Takedown Report

Marquin Hill awarded James Johnson Trophy as top wrestler in eastern North Carolina

            State Champion Marquin Hill of Washington High School was presented the 10^th Annual James Johnson Award as the best scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina in 2011.  The award is named in honor of three time national champion James Johnson.  Principal Russell Holloman presented the award to Marquin at the school’s awards banquet.
Hill repeated as state champion last season with an undefeated (49-0) record in the 3A division at 285 lbs.  In his junior season won his first state title with a (47-2) record and was named the Roy Heaverly Top Underclassman Award in the east.  He also placed 6^th his sophomore year and has a career record of 168 wins and 26 losses.  Prior to the state tournament Hill had won titles at the prestigious Beast of the East, Conference and Regional Tournaments.   Hill was also named the top 285 lbs. wrestler in eastern North Carolina by the TakeDown Report for the second year that earned him an engraved plaque for that honor along with his name at the top of TDR Top 12 Shirts.
Coach Dan Riggs stated “Hill deserves it for his hard work during the season and before.”  Athletic Director Allison Jones added, “We are real proud of Marquin and he encourages the younger guys.”  Hill remarked, “I appreciate this award and know that there are many tough wrestlers in our state.”   He will be going on to wrestle at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in the fall.
Hill is the 1^st wrestler to win both top underclassman and top senior wrestler in consecutive years since Raymond Jordan of New Bern.  Jordan went on to twice earn All-American honors at the University of Missouri.  Previous award winners arer Branden Lietz (2010) of J.H. Rose, Mamour Camara (2009) of Louisburg, Anthony Rogers (2008) of Knightdale, Ngu Tran (2007) of C.B. Aycock, Victor Hojillo (2006) of West Carteret, David Pelsang (2005) and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak, Jordan (2004), Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock were previous award winners.
The TakeDown Report, an on-line publication promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina, sponsors the Award.  “The award is to recognize the most successful wrestler in the area each year.” Fleming noted, “It encourages the young men from the teams in the eastern part of the state with another opportunity for others to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added.  The TakeDown Report is in its’ 14^th year of publication in North Carolina reporting wrestling results and encouraging media coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR at tdr@tarboronc.com
            James Johnson started wrestling in his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach.  James was Coney’s 1st state champion in any sport in 1976.  He was North Carolina’s 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina’s 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976.  He went on to start four years at the University of Kentucky.  He is now a sports consultant and coach for the Phoenix-based Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. He also specializes in developing unique training for people of all fitness levels with a broad background in public speaking, sports training techniques, and health and fitness.  He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame last May.
            Before developing James Johnson, Inc., James served as a Public Relations/ Community Speaker for Sunkist worldwide.  He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, Olympic Team Alternate, and numerous accolades worldwide. He has been an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 16 years.  More information at or http://jjchamp3x.com/ the trophy can be seen at www.pittsburghtrophy.com/guillotine .

June 1, 2011 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized