Boone Wrestling Legacy Continues Through Grandson

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports 

(January 25, 2025 8:00 AM ET) For more than a decade Columbia Central High School wrestler Dylan Boone could look in the front row and see a host of family members at his wrestling meets and invitationals.

That crowd grew a little smaller nearly three weeks ago as his grandfather, Brion, passed away from health problems.

But it did not stop the CCHS junior from wrestling on the day he died – Jan. 8 – a two-pin night at Vandercook Lake.

“I wasn’t planning on wrestling that night,” Dylan said. “My family encouraged me.

“I spent most of the day at the hospital, got to the match in time for two pins, then back to the hospital,” Dylan said.

Brion had Type 1 Diabetes most of his life, had a kidney donated to him years ago by his wife Tracy, and survived a cancer scare a couple of years ago. When his heart started to falter, it was only a matter of time.

“The last two things he told me was to let the dogs out and good luck at my meet the next day,” Dylan said. “They (Brion and Tracy) and my other grandparents have been coming to my matches for years.”

The loss of Brion nearly closes the door on the beginning of the Boone legacy in wrestling. Dylan’s father, Brandon, won the final match sending CCHS to the Class B state team finals in 2000.

His uncle, Zach, was an all-state wrestler for CCHS in later years.

Dylan has been “training” with the Golden Eagles for a decade and a half as his father was coaching Zach for a few years.

Longtime Coach Ron Guernsey coached both Brandon and Dylan.

“Brandon relied on brute strength while Dylan has been trained by his father to be a shooter … collegiate wrestlers do that rather well,” Guernsey said contrasting the two. “It will serve him well if he advances to the collegiate level.”

Despite weighing only 240, Dylan wrestles at 285 pounds and has since his short-lived freshman year where he lasted only nine matches prior to an injury.

Last year Dylan advanced to the blood round at the regional tournament at 285 pounds – a win and advance or go home round in wrestling tournaments.

“I was mad after that match … it has motivated me to work harder this season.”

Dylan is 30-4 this season after having won a big match against Napoleon to pull out a win – just like his father at the MHSAA Class B semifinal 25 years ago.

“I have never defeated Napoleon in a team sport so it was exciting,” Dylan said of the win. “Being a rival made it better.”

Guernsey said Dylan could be on the all-state podium this year and should be a contender for a state title next year.

“Everything in wrestling is a process,” Guernsey said. “To wrestle 285 as a freshman and sophomore is tough … but as a junior and senior hopefully he gets getting bigger and stronger.”

Boone dreams of being on the podium and what it would mean for him and his family.

“It would mean the world to me (to earn all state),” Dylan said. “Everything I have fought through over the years in wrestling would have been worth it.

“I know whatever happens my grandpa would be proud of me.”