Tasha Bohorad ’26, Co-Captain of Wrestling, has participated in the sport throughout her four years at Andover. Although she had never played a combat sport, she was intrigued upon watching her club soccer teammates at wrestling practice, and decided to give it a try in her Junior year. After winning her first match with Andover, Bohorad was hooked on the sport.
Bohorad’s leadership philosophy centers on selflessness, shaped by the example set by older teammates during her early years on the team.
“The Seniors would work with me after practice every day on moves that I wanted to work on, and I want to be that person for other people. There are some Juniors on the team now who ask to stay after practice, and I’ll stay after practice as long as I can to help them with their moves,” said Bohorad.
Bohorad added that her leadership also extends to helping teammates navigate the mental demands of competition, particularly for younger wrestlers adjusting to the sport.
“I used to get really, really nervous [before matches]. So I like to talk about the mental aspect, and how to have people calm their nerves and what they should be thinking about… Not only do I help with the wrestling side, but I really want to be that person to tell people my experiences,” said Bohorad.
Wrestling Manager Ellen Mueller ’26 has a distinct vantage point on the wrestling team. She pointed to Bohorad’s role in setting the tone at the start of practice.
“She’s always ready to get everybody moving and engaged [before practice]. She will make eye contact with people and snap everybody into shape, so we can all be ready for when the coaches are ready to start practice,” said Mueller.
Mueller added that Bohorad’s effort extends well beyond formal practice, as seen in the extra time Bohorad spends helping teammates one-on-one.
Mueller continued, “She’ll run little drills with people who have questions, and she’ll stay for another fifteen minutes, even though it’s getting close to 6 o’clock. She stays and waits for some of the Juniors, answers their questions, and runs drills with them. She will talk or sit and answer questions after weigh-ins, and it’s really sweet to see because she’s always willing to help with questions.”
In competitive settings, Mueller observed how Bohorad consistently emphasizes encouragement over outcomes, fostering a sense of camaraderie across the team.
“During matches and meets, even if you don’t win, she is hyping you up. For her, as long as you try really hard, that is what’s most important. She puts in all her effort and encourages others to do the same, even if it doesn’t lead to the most success. For her, success is in the effort,” said Mueller.
Nicholas Marini ’28 highlights how Bohorad keeps teammates accountable, both at the beginning and the end of practice.
“At the end of every practice, we get in a little circle. A day or two before a meet, she’s always pumping everyone up, giving tips, and telling them what they need to do to be better, and it’s extremely helpful. Also, at the beginning of practice, when we do push-ups, for example, she makes sure that everyone’s doing them and not slacking off,” said Marini.
Bohorad said that her emphasis on intensity and effort is intentional, and that the team’s ability to match her energy motivates her to lead.
“I really value hard work and grit, which the team doesn’t lack at all. We’re one of the grittiest teams on campus. If you sign up for wrestling, yes, it’s going to be fun, but you’ll get only what you put into it. In practice, you’re working hard to make yourself better and make your partner better, but to do that, you have to be gritty. You have to be thinking about what you want to improve or how you can be better, and I think the team carries this aspect of hard work in everything it does, and that’s something that I’ve tried to do my whole life. It’s really enjoyable to be on a team that values hard work so much,” said Bohorad.
Although not currently committed to wrestling in college, Bohorad said she remains open to continuing the sport in the future.
“Girls wrestling is growing very quickly… if anything, I just really hope to build a program that’s gonna last, and especially [in] New England,” said Bohorad.
