USA Wrestling leader John Carlson, a longtime Arizona State scorekeeper, gets Lifetime Service Award from ASU Wrestling
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by Mollie Hanke, Arizona State
TEMPE, Ariz. – For those who work behind the scenes in college athletics, it's rare to be honored for their service but for one member of the Arizona State wrestling table crew, the honor is nearly 50 years in the making.
John Carlson (ASU '69), who has served as the scorekeeper for ASU wrestling for over 45 years, was honored Friday night with the Lifetime Service Award for his contributions to the team since the early 1970's.
An Iowa native, Carlson started wrestling at the age of nine and, upon moving to Arizona, attended ASU and got involved with the wrestling program as a workout partner.
"A lot of times, there's not big guys that want to work out because it's…work. So I was a little bit different in that I didn't mind working out. Wrestling is one of those inclusive sports where you can be any weight and wrestle, you don't have to be big like a football player or tall like a basketball player.
"Charlie Tribble was there at that time as was another kid, Rick Cahill, who was my roommate and workout partner and went on to win a WAC heavyweight championship. Since then, I've been a total supporter of ASU athletics, but especially wrestling."
Carlson has been a part of not just regular season matches, but several championships – a WAC championship, Pac-10 and Pac-12 championships and even traveled to the 1988 NCAA championships with his wife, Carol.
"I helped start little kids wrestling in 1969 and so it was neat to see some of those guys come through and go to ASU and several were on that 1988 team. Jim Gressley, Tom Ortiz, Chip Park, they were all part of Arizona wrestling and we wanted to go support Arizona wrestlers and Arizona State."
"There wasn't a big group that followed the team around at that time and at one point, the alumni association, I think, consisted of four people. It was so exciting to come into the championships that last day and look to see ASU was in first place and say 'Whoa'."
Carlson recognizes the support of the current version of the ASU Alumni Association, especially the positive contributions of Dr. Christine Wilkinson and the events surrounding the 1988 Championship reunion in January of 2018 saying with amazement "That was the first event of that magnitude we've ever had like that for wrestling."
Having seen the shift in several head coaches and staffs from Bobby Douglas to Lee Roy Smith to Tom Ortiz, Shawn Charles, and now Zeke Jones, Carlson sees a renewed energy and excitement in the program.
"Bobby Douglas was one of the greatest coaches of all time but didn't like to go out and give speeches, but when Lee Roy came, he was more of an organizer because he came from USA Wrestling."
Carlson sees similarities between both in Jones.
"Zeke came from USA Wrestling, so he's used to organization, and I think he's doing a really good job and people like him. He always has a smile on his face. He has a good staff, too; they walk around and talk to people after the matches, win or lose."
Carlson recognizes that Jones, assistant coaches Lee Pritts and Chris Pendleton, and volunteer assistant Haislan Garcia also have great support from alumni, community, and administration.
"Art Martori, who wrestled at ASU, helps the program a lot and [Sun Devil Wrestling board member] Bobby Williams is another great guy. [Senior Associate AD] Don Bocchi has also been at ASU for a lot of the time I've been there and has been a great supporter of wrestling as well."
"There's so many things about the program that can make you proud, from where it started and a wrestling room that could be called a dungeon in the 1960's to where we are now."
Recognized at various levels across the state, region, and country, for Carlson this honor means just as much, if not more.
"It's pretty overwhelming because I didn't do anything to receive it," he said via phone while en route from attending the state wrestling championships back to Tempe for Friday night's match.
"I've been honored by several other groups – the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and am a gold level coach through USA Wrestling, which is the highest level you can go – but to be honored in front of your peers is incredible. When Zeke called me, I thought, 'What is he talking about? I don't do it for the recognition' but it's just overwhelming."
Sun Devil Wrestling isn't the only local entity to recognize Carlson. In 2011, Chandler Unified School District opened its 30th elementary school – the John and Carol Carlson Elementary School. Carol served as a long-time teacher, early childhood specialist, summer school program coordinator, and more while John filled various roles from teacher to coach to athletic director. The Carlsons even got to suggest that the new school adopt ASU's maroon & gold as their school colors.
For Carlson, the potential sacrifice of serving as scorekeeper for so many years is far outweighed by the excitement of a front row seat and by all that wrestling has taught him as a person.
"The sport of wrestling teaches you a lot about yourself. It's not like a lot of sports where you can blame it on the person next to you – they didn't pass me the ball – it's all on you. It's done a lot for me – it's made me a go-getter."
"The other thing that keeps me going is that when you're there next to the mat and you can hear the coaches talking, you can hear things, and when the referees come over to talk to the table, they talk to me and know that I know what I'm talking about, and that's cool. I really enjoy it that way."
Carlson's connection with the sport goes deeper than just a job.
"I lost my leg to cancer and I think the sport of wrestling is what keeps me going – both attending matches and what it's taught me. No one is going to feel sorry for me or do it for me, I have to do it myself."
For Carlson, he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon but just for a moment, Sun Devil Wrestling took an opportunity to give back to someone who has given so much to the program and to the sport.
Editor's Note: In addition to all he has done for ASU Wrestling, Carlson has been a volunteer leader within USA Wrestling, serving on key national committees and supporting Arizona USA Wrestling at the state level.
John Carlson (ASU '69), who has served as the scorekeeper for ASU wrestling for over 45 years, was honored Friday night with the Lifetime Service Award for his contributions to the team since the early 1970's.
An Iowa native, Carlson started wrestling at the age of nine and, upon moving to Arizona, attended ASU and got involved with the wrestling program as a workout partner.
"A lot of times, there's not big guys that want to work out because it's…work. So I was a little bit different in that I didn't mind working out. Wrestling is one of those inclusive sports where you can be any weight and wrestle, you don't have to be big like a football player or tall like a basketball player.
"Charlie Tribble was there at that time as was another kid, Rick Cahill, who was my roommate and workout partner and went on to win a WAC heavyweight championship. Since then, I've been a total supporter of ASU athletics, but especially wrestling."
Carlson has been a part of not just regular season matches, but several championships – a WAC championship, Pac-10 and Pac-12 championships and even traveled to the 1988 NCAA championships with his wife, Carol.
"I helped start little kids wrestling in 1969 and so it was neat to see some of those guys come through and go to ASU and several were on that 1988 team. Jim Gressley, Tom Ortiz, Chip Park, they were all part of Arizona wrestling and we wanted to go support Arizona wrestlers and Arizona State."
"There wasn't a big group that followed the team around at that time and at one point, the alumni association, I think, consisted of four people. It was so exciting to come into the championships that last day and look to see ASU was in first place and say 'Whoa'."
Carlson recognizes the support of the current version of the ASU Alumni Association, especially the positive contributions of Dr. Christine Wilkinson and the events surrounding the 1988 Championship reunion in January of 2018 saying with amazement "That was the first event of that magnitude we've ever had like that for wrestling."
Having seen the shift in several head coaches and staffs from Bobby Douglas to Lee Roy Smith to Tom Ortiz, Shawn Charles, and now Zeke Jones, Carlson sees a renewed energy and excitement in the program.
"Bobby Douglas was one of the greatest coaches of all time but didn't like to go out and give speeches, but when Lee Roy came, he was more of an organizer because he came from USA Wrestling."
Carlson sees similarities between both in Jones.
"Zeke came from USA Wrestling, so he's used to organization, and I think he's doing a really good job and people like him. He always has a smile on his face. He has a good staff, too; they walk around and talk to people after the matches, win or lose."
Carlson recognizes that Jones, assistant coaches Lee Pritts and Chris Pendleton, and volunteer assistant Haislan Garcia also have great support from alumni, community, and administration.
"Art Martori, who wrestled at ASU, helps the program a lot and [Sun Devil Wrestling board member] Bobby Williams is another great guy. [Senior Associate AD] Don Bocchi has also been at ASU for a lot of the time I've been there and has been a great supporter of wrestling as well."
"There's so many things about the program that can make you proud, from where it started and a wrestling room that could be called a dungeon in the 1960's to where we are now."
Recognized at various levels across the state, region, and country, for Carlson this honor means just as much, if not more.
"It's pretty overwhelming because I didn't do anything to receive it," he said via phone while en route from attending the state wrestling championships back to Tempe for Friday night's match.
"I've been honored by several other groups – the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and am a gold level coach through USA Wrestling, which is the highest level you can go – but to be honored in front of your peers is incredible. When Zeke called me, I thought, 'What is he talking about? I don't do it for the recognition' but it's just overwhelming."
Sun Devil Wrestling isn't the only local entity to recognize Carlson. In 2011, Chandler Unified School District opened its 30th elementary school – the John and Carol Carlson Elementary School. Carol served as a long-time teacher, early childhood specialist, summer school program coordinator, and more while John filled various roles from teacher to coach to athletic director. The Carlsons even got to suggest that the new school adopt ASU's maroon & gold as their school colors.
For Carlson, the potential sacrifice of serving as scorekeeper for so many years is far outweighed by the excitement of a front row seat and by all that wrestling has taught him as a person.
"The sport of wrestling teaches you a lot about yourself. It's not like a lot of sports where you can blame it on the person next to you – they didn't pass me the ball – it's all on you. It's done a lot for me – it's made me a go-getter."
"The other thing that keeps me going is that when you're there next to the mat and you can hear the coaches talking, you can hear things, and when the referees come over to talk to the table, they talk to me and know that I know what I'm talking about, and that's cool. I really enjoy it that way."
Carlson's connection with the sport goes deeper than just a job.
"I lost my leg to cancer and I think the sport of wrestling is what keeps me going – both attending matches and what it's taught me. No one is going to feel sorry for me or do it for me, I have to do it myself."
For Carlson, he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon but just for a moment, Sun Devil Wrestling took an opportunity to give back to someone who has given so much to the program and to the sport.
Editor's Note: In addition to all he has done for ASU Wrestling, Carlson has been a volunteer leader within USA Wrestling, serving on key national committees and supporting Arizona USA Wrestling at the state level.
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