Illinois Michael Johnson Jr. captures USA Wrestling’s Ultimate Dominator
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by Benjamin Hupke
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa----When Illinois Michael Johnson Jr. competes on the wrestling mat, he demands to be the best. That's why wrestling at this weekend's USA Folkstyle Nationals meant so much.
"USA Wrestling is special, and this is where I wanted to wrestle this weekend, "the mammoth 13-year old marveled.
Already a four-time Ultimate Challenge Series recipient, Johnson Jr. reigned supreme for the second time in his young wrestling career, securing USA Wrestling's Top Honor-Ultimate Dominator.
For the first time in USA Wrestling history of this magnitude, Johnson Jr. did the improbable.
He scored the maximum points possible, 13,600.
He won seven individual USA wrestling Ultimate Challenge series events, and concluded his 2009 National Championship's (210 pound schoolboy division), with two falls and a decision.
"I focused more on training this season, and cut back on the competition," the 6'1, 210 pound 6th grader explained.
Already having edged his mark in USA Wrestling history, Johnson Jr. can now set his sights on a new challenge-- the Cadet division.
In Division 1, Devin Gulledge of Missouri was first with 9,000 points. Anthony Sederburg of Missouri was second with 8,800 points, and Illinois Fidel Mayora was third with 7,200 points.
In Division 2, Max Darrah of Missouri was first with 10,500 points. Indiana's Coner Dwyer was second with 9,300 points, and Wisconsin's Billy Pitzer was third with 8,800 points.
In Division 3, Michael Johnson Jr. of Illinois was first with 13,600 points. Ty Pelot, last year's Ultimate Dominator recipient, was second with 10,000 points, and Jake Adcock of Georgia was third with 8,400 points.
In Division 4, Tsvetomir Petrushev of Georgia was first with 9,400 points. North Carolina's Dennis Gustafson was runner-up with 8,200 points, and Idaho's Hayden Tuma captured third with 6,600 points.
2008 Olympic Champ leads grand march
Henry Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic Champ at 55 KG, led this year's grand march. The Colorado native, looked upon by many as the hero of the 2008 Olympic Games, spent the majority of his time signing autographs to aspiring youth.
"I'm trying to give back to a sport that has meant everything to me. I'm taking a year off to do that, and intend on getting back to competition next year."
The top-three individual point scorers in each age-group division were awarded an Ultimate Challenge Series Championship Belt. The belts were awarded to individuals based on their top-seven placement scores in the Ultimate Challenge Series.
The Ultimate Dominator was determined by the individual from any of the four age divisions who scores the most points. The Ultimate Dominator was determined using each individual's top-seven placement scores from USA Wrestling events
USA WRESTLING ASICS FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Bantam
40 - Cory St. Martin of Prior Lake
45 - Paul Keane of Frankfort Falcons
50 - Stevie Elwell of X-Factor Elite
55 - Fidel Mayora of Gomez Wrestling Academy
60 - Lance Runyon of High Altitude Wrestling Club
65 - Jay Cee Randolph-Gonzalez of Team Overtime
70 - Ravin Jackson of Simley Wrestling
75 - Eric Gonzalez of Delavan Darien Youth Wrestling
75+ - Daniel Kerkvliet of Simley Wrestling
Intermediate
50 - Joey Harrison of Sherman Challengers
55 - Mason Phillips of Eau Claire Youth Wrestling
60 - Rylee Molitor of Pinnacle Wrestling Club
65 - Peter Ogunsanya of Harvey Twisters
70 - Travis Wittlake, Jr of team Bucs
75 - Billy Pitzner of Advance School of Wrestling
80 - Nathan Walton of Red Cobra Wrestling
87 - Bryce Baumgartner of CIA
95 - Jared Florell of Forest Lake Rangers
103 - Gable Steveson of Harvey Twisters
112 - Seth Lecher of HORTONVILLE
120 - Corey Dublin of team louisiana
120+ - Blake Zalapi of Hononegah Wrestling
120++ - Gregory Brown of Bloomington South Wrestling
Novice
60 - Louie Hayes of Overtime
65 - Chad Red of Red Cobra Wrestling
70 - Kristopher Williams of Harvey Twisters
75 - Griffin Parriott of New Prague
80 - Nick Reenan of Best Trained
85 - Dominic Sutermeister of CMS
90 - Carver James of Dakota Wrestling Club
95 - Ryan Klemp of Lewiston Wresting Club
100 - Jordan Fischer of Camel Kids
105 - Mark Hall Ll of CMS
112 - Joe Marcano of Brandon Wrestling Club
120 - Cash Wilcke of High Altitude Wrestling Club
130 - Lance Benick of Forest Lake Rangers
140 - Isaac Florell of Forest Lake Rangers
140+ - Dylan Lemoine of Reedsburg Youth Wrestling
140++ - Todd Jr (TJ) Fischer of Boscobel Youth Wrestling Club
Schoolboy/girl
70 - Dante` Rodriguez of Golden Eagles Wrestling Academy
77 - Jens Lantz of Victory School of Wrestling
84 - Zach Siegle of Ghostriders
91 - Joseph McKenna of pascack hills
98 - Dennis Gustafson of WWA
105 - Logan Marcicki of SPARTAN LIGHTNING
112 - Colin Holler of Eagle 1
120 - Eddie Gonzalez of Team Overtime
128 - Bowen Schultz of Owatonna Huskies
136 - Jared Schaaf of Sauk Prairie
144 - Dominic Flock of Cashton Wrestling
152 - Jordan Ellingwood of Gomez Wrestling Academy
160 - Paul Harmon of Team GV (Green Valley)
175 - Nick Cobb of Best Trained
190 - Edgar Ruano of rwc
210 - Michael Johnson Jr. of Team Overtime
265 - Jake Scanlan of Excel
Veterans A
127.75 - Brian Utke of Unattached
138.75 - Cory Warman of Somerset Wrestling Club
152 - Jacob Rollans of Team GV (Green Valley)
167.5 - Rudy James of Unattached
187.25 - Andy Geerts of Route 63
213.75 - Dayton Ericson of LTD Team
286.5 - Brent Meyers of Unattached
Veterans B
138.75 - Chad Shilson of Minnesota Storm
152 - Ralph Britton of Burnett County Bulldogs
167.5 - Michael Kelly of Gilbert Grappling
187.25 - Mike Kappers of Somerset Wrestling Club
213.75 - Octavius Bellamy of Wild Cat Wrestling Club
286.5 - Jeremy Christeson of Bulls Wrestling Club
Veterans C
127.75 - Charles Knox of Unattached
138.75 - Fred Schuman of Unattached
167.5 - Kelly McGovern of Whizzer wc
187.25 - Anthony Porcelli of team porcelli
213.75 - Jeff Anderson of Waubonsee
286.5 - Timothy Stepleton of team steep
Veterans D
127.75 - Thomas Mooney of Unattached
138.75 - Mark Levasseur of Minnesota Storm
152 - Dexter H. Carpenter of Unattached
167.5 - Steven Mark Smith of Bison Wrestling Club
187.25 - Bob Montague of Coon Rapids Mat Bandits
213.75 - Lee Fish of OP Little Huskies
"USA Wrestling is special, and this is where I wanted to wrestle this weekend, "the mammoth 13-year old marveled.
Already a four-time Ultimate Challenge Series recipient, Johnson Jr. reigned supreme for the second time in his young wrestling career, securing USA Wrestling's Top Honor-Ultimate Dominator.
For the first time in USA Wrestling history of this magnitude, Johnson Jr. did the improbable.
He scored the maximum points possible, 13,600.
He won seven individual USA wrestling Ultimate Challenge series events, and concluded his 2009 National Championship's (210 pound schoolboy division), with two falls and a decision.
"I focused more on training this season, and cut back on the competition," the 6'1, 210 pound 6th grader explained.
Already having edged his mark in USA Wrestling history, Johnson Jr. can now set his sights on a new challenge-- the Cadet division.
In Division 1, Devin Gulledge of Missouri was first with 9,000 points. Anthony Sederburg of Missouri was second with 8,800 points, and Illinois Fidel Mayora was third with 7,200 points.
In Division 2, Max Darrah of Missouri was first with 10,500 points. Indiana's Coner Dwyer was second with 9,300 points, and Wisconsin's Billy Pitzer was third with 8,800 points.
In Division 3, Michael Johnson Jr. of Illinois was first with 13,600 points. Ty Pelot, last year's Ultimate Dominator recipient, was second with 10,000 points, and Jake Adcock of Georgia was third with 8,400 points.
In Division 4, Tsvetomir Petrushev of Georgia was first with 9,400 points. North Carolina's Dennis Gustafson was runner-up with 8,200 points, and Idaho's Hayden Tuma captured third with 6,600 points.
2008 Olympic Champ leads grand march
Henry Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic Champ at 55 KG, led this year's grand march. The Colorado native, looked upon by many as the hero of the 2008 Olympic Games, spent the majority of his time signing autographs to aspiring youth.
"I'm trying to give back to a sport that has meant everything to me. I'm taking a year off to do that, and intend on getting back to competition next year."
The top-three individual point scorers in each age-group division were awarded an Ultimate Challenge Series Championship Belt. The belts were awarded to individuals based on their top-seven placement scores in the Ultimate Challenge Series.
The Ultimate Dominator was determined by the individual from any of the four age divisions who scores the most points. The Ultimate Dominator was determined using each individual's top-seven placement scores from USA Wrestling events
USA WRESTLING ASICS FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Bantam
40 - Cory St. Martin of Prior Lake
45 - Paul Keane of Frankfort Falcons
50 - Stevie Elwell of X-Factor Elite
55 - Fidel Mayora of Gomez Wrestling Academy
60 - Lance Runyon of High Altitude Wrestling Club
65 - Jay Cee Randolph-Gonzalez of Team Overtime
70 - Ravin Jackson of Simley Wrestling
75 - Eric Gonzalez of Delavan Darien Youth Wrestling
75+ - Daniel Kerkvliet of Simley Wrestling
Intermediate
50 - Joey Harrison of Sherman Challengers
55 - Mason Phillips of Eau Claire Youth Wrestling
60 - Rylee Molitor of Pinnacle Wrestling Club
65 - Peter Ogunsanya of Harvey Twisters
70 - Travis Wittlake, Jr of team Bucs
75 - Billy Pitzner of Advance School of Wrestling
80 - Nathan Walton of Red Cobra Wrestling
87 - Bryce Baumgartner of CIA
95 - Jared Florell of Forest Lake Rangers
103 - Gable Steveson of Harvey Twisters
112 - Seth Lecher of HORTONVILLE
120 - Corey Dublin of team louisiana
120+ - Blake Zalapi of Hononegah Wrestling
120++ - Gregory Brown of Bloomington South Wrestling
Novice
60 - Louie Hayes of Overtime
65 - Chad Red of Red Cobra Wrestling
70 - Kristopher Williams of Harvey Twisters
75 - Griffin Parriott of New Prague
80 - Nick Reenan of Best Trained
85 - Dominic Sutermeister of CMS
90 - Carver James of Dakota Wrestling Club
95 - Ryan Klemp of Lewiston Wresting Club
100 - Jordan Fischer of Camel Kids
105 - Mark Hall Ll of CMS
112 - Joe Marcano of Brandon Wrestling Club
120 - Cash Wilcke of High Altitude Wrestling Club
130 - Lance Benick of Forest Lake Rangers
140 - Isaac Florell of Forest Lake Rangers
140+ - Dylan Lemoine of Reedsburg Youth Wrestling
140++ - Todd Jr (TJ) Fischer of Boscobel Youth Wrestling Club
Schoolboy/girl
70 - Dante` Rodriguez of Golden Eagles Wrestling Academy
77 - Jens Lantz of Victory School of Wrestling
84 - Zach Siegle of Ghostriders
91 - Joseph McKenna of pascack hills
98 - Dennis Gustafson of WWA
105 - Logan Marcicki of SPARTAN LIGHTNING
112 - Colin Holler of Eagle 1
120 - Eddie Gonzalez of Team Overtime
128 - Bowen Schultz of Owatonna Huskies
136 - Jared Schaaf of Sauk Prairie
144 - Dominic Flock of Cashton Wrestling
152 - Jordan Ellingwood of Gomez Wrestling Academy
160 - Paul Harmon of Team GV (Green Valley)
175 - Nick Cobb of Best Trained
190 - Edgar Ruano of rwc
210 - Michael Johnson Jr. of Team Overtime
265 - Jake Scanlan of Excel
Veterans A
127.75 - Brian Utke of Unattached
138.75 - Cory Warman of Somerset Wrestling Club
152 - Jacob Rollans of Team GV (Green Valley)
167.5 - Rudy James of Unattached
187.25 - Andy Geerts of Route 63
213.75 - Dayton Ericson of LTD Team
286.5 - Brent Meyers of Unattached
Veterans B
138.75 - Chad Shilson of Minnesota Storm
152 - Ralph Britton of Burnett County Bulldogs
167.5 - Michael Kelly of Gilbert Grappling
187.25 - Mike Kappers of Somerset Wrestling Club
213.75 - Octavius Bellamy of Wild Cat Wrestling Club
286.5 - Jeremy Christeson of Bulls Wrestling Club
Veterans C
127.75 - Charles Knox of Unattached
138.75 - Fred Schuman of Unattached
167.5 - Kelly McGovern of Whizzer wc
187.25 - Anthony Porcelli of team porcelli
213.75 - Jeff Anderson of Waubonsee
286.5 - Timothy Stepleton of team steep
Veterans D
127.75 - Thomas Mooney of Unattached
138.75 - Mark Levasseur of Minnesota Storm
152 - Dexter H. Carpenter of Unattached
167.5 - Steven Mark Smith of Bison Wrestling Club
187.25 - Bob Montague of Coon Rapids Mat Bandits
213.75 - Lee Fish of OP Little Huskies
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