Featured Athletes /// Grant Leininger and Zafaran Sat erfield, Southern Boone HS


REWRITING THE HISTORY BOOK AT SOUTHERN BOONE Story by: Bryan Hudnell Photography by: Tony Nguyen


In a program still writing its history, Grant Leininger and Zafaran  Southern Boone wrestling, still young by most standards, reached


            


Leininger’s story began early. He stepped onto the mat at 7 years old, driven by a mix of sibling rivalry and encouragement from his grandfather. More than a decade later, he leaves as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in program history. A four-time state qual-  season with a 45-1 record, 157 career wins, and the distinction of   


24 /// May 2026


make small adjustments and keep working to reach my goal.”   in a near-perfect season and a long-awaited breakthrough. “As a wrestling kid, you always dream about being at the top of the podium,” he said. “It was a surreal moment.”  gin wrestling until her freshman year, entering the sport with lim- ited experience but quickly making up for it with determination. By midseason, she was already turning heads, qualifying for state and building momentum that carried through her career. She became a    state champion.       compete at her highest level. What followed surpassed even her


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