Johnson focuses on learning in the classroom and on the mat

Wrestling can be a grueling sport, but United States Greco-Roman wrestler R.C. Johnson has learned that staying relaxed and having fun helps him achieve success on the mat.

"I used to get mad and aggressive," Johnson said. "I wanted to win, every time, but then I realized so does everyone else."

With more than a decade of training and competition in wrestling under his belt, Johnson is now able to enjoy competition. However, his journey to reach this point has been anything but simple.

Johnson has been a member of the U.S. Greco-Roman National Team for two years, which includes the top three wrestlers in each weight class. To get to where he is now he has followed the Olympic progression from the U.S. Olympic Education Center (USOEC) at Northern Michigan to the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs.

As a freshman in high school, Johnson had never stepped foot on a wrestling mat until a friend from the football team talked him into going out for the team that winter.

"He told me that I should come out, and it would be fun," said Johnson.

As a senior in high school, team captain Johnson learned about Greco-Roman wrestling from another captain that had transferred to Johnson's high school, Robbinsdale Armstrong in Minnesota.

After a strong showing as a member of the Minnesota Junior National team with a seventh place finish at the 2000 Junior National Championships, Johnson caught the attention of coaches from the USOEC at Northern Michigan.

Given the opportunity, Johnson applied to attend school and train there. He had already committed to play football and wrestle at a Division III school in Minnesota when he heard he was selected to be a part of the USOEC.

"They called on Tuesday and I was at the USOEC on Saturday," Johnson said.

Ultimately his decision to wrestle at the USOEC came down to money and opportunity. The chance to have all his expenses paid in Northern Michigan was too tempting to refuse.

At the USOEC Johnson was just as successful in the classroom as he was on the mat. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in computer science.

"Computer science was one of my interests going in and after I took some different classes it seemed the most interesting," Johnson said.

It was in the USOEC program, first under head coach Gordy Morgan, and later under head coach Ivan Ivanov, that Johnson learned the fundamentals of Greco-Roman.

"I went in an okay high school wrestler and came out a decent Greco-Roman wrestler," said Johnson.

Johnson attributes his continued success since then to the training he received at the USOEC, and the opportunity it provided to continue training in Colorado Springs.

"The USOEC is the only reason I am here," Johnson said. "It's a feeder program, and if you are good enough you are invited come to the U.S. Olympic Training Center."

Now Johnson has set his sights on the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but to get there he may have to wrestle a familiar foe.

"I kind of convinced Adam (Wheeler) to come to the USOEC and train," Johnson said.

After training together at the USOEC and here in Colorado Springs, Wheeler and Johnson have battled for years and know each other well.

"We only had each other as training partners when he first got to the USOEC," Johnson said. "Both of us have beaten each other a bunch. It really just depends on who is having the better day."

Johnson will have to battle with more than Wheeler to make it to the Olympics. Currently Johnson is No. 3 on the Greco-Roman National Team and Wheeler is No. 2 behind No. 1 Justin Ruiz at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Johnson has won his most recent match against Wheeler at the New York AC Holiday International Open.

At the Olympic Trials, set for June 12-15 in Las Vegas, Nev., Johnson will be challenged as he wrestles the other top competitors in his weight class.

"I have to take it one match at a time," said Johnson. "This spring I need to stay healthy and put in a lot of hard work."

Not only is Johnson training for the Olympics at the USOTC, he is also pursuing his doctorate degree in computer science at the Univ. of Colorado-Colorado Springs, which provides unique challenges.

"It's harder here to train and study than it was at the USOEC," Johnson said. "The USOTC is set up for athletes that want to train full time, not that are going to school."

Although it can be a challenge, studying for his doctorate while training in Colorado Springs has provided a balance for Johnson.

"Wrestling is an escape," Johnson said. "Academics and work life are all mental. I can come to practice and get away from it."

Johnson grew up with an emphasis on education. Both his parents have graduate degrees in education, his father also a doctorate degree. Regardless of what happened for him in athletics, he knew he would be going to college.

"A degree was a must," said Johnson. "My parents said do whatever you want as long as you are getting an education."

Johnson plans to use his doctorate degree for research or teaching classes after his wrestling career is over. For now, he is focused on getting to the Olympics and representing the United States in the most prestigious international athletic competition in the world.