Takedown Report

James Johnson Memorial Awards 2023

State Champions Beaty, Hopper, and Buonocore to receive the James Johnson Memorial Award

            Undefeated State Champion Caleb Beaty of Corinth-Holders High School, Alex Hopper and Avery Buonocore of Wilmington Laney High School will be presented the James Johnson Award for the 2022-2023 season as the top senior scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina.  The award is named in honor of three-time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson. 

            Caleb Beaty won his last 85 matches over three seasons as he won three state championships in two different weight classes. Caleb is a rare four-time member of the annual TDR Top 12 team as recognized by an engraved wooden plaque. Caleb has a 3.8 g.p.a at Corinth-Holders and will attend American University to study environmental policy.  He is looking forward to wrestling for Coach Borelli and helping build AU wrestling. Caleb placed second at the National High School Coaches Association Senior Nationals this year.

Avery Buonocore won 48 of 50 matches this season and won the 138 4-A state championship.  He was a two-time finalist and placed three times at the state championships.  He is a N.H.S.C.A. All-American and scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at U.N.C.-Pembroke.
            Alex Hopper won 49 of 50 matches this season while winning his 2^nd state championship title at 182 lbs.  In his four-year career at Laney he won 172 matches and just 11 losses and holds the school record of 152 pins. He is a strong scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at Appalachian State.

            Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney High School were presented the 26^th & 27^th Annual James Johnson Memorial Award trophies in 2022.  In previous years the award winners were River Carroll of West Carteret (2021), Tyler Hughes and Christian Decatur of C.B. Aycock and Bryan Argao of North Brunswick (2020), Timothy Decatur of Rosewood (2019), Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon (2018), Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith of Havelock (2016), Joe Mondragon of Ashley H.S. (2015), De’Andre Jones of New Bern (2014), Alex Bray of Croatan (2013), 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.

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 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 was an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years.  Johnson passed away in September, 2019 after coaching the USA Juniors Greco-Roman team at the World Championship in Estonia. 

            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 wrestlers in eastern North Carolina. Fleming noted, “It is more expensive to have multiple awards yet we see each undefeated state champion senior wrestler as deserving 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 takedownreport@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

April 25, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized