Takedown Report

State Champion Geald Johnson named the James Johnson Memorial Award

            West Craven’s Gerald “J.J.” Johnson was presented the James Johnson Award for the 2024-2025 season as the top senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina.  The award is named in honor of three-time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson.  The presentation was made as a special highlight during his school’s Senior Awards Night on May 13th.    
Gerald “J.J.” Johnson won 49 of his 50 matches this year and he pinned his opponent in the 2A 150 lbs. state final.  Johnson was a three time Regional Champion and on the TDR Top 12 First Team in eastern N.C.
Last year Deondre Johnson of Clayton was given the James Johnson Award.  In previous years the award winners were Caleb Beatty of Corinth-Holders, Avery Buonocore and Alex Hopper of Laney High School in 2023. Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney in 2022, 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 promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina for over 25 years and sponsors this award. Editor Martin Fleming noted, “Gerald had a great season and we are honored to present him with this award.  This award is to encourage 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 displayed on the TDR Blog page.  Contact the TDR at takedownreport@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

West Craven coach Jeremiah Hohlfelder and Gerald “J.J.” Johnson

May 22, 2025 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment