Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Matthew Boyer, New Trier wrestling

Matthew Boyer is a senior wrestler at 152 pounds for the Trevians. Boyer is 20-3 on the season and recently finished fifth at the Mid-States Wrestling Classic in Wisconsin.

1. Do you have any premeet or prematch rituals or superstitions?

I have a bunch of kind of crazy socks I usually wear before my wrestling meets. I have a couple with eggs and bacon and some with swordfish on them. I also eat a couple Mandarin oranges and a couple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before meets.

2. What are your plans for next year?

I’m looking to study business but am undecided on which college I’m going to — probably somewhere in the Big Ten. I’m looking for something in finance or (economics). And I’m undecided if I will be wrestling in college. If I have the opportunity, I will, but I’m stilling taking with coaches.

3. What is your favorite thing to do off the mat?

I like to hang out with my friends a lot. I like to go see movies. In the winter, I like to go to Wisconsin with my family and go sledding, go snowmobiling and ice fishing. In the summer we like to go … fishing. My dad started teaching me to salmon fish last summer.

4. What is your dream job? 

Right now, maybe somewhere in private equity or somewhere in the stock market. … I think it’s pretty interesting — investing in different companies, kind of like “Shark Tank,” and my mom was in private equity so I have a little bit of knowledge around that. 

5. If could play another sport, what would it be?

Probably football. I played sophomore year and then quit. I got injured. Got a concussion, and fractured a vertebrae wrestling. I regret not playing football junior and senior years. A lot of wrestlers played football. Jack Cummings played football and was All-Conference. I missed out on doing that. It would have been fun. 

6. What is something you cannot live without?

Probably chicken barbecue pizza. I eat it probably every week after meets. It’s my go-to meal. I get it from J.P. McCarthys (in Wilmette). I get a large chicken barbecue pizza and eat the whole thing. 

7. If you are in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

Probably Jolly Rancher Chews, one of my favorite candies. It’s pretty expensive for candy. So if I only have two bucks, maybe a pack of gum or a 99-cent Arizona iced tea.

8. What makes you a good wrestler?

Probably my practice partner. That has a lot to do with becoming a good wrestler. If you don’t have somebody good to go against every day, how are you going to get better? I mentioned Jack Cummings, who weighs a little more, and then another friend who is really good, Ely Polacek, is usually my practice partner. He’s quick, super strong and always makes me push myself.

9. What is one thing people don’t know about you?

That I was actually baby Bob for Quizno’s. I was a talking baby (in television commercials in 2005). It’s always a fun little trick I can pull out every once in a while. 

10. How is this team looking this season and what can it achieve?

This season I was coming in with pretty high expectations and really hoping senior year we could go back to back and win conference again. We went in to a meet (against Glenbrook South) undefeated. … And we didn’t wrestle our best that day. We lost by over 10 points and we weren’t supposed to lose on paper. That was really disappointing for me. But this team is looking to keep winning duals. We are 10-1 so far and have seven duals this week. We’re looking to go 17-1 and have the best record possible, break the New Trier record.

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