Grant Lucas – Sports editor. Wildcat football faces a rough 2009 schedule that includes four straight road games and contests against nationally ranked teams, all while seeking a Northwest Conference title and a 54th consecutive winning season.
To accomplish this, the ’Cats look to veteran junior quarterback Aaron Boehme for offensive production and leadership.
Boehme has been exposed to football since birth. His father coached the game, and whether his family lived in Corvallis, Albany or Stanwood, Boehme hung around practices and weight-lifting sessions.
Boehme first entered into the sport in third grade when he played flag football as a back-up running back. In fourth or fifth grade, tackle football began. About that time, he decided to try another position.
“I went up to the coach in the first week and said, ‘Coach, can I try quarterback?’” Boehme said. “We went undefeated that season, and the rest is history.”
Success in football isn’t anything new to the Boehme clan. Aaron’s dad, Tom, was a wide receiver and defensive back in high school. He continued his career as a wide out at Mt. Hood Community College, where he helped the Saints win a national championship.
Tom began coaching, but he stepped away from the position when Aaron entered high school, allowing him to watch his son’s games.
By his freshman year at Stanwood High School in Washington, Boehme fell into his natural position at quarterback and also free safety. In his sophomore campaign, he assumed he would play for the junior varsity squad because a starting quarterback was already in place. Because of hard work and strong relationships with his coaches, however, Boehme became backup quarterback and free safety, as well as a wide receiver. Although he only hauled in three or four passes, he enjoyed every minute.
During his junior season, Boehme held a major role on his team as starting quarterback and free safety. With inspiration from the senior class, Boehme helped lead Stanwood to a 7-3 record and a WesCo North conference title. The Spartans were knocked out of the playoffs, however, in the first round.
Stanwood had a mere five or six returning starters for Boehme’s senior year. But with considerable experience under his belt, he led the Spartans to a surprising season, missing playoffs by one game. That season, Boehme set school records for touchdowns and solo tackles in a season. He was named all-state safety, second-team all-league quarterback and first-team all-league punter.
With success in various positions before coming to Linfield, Wildcat coaches weren’t quite sure how to utilize Boehme. All they knew was that he was an all-around athlete. Boehme’s work ethic paid off for him in his freshman year, earning him a spot on the traveling squad.
After earning a backup position as quarterback his sophomore year, Boehme was named starter the following season. Midway through the third quarter of the season opener against Hardin-Simmons University, Boehme went down with a broken collarbone, keeping him out for the rest of the season.
Boehme remains positive for the 2009 campaign, aiming for a Northwest Conference title and playoff berth. He will be guiding the ’Cats with a unique leadership quality. While most leaders are influential through words and Oscar-winning speeches, Boehme has a different tactic:
“When it comes to being a leader, I let my playing do the talking,” he said. “I like to lead by example and show my leadership through my play and my passion. I’m working on being more of a vocal leader, however, and getting other players going that way.”
His coaches, he said, probably see him as a “goofy guy” who likes to keep the atmosphere light by cracking jokes, whether appropriate or not. Even with that, Boehme is perceived as a lover of the game, his teammates and the Catdome, and as someone who is knowledgeable and has a solid grasp on the offense.
Boehme plans to continue his football career after college, although not as a player. He hopes to acquire a graduate assistant position and earn a master’s degree in education. His ultimate goal, he said, is to assume the role of head coach of a solid football program. If that falls through, he will use his degree to become a high school math teacher while coaching its team.