An interview with Class of 2008 Team captain Anthony Boniello:
Anthony Boniello
Hometown: Katonah, NY
Class of 2008
GPA: 3.67
Major: Physics and Engineering.
What are you doing now?
I am in the Columbia University Premedical Post Baccalaureate Program, and a part-time EMT
Wrestling honors at W&L:
- 2X Academic All American
- 2X A.E. Mathis War Memorial Wrestling Award (awarded to most outstanding team-member)
- 2nd Place finish in Centennial Conference in 2007 and 08
- 4-time letterwinner
- Captain 2008
How would you sum up your experience at W&L?
Washington and Lee is a very special place for nearly everyone who has had the privilege to attend. On the mat and in the classroom W&L not only attempts to develop your mind but also build character with a strong sense of personal responsibility as well as affability instilled in every student. This mentality carries over into every part of your life, including the wrestling room, making us a uniquely close family with a hard work ethic as a fundamental caveat for every member.Thinking about wrestling specifically, what are your thoughts on W&L?
The wrestling team has become my closest group of friends, whom I have kept in touch with and will do so for life. We have shared a great deal of amazing moments together and I wouldn’t trade my experiences for any other college experience.
Any other thoughts you'd like to share about W&L or the team in general?
Our Coach, Gary Franke, has always repeated the famous line every wrestler has heard; “Once you wrestle, everything else in life is easy.” Maybe this is not what you would like to hear during a particularly grueling practice or after a difficult setback in a tournament. However its something that you begin to understand as you take the lessons learned on the mat and apply to everyday life.
The friendships you make, the work ethic you develop and the lessons learned while wrestling is something you will take with you your entire life. This is why I decided to wrestle at W&L. Nowhere else can you develop the close personal relationship with the coaching staff and be such an integral part of a family while still receiving a world class education.
