Takedown Report

State Champ Beau Studebaker given ‘James Johnson Award’ as a top Senior Scholastic Wrestler in Eastern North Carolina

Beau Studebaker, State Champion from East Carteret High School, was presented the 20^th James Johnson Award as a top senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina.  He was presented the trophy at the annual sports booster fund raiser event, The Mariner Fest, in August before the start of the fall sports seasons.  He was also awarded a TDR Top 12 shirt.

Beau has a career record of 157 wins and just13 losses.  He won his last 97 consecutive high school matches.  He also holds the school records for most tech falls in a season, most wins by a freshman and most wins by a sophomore and the most wins in school history.  Most impressively is that he is a three time state champion and four time regional champion.

Beau shared that his toughest opponent this season was his teammate Nick Brazleton who pushed him every day.  He also noted that he has been fortunate enough to have wrestled in competition in 10 different states over the years.  Now he is looking to increase that number while wrestling at Campbell University.  Studebaker stated that he “encourages young wrestlers to stick with it as it will benefit them in the long run.” For his senior season he had a perfect winning record in 36 matches this season as he won his third state championship. The previous season he won the award for the top underclassman wrestler in eastern North Carolina.  That award is named for Roy Heverly Award, a 4 time state medalist at West Carteret and three time All-American at The University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

State Champions Jeremiah Derby of First Flight High School and Thomas Hudson of Dixon were also presented a James Johnson Award trophy as best senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina in 2018 at events at their school earlier this summer. The award is named in honor of three time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson. For the second consecutive year more than one award will be given.  All three finished as an unbeaten state champion in a dominate fashion in their weight class this year.

In previous years award winners were Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith (2016) of Havelock, Joe Mondragon (2015) of Ashley H.S., De’Andre Jones (2014) of New Bern, Alex Bray (2013) of Croatan, Jon Wiley (2012) of South Brunswick, Marquin Hill (2011) of Washington H.S., 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, Raymond Jordan (2004) of New Bern, Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock, David Pelsang (2005), and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak.

The TakeDown Report has for over 20 years promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors the Award.  This award is for the most successful senior wrestler in eastern North Carolina. Fleming noted, “It is more expensive to have multiple awards yet each undefeated state champion senior wrestler deserves to be recognized.”  “It encourages young men from teams in the eastern part of the state with an opportunity to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added.  The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.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 started 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. In 2012 he was a coach for the U.S.A. Olympic Greco-Roman team in London.  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, and Olympic Team Alternate. He has been an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years. More at http://jjchamp3x.com/.

September 28, 2018 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized