting Boswell the spot.

“It has helped to have people, like Pat Whitcomb, who are going to put in a good word for you, because you have to get your foot in the door,” Boswell said. “Pat had talked to the former USA Wrestling coach and said that I would like to get in on some trips.”

USA Wrestling evaluates medical personnel in order to hire medical doctors, athletic trainers and coaches to travel with the U.S. wrestling team. The process includes a two week visit at a USA Wrestling’s Olympic training center. Once someone gets on the list of qualified candidates,  they receive a list of all the tours that occur throughout the year.

Boswell talked about his trip overseas at the NIC Booster Club luncheon held Feb. 14. He traveled between Russia and Serbia where he served as the official trainer for the U.S. wrestling team. As preparation for this Summer’s Olympics, he went on a 13-day trip that involved collaborative training sessions with the Russian team, as well as a three-day tournament in Serbia. He said that the Yarygin Memorial has been considered one of the toughest tournaments in the world.

Through the years, Boswell has been an active part in the global wrestling community and that has helped beefed up his resume. He was invited to be an athletic trainer at the 2003-2008 U.S. National Freestyle/Greco Championships in Las Vegas and the 1999, 2002 and 2003 World Cup of Wrestling. He was also chosen to work with the Pan-American Wrestling Championships in Mexico in 2010, as well as the 2011 Jr. Pan-American Wrestling Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“I have had to work hard and put in the time, but it’s also good to have someone who can make a phone call and tell an organization like USA Wrestling to give someone like me an opportunity to prove myself,” he said. “You don’t always get recognized on your own.”
Although his schedule is packed full of events and plans for the future, Boswell has continued to show his loyalty to NIC since he was hired in 1993. He has gone on many cross-country trips with numerous different athletic teams over the years. Countless injuries have been suffered by student athletes that he has helped patch up. He has also entered his seventh year as assistant golf coach for both men and women.
“I have enjoyed my time here at NIC and I enjoy working with the athletes,” Boswell said. “Our school competes at a pretty high level, and we’ve have had success with a lot of our teams and it’s something to be proud of.”

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