Takedown Report

State Champs C. Decatur & T. Hughes presented James Johnson Award at C.B. Aycock H. S.

            Undefeated State Champions Christian Decatur & Tyler Hughes of C.B. Aycock High School were awarded the 23^rd and 24^th James Johnson Award trophy as top senior scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina in 2020.  The presentation was in front of the High School on Saturday morning.  The award is named in honor of 3-time Greco-Roman National Champion & Olympic Coach James Johnson.  Decatur & Hughes share the award this year also with undefeated state champion Bryan Aragao of North Brunswick.  Aragao was presented the 22^nd J. J. Award in May and will wrestle at Mount Olive University this year.

            C.B. Aycock’s Coach Brian Doyle shared that Tyler Hughes “is one of the best ever to wrestle for CBA and would be #1 and hold every record had he not lost his entire sophomore season due to an injury.  In a pre-season event he blew out his knee…needed full reconstruction.”  In his freshman season at 152 lbs. Tyler won the 3A East Region to qualify for the State Championships.  He finished the season with a 49-13 record.  No matches the next year but Tyler bounced back to win two more Regional Championships and then 3^rd at the States his junior year, (losing to the eventual champion in the semis)  and 1^st place in his senior year.  He won 117 of his last 121 matches wrestled in high school.  Undefeated in his last 61 matches his final career record was (166-17).

            Coach Doyle mentioned that the only “other that can make the #1 claim is Ngu Tran, our 1st ever State Champ.  He, like Tyler, wrestled 3 years.  Tyler had 3 Regional titles, Ngu had 2, Tyler placed twice at State 3rd and 1st and DNP his first time a State.  Ngu placed 4th, 2nd and won his title on his last and third trip to state.”  Tran won the 6^th James Johnson Award in 2007, and Doyle shared “Tyler started wrestling in Middle School with our youth program.  He’s a quiet kid, yet has a confidence about himself that comes across wrong to his opponents.  Once you get to know him, you realize he’s a really great kid…just humble and confident.  He has a GREAT work ethic, determined and focused.  He has been doing Jiu Jistsu for the past 5 years and has done pretty well.  That helped him immensely on the mat.  He was an honor graduate, making him well rounded with regards to sports/academics.  He received a scholarship to wrestle at Mount Olive University this year.”

            Christian Decatur is a 4-time State Medal winner and holds the school record for most wins in a season and most career wins by a wrestler in North Carolina since the current annual match limit has been in effect.  He is a 3-time state champion, 4-time state finalist, and a 4-time regional champion and the New Era all time wins leader at 238 (238-10 career), ended his career with a 154 consecutive wins.  Doyle shared with a chuckle that “He is like his nickname, ‘Hollywood’ since at all the events, other wrestlers, parents, officials, coaches all wanted to talk with him, take photos, etc.  How he conducted himself was great…never got big headed…always handled it with humility, good cheer  and gratitude.”  Decatur has earned All-American status in wrestling and is an honors graduate. He received a scholarship to wrestle at University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

            Decatur is well known to The TakeDown Report’s readers.  He started his career at Rosewood High School and in his freshman year his (57-9) record and 2nd place finish at state put him on the TDR Top 12.  His sophomore year, (62-1), 1A East Regional Champ, State Champ and the TDR’s Lee Carroll Award winner as top underclassmen in the northern coastal plains.  Junior year (56-0) – 1A East Regional Champ, State Champ, and the TDR’s Roy Heverly Award as the Top Underclassmen in eastern North Carolina.  Then he moved to Aycock H.S. and as a Senior (63-0), 3A East Regional Champ, State Champ. 

            Both coaches, Doyle and assistant Mark Bass, boasted that “both wrestlers have worked extremely hard and demonstrated day in and day out they have what it takes to become a champion.  It is truly an honor and privilege to say I was their coach.”  Bass emphasized that he was more pleased by seeing that both wrestlers will go on to college.  “They will work hard and do well in their academics and in wrestling.”

            Previous award winners were Christian’s brother, Timothy Decatur of Rosewood in 2019, Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon in 2018. 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 promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors the award.  This award is for the most successful senior wrestlers in eastern North Carolina. Editor Martin Fleming noted, “While it is more expensive to have multiple awards, yet each undefeated state champion senior wrestler is deserving to be recognized.  It encourages wrestlers with 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 takedownreport@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

            James Johnson started wrestling 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 coached the Phoenix-based Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. He specialized in unique training in fitness with 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.  

            “J.J.” as his friends called him died last September in Arizona due to health complications developed while coaching the USA Juniors Greco-Roman team at the World Championships in Estonia.  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 was 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 20, 2020 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment