James Johnson Award
Annually Awarded by the TDR to the top senior scholastic wrestler in Eastern North Carolina starting in 2002.
James ‘JJ’ Johnson was one of a kind
By Craig Sesker, InterMat Senior Writer
James Johnson had a larger-than-life presence. And a personality to match.
James Johnson coaching Ben Provisor at the 2012 Olympics (Photo/John Sachs)A strong, towering man who looked more like a basketball player than a wrestler, Johnson could light up a room with his infectious laugh, outgoing demeanor and ever-present smile. Known affectionately around the world as JJ, he impacted the sport of Greco-Roman wrestling as an athlete and a coach for the past four decades.
He competed in and coached in the most prestigious events on the planet. And enjoyed more than his share of success. It was shocking to hear late Sunday night that JJ had passed away. He was just 61 years old. He had reportedly undergone an emergency appendectomy at the Junior World Championships in Estonia last month and had been battling an infection after returning home to Phoenix. As you can imagine, social media was flooded with tributes to JJ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on Sunday night and Monday morning. He was a beloved man who had a positive impact on people of all ages. JJ could talk to anybody about anything. He loved wrestling, loved his family and loved life. JJ wrestled at the University of Kentucky where he was an NCAA qualifier. He was recently inducted into the athletic hall of fame at his alma mater. Rest of the story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22318?mc_cid=98b1387d98&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Olympic Greco-Roman coach and past World Team member James Johnson, 61, has passed away
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | SEPT. 09, 2019,
USA Wrestling has received word that 2012 Olympic Greco-Roman coach and past World Team member James Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz., has passed away at age 61. Johnson was a 2012 U.S. Olympic Team coach in Greco-Roman in London, England, a World Team coach in 2011, and member of numerous other World and Olympic team coaching staffs. Johnson has served over 15 years as the head Greco-Roman coach for the internationally respected Sunkist Kids club. As an athlete, Johnson competed on two U.S. Senior World Teams in Greco-Roman (1993 and 1994).
Known by most people as JJ, he was not only respected for his coaching ability, and also very well-liked across the USA and the world for his friendly, caring approach to life. Although Johnson was soft-spoken, he was always smiling and laughing and bringing joy to those around him. “Our heart breaks for JJ’s family and friends. He has been a long-time contributor to USA Wrestling and the American Greco-Roman effort. He was an inspiring athlete, exceptional coach and all-around great person. His presence and impact will be greatly missed by our sport,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. Rest of the story at
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/September/09/James-Johnson-passed-away?fbclid=IwAR3GUl7y_J_AeO7D8NOBTBsK9CNF_0bEniqRx1e_CnE3BzxWlh8LzfEZ5yQ&mc_cid=98b1387d98&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Monday Roundup: JJ; Full ’19 Worlds Viewing Schedule; Coverage Plans
TDR Editor’s ; Quite sad and stunned by this news. James was a good man and an inspiration for many young wrestlers in Eastern North Carolina and beyond. In my first year coaching long ago we had a poster of James up in our practice room. He looked massive and intense dominating his opponent and that was the image I had in my mind until I actually had the pleasure to meet him in 2002 when we presented the first James Johnson Award to the top senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina. In reality I met a kind, generous man who had traveled quite a distance to join us and was glad to encourage wrestlers in our area. Will miss seeing J.J. in action as a coache and encourager.
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A fixture in the corner of dozens of athletes throughout his coaching career — and a World-caliber wrestler himself before that — James Johnson’s influence is impossible to miss. You see it on the faces of the current generation who wear the Sunkist name on their singlets; and there isn’t a Senior coach in the country who will exit a conversation without Johnson’s own name being brought up for one reason or another. He just seemed to be everywhere. Always around. Always involved. Always joyful to play a role in the sport, and constantly excited to shepherd the next wave of hopefuls who are attempting to forge their own journeys to greatness. That’s why when the news broke late last night that Johnson had unexpectedly passed away, an enormous sense of loss immediately flooded the USA Greco-Roman community. National-level wrestling breeds close familial bonds. Rest of the story at https://fivepointmove.com/greco-wrestling-news/jj-full-19-worlds-viewing-schedule-coverage-plans/?fbclid=IwAR3h6zKTcm0ltqItB7mNXK5tsd82bTYoIDq0yKnsFWO3vl8ZQjSf9k5xwag
Potentially Dangerous Podcast: Casey Kreiter
Iowa’s premier site for youth, high school, college, and international wrestling. Potentially Dangerous Podcast this week is hosted by Ross Bartachek. Joining Ross this week is special guest Casey Kreiter of the Denver Broncos. Casey grew up as a multi-sport athlete in the state of Iowa for Central DeWitt high school. Now in his his fourth season with the National Football League, Casey shared his background in the sport of wrestling, and how it impacted his life growing up. As an alum of the University of Iowa, Casey is also an avid supporter of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Listen in at https://iawrestle.com/2019/09/09/potentially-dangerous-podcast-casey-kreiter/?mc_cid=98b1387d98&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Nick Suriano will redshirt Rutgers wrestling season to chase Olympic dream
Nick Suriano has his sights set on the Olympics. The Rutgers wrestling national champion is going to take a redshirt for the upcoming season in order to chase a spot in next year’s Olympics, according to a member of his family. A second source also confirmed Monday night. Suriano, who was a four-time undefeated NJSIAA champion at Bergen Catholic, became Rutgers’ first NCAA champion back in March. Now, he’ll attempt to become one of six wrestlers representing the U.S. at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
The Olympic Trials will be held April 4-5 at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State. The most likely Olympic weight class for Suriano is 57 kilograms (125.7 pounds). Suriano wrestled at 125 pounds his freshman and sophomore years but moved up to 133 pounds before his title-winning junior season. The next-lowest Olympic weight class is 65 kg (143.3 pounds). Rest of the story at https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/college/wrestling/2019/09/09/nick-suriano-chasing-olympics-taking-rutgers-wrestling-redshirt/2269929001/?mc_cid=98b1387d98&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Wrestle Like A Girl Fourth Annual Gala
The 2019 Wrestle Like a Girl Gala Committee is delighted to invite you to our 4th Annual Gala in Washington, D.C. Please join us to celebrate a year of remarkable growth in women’s wrestling. This five-star evening includes:
- Plated dinner
- Entertainment – Darcy Ataman – Musician and founder of Make Music Matter, an organization dedicated to bringing music therapy to survivors of conflict and trauma.
- Afsoon Johnson Courage Award – Wrestle Like a Girl will award a courageous female wrestler with support from Tiffany and Co.
- Auction – “Wrestler Girl”, an iconic painting from esteemed D.C. artist Maggie O’Neil, will be on display and for auction at the gala.
Rest of the story and details at https://us.commitchange.com/dc/washington/wrestle-like-a-girl/events/wrestle-like-a-girl-fourth-annual-gala?mc_cid=5be9bc022b&mc_eid=acc33765a9
Class of 2023 Big Board
Meet The Freshmen
A whole new influx of talent is coming to a mat near you. The former Junior High Big Board is split with the bulk of them becoming freshmen. We’ll start with the Top 50 and expand to 100 as the year goes on. Most of the data comes from NHSCA Middle School, Kids Nationals, 14U Duals, 15u Nationals, Akron, and Fargo Cadets. Also playing a huge part, of course, is the Roller series, VAC Duals and McDonogh Duals. It should also be noted that Super 32 Middle School is a virtual Who’s Who of Junior High wrestling. It’s right around the corner, so sign up now. Rest of the story and list at https://www.flowrestling.org/rankings/6561170-class-of-2023-big-board/32411-meet-the-freshmen?utm_source=newsletter&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_medium=email
Championship Wrestling Coaches – Division II
The Division II (D-II) National Championships were first
held in 1963 in addition to the Division I (D-I) championships. Since then 57 championship teams have been
crowned. There has been a greater
balance in the number of D-II championship teams than in D-I as was reported in
the previous story.
There have been 15 different schools winning a championship in D-II. The school and coach with the most
championships is California State Polytechnic University with Vaughn Hitchcock
as the coach for eight championships.
Hitchcock first won at the 4th National Championship in 1966. In 1968 Hitchcock coached his team to another
championship which became the first of seven consecutive titles. This has been the longest streak of
consecutive titles in Division II.
Three coaches are tied for 2nd with seven team
titles each. They are Joe Seay at
California State Bakersfield, David James at Central Oklahoma and Mike Denney
at Nebraska-Omaha. Seay moved on to Oklahoma
State and won two more championships at the D-I level. James has directed his teams to championship
titles five times while in the NAIA before the school moved into the D-II
championships. Nebraska-Omaha abruptly dropped the sport just hours after
Denney led his team to a 3rd consecutive championship (and 6th
in just eight years). He moved on to coach
at Maryville University when they added wrestling and remains as the only
active head coach of the top four coaches.
Tied for 5th are Bucky Maughan of North Dakota State and Steve
Costanzo of St. Cloud University with four championship teams. Costanzo is still active and his teams have
won four championships along with 4 runner-up finishes in the past nine years. Tied for 7th place with three
championships each are Marc Bauer of Nebraska-Kearney, and Larry Kristoff of
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville who won three consecutive titles in the
mid-1980s.
Five coaches are tied for 9th with two championship titles are Frank Romano of Notre Dame College, Chuck Patten of University of Northern Iowa, Marlin Grahn of Portland State, Tracey Borah of Western State in Colorado and Pat Pecora of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Pecora is the third coach on this list that is still active and his team looks to be a pre-season favorite for the title. Patten won his titles before U.N.I. moved to Division I. Borah was the first coach to win a D-II championship. His team repeated the feat the following year. Grahn won the only national championships by a men’s team at Portland State. The school moved to D-I and rationalized dropping their program ten years ago citing a lack of success at the new level. It leaves the school with just five men’s varsity programs. Recently retired Romano earned his team’s titles after winning championships in NAIA and NCWA divisions.
In 14th place are four coaches each with one of the remaining championships.
These coaches that have guided their teams to National Championships are commendable and worth recognition. Next article will look into who was the coach of championship wrestling teams in NCAA Division III and then the NAIA and the National Junior College A.A.
| DIVISION II | COACH | # | First | Last |
| Cal Poly | Vaughan Hitchcock | 8 | 1966 | 1974 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | Joe Seay | 7 | 1976 | 1983 |
| Central Oklahoma | David James | 7 | 1992 | 2007 |
| Nebraska-Omaha ** | Mike Denney *# | 7 | 1991 | 2011 |
| North Dakota State (1) | Bucky Maughan | 4 | 1988 | 2001 |
| St. Cloud State | Steve Costanzo * | 4 | 2015 | 2019 |
| Nebraska-Kearney | Marc Bauer | 3 | 2008 | 2013 |
| SIU Edwardsville | Larry Kristoff | 3 | 1984 | 1986 |
| Notre Dame (Ohio) | Frank Romano | 2 | 2014 | 2017 |
| Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Pat Pecora * | 2 | 1996 | 1999 |
| Portland State ** | Marlin Grahn | 2 | 1989 | 1990 |
| Northern Iowa Un. (1) | Chuck Patten | 2 | 1975 | 1978 |
| Western State | Tracey Borah | 2 | 1963 | 1964 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | T.J. Kerr | 1 | 1987 | |
| Minn. St.-Mankato | Rummy Macias | 1 | 1965 | |
| Portland State ** | Howard Westcott | 1 | 1967 | |
| San Francisco State | Lars Jensen | 1 | 1997 |
- = school now competes on the Division I level.
‘* = active coach
** = school does not currently field a wrestling team
# = Coach is now active with another team
Averett University adds Davis as assistant coach
DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men’s wrestling head coach Blake Roulo announced Friday the addition of Patrick Davis as an assistant coach with the program. A two-time Delaware state champion in high school, Davis wrestled collegiately at Division I George Mason University for three-plus seasons after transferring from Division I North Carolina State University, where he began his career. While at George Mason, Davis finished third at the Eastern Wrestling League’s conference tournament in 2015 and 2016. He also placed third in his weight class at the Navy Classic Invitational and the Lockhaven Invitational. During his time at N.C. State, he finished fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Off the mat, Davis twice earned EWL Academic All-Conference honors. In addition to competing, Davis has coached at the club and high school levels. Rest of the story at https://averettcougars.com/news/2019/9/6/mens-wrestling-wrestling-adds-davis-as-assistant-coach.aspx?mc_cid=85d9df8e78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
