The Sunnyvale Sun

Education

Fremont High's Novachkov proves he's one of the best

By Erin Hussey

When it comes to high school wrestling, Borislav "Boris" Novachkov, a Fremont High School senior, is considered one of the best.

His high school record boasts of winning state titles, receiving outstanding wrestler awards and currently holding the No.1 position in the California Interscholastic Federation poll for the 125-pound weight class.

But Novachkov is more than just a top-ranked wrestler.

"He's the American dream," says Firebird co-head coach Erik Duus. "He comes from a whole other planet. He comes from a communist country, and the wrestling team was one of the first places he felt comfortable."

In order to provide their sons with more opportunities, the Novachkovs moved to the United States in 2003. They chose Sunnyvale because of family friends living in the area.

"My mom said there was better education here and better colleges," Novachkov says. "We had green cards twice, but the first time we decided not to come. Then my mom got it again and said we might as well try it."

Once in Sunnyvale, the family was able to register Novachkov at Fremont High School one year earlier than most students.

"I didn't know English very well, and they wanted [my brother and me] to be together," Novachkov says. "I was supposed to be in middle school, but they put us together at the same high school."

Once at Fremont, both Novachkov and his older brother Filip were enrolled in English language classes, where they not only learned English but some Spanish as well.

"He would come in speaking Spanish to us and we were like, 'Aren't you suppose to be learning English?' '' remembers co-head coach Bobby Soto.

In addition to excelling academically--Novachkov currently holds a solid 3.4 grade point average--the brothers joined the wrestling team and immediately started making an impact.

"I think we were handed a gift from the wrestling gods," says Duus about Novachkov. "His foundation in wrestling, that was instilled in him in Bulgaria, really sets him apart. His positioning and the way he moves his body in different situations is almost perfect."

Novachkov's wrestling career began when a few of his elementary school friends invited him to a wrestling practice.

"I used to tell my parents I was just going outside, but I was really going to practices," he says. He says he doesn't really remember why he chose not to tell his parents.

Shortly thereafter, Novachkov was invited to join the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria, a competitive sports-driven school for elite and soon-to-be elite athletes.

"It was less school and more wrestling," Novachkov says. At the sports academy, he trained in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling styles. He was also a member of the Bulgarian Junior National Team.

But Novachkov's transition from wrestling in Bulgaria to America wasn't easy.

"The wrestling style over there is totally different than the style we do in this country, so that was a major challenge," Duus explains. "He was also very small, around 90 pounds, and our lowest weight class is 103, so another challenge was trying to figure what a little guy could use against a bigger guy."

Since his first year Novachkov jumped three weight classes, learned the rules and techniques of collegiate/folk style wresting and now weighs 125 pounds.

Next year, Novachkov will join his brother at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo on a full wrestling scholarship. While he will be missed by both his teammates and coaches, they are also eager to follow Novachkov in college and most likely in the Olympics.

"He has such a bright future in wrestling," says Soto. "Something that I'm looking forward to is becoming a fan of Boris' and not just his coach."