Biography
2018-19: In his best season yet, Alex’s mantra continues to be same. His work power, dedication, commitment, consistency, and burning desire to improve in the Dojo, classroom, and in everything he does. His leadership by example continues to motivate and inspire his teammates and coaches. Bringing his best every day has earned him the Most Improved Wrestler Award and the Outstanding Redshirt Junior Award. Alex had 19 wins for the season. He was awarded the Jim “Bongo” Bayly Iron Discipline Warrior Award and the Dr. Lombardi Saint Award for the third time in a row. Alex placed 3rd at the Kaufman/Brand/Bayly Open, 4th at the Jim Koch Open, 6th at the Pat “Flash” Flanagan Open, and 6th at the Greyhound Open. Alex went 4-2 at the Midwest Classic, which was one match from placing. Sharing time as a starter,
he went 3-1 in dual meet competition and earned his third Varsity Letter Award. Alex is a Dean’s List student carrying a 3.936 cumulative GPA. He was selected to the
NWCA Scholar All-American Team for the third time and picked up the Redshirt-Junior Scholar Award. He earned the Wrestler of the Week and OOOSSS Award five times during the season. Alex is one of the pillars we build our team around.
2017-18: Alex’s Work Power, Dedication and Burning Desire to improve in the Dojo and the classroom continues to motivate and inspire his teammates. He is a great student who is a big part of our Team Power. He is a leader for our Team on and off the mat who is willing to help the Team in any way he can. He is a two time NWCA All Academic Team Selection and a Dean’s List student. He is a two time Varsity Award Winner. He earned the Jim “Bongo” Bailey Iron Discipline Award, the Dr. Lombardi Saint Award, and the Grit Award. He was selected Wrestler of the Week for his performance at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
2016-17: Alex finished the season with an overall record of 11-16 and earned a varsity letter award. Alex placed 6th in the Doane Open this season, where he went 3-2. Alex wrestled in six varsity duals and in the Midwest Classic Tournament when two-times National Qualifier Jaret Singh was sidelined with an injury. Alex gained valuable varsity experience during the season. Alex was named a Maryville Wrestler of the Week two times, OOOSSS award winner once, and earned the Freshman Scholar award. He was also selected to the NWCA All-Academic Honorable Mention team, earned the Iron Discipline award and Dr. Mark Lombardi Saint Award. Alex is a Dean’s List student with a 3.93 GPA majoring in Biology. With his great discipline and amount of effort he puts into everything he does, Alex is looking to make an impact for the Saints during the 2017-18 season.
2015-16: An excellent student who made the Dean’s List and won The Outstanding Scholar Award. He redshirted in 2015-16. He wrestled unattached in five open tournaments. In the Maryville Kaufman/Brand Open (Amateur Division) he had a 2-2 record. In the Wisconsin Open he had a 2-2 record. He capped off his season with his best performance of the year placing Fourth at the Missouri Valley Open. He finished the season with an 8-10 record and captured the team’s Wrestler of the Week Award once.
HONORS & AWARDS
Career Record: 43-59
2019 WOW & OOOSSS Award (5)
2019 Redshirt - Junior Scholar Award
2019 Most Improved
2019 Outstanding Redshirt Junior
2019 NWCA Scholar All-American (3x)
2019 Varsity Letter Award (3x)
2019 Jim “Bongo” Bayly Iron Discipline Warrior Award
2019 Dr. Lombardi Saint Award (2x)
2018 Varsity Letter Award (2x)
2018 NWCA All-Academic (2x)
2018 Jim “Bongo” Bayly Iron Discipline Award
2018 Dr. Lombardi Saint Award
2018 GRIT Award
2017 Varsity Letter Award
2017 Wrestler of the Week (2x)
2017 OOOSSS Award
2017 NWCA All-Academic (Honorable Mention)
2017 Freshman Scholar Award
2017 Iron Discipline
2016 Scholar Award
2016 Wrestler of the Week
High School: Alex is a 4X Missouri State Qualifier and a 2X Missouri State Placer as he placed 6th as a Junior at 106 lbs before placing 6th as a Senior at 120 lbs for De Soto High School. Alex was also a four-year letterman in soccer.
High School Career Record: 167-42
ABOUT ALEX
Nickname: Peewee/Whopper Junior/
Journey Kids/Freshman
Parents: Renee Bolden & Richard Waggoner
Step Parents: John Bolden & Lindsey Waggoner
Siblings: Autumn, Courtney, Lauren, and Wesley
HS coach’s name(s): Scott Speidel, John Brown and Don Minx
Greatest moment in wrestling: Placing my Junior Year
People who have had the greatest influence in your life: My parents, Scott Speidel, My family
Favorite athlete: Rich Froning Jr.
Favorite food: Sushi & Tacos
Favorite book: The Compound Effect
Favorite wrestling move: RKO!!!
Favorite quote: “When you wrestle, everything else in life becomes easy.”–Dan Gable
Craziest ambition: To travel the world.
If I could meet one person: Will Smith
I came to Maryville because: I want a great education, close to home, and the wrestling team is great.
Best sports advice ever received: Just have fun and enjoy the process.
Treasured possessions: 2001 Toyota Camry Le Sedan. 161,000 miles. Six cylinder
Something people don’t know about me: My family has two sets of twins in it.
10 years from now: I want to be teaching Biology, and I want to coach wrestling.
