Wrestler of the Year: Johnson on the right path

DeKALB – DeKalb wrestling coach Mike Pater is sure Doug Johnson has plenty of clothes.

But it's hard to find the Barbs' sophomore 125-pounder wearing any shirt other than a Barbs' wrestling hoodie or DeKalb Wrestling Club T-shirt. Johnson is soft spoken with a stoic countenance in a sport driven by emotion. But to the people that share the DeKalb High halls with Johnson, it is obvious he is driven to be the best wrestler possible. 

"Wrestling means everything to Doug," Pater said. "I don't know where he would be without wrestling. He's had some ups and downs in his life. But wrestling is his life. Teachers have jokingly asked me if he has other clothes because he's always wearing a wrestling sweatshirt.

"But that is Doug. He lives and breathes wrestling and teachers and everyone knows it."

While Johnson has faced challenges in his personal life, he lives with his father who works nights, he's persevered because of the structure wrestling provides. With plenty of after-school free time, Johnson avoided the potential pitfalls of life when he discovered wrestling with his cousin Corben Campuzano. 

Huntley Middle School coach Pat Kiley refined Johnson's skills and found a wrestler dedicated to the mat room. With DeKalb assistant coaches Andy and Sam Hiatt and Pater, Johnson has male role models that have succeeded as collegiate wrestlers, all at Northern Illinois.

It's motivated him to do well in school and has allowed him to dream of a life that includes college.

This winter, the total immersion in wrestling translated to a sixth-place finish in the Class 3A state individual tournament. All season, Johnson (40-6) only lost to two wrestlers, Belleville West senior Dylan Viglasky and West Aurora senior Nicholas Drendel.

He placed in a 125-pound bracket at state that featured four undefeated wrestlers, won the inaugural Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference tournament and has been named the 2010-11 Daily Chronicle Wrestler of the Year.

Because of his intense dedication to wrestling and pursuit of a state title Johnson trained all summer at Overtime MMA gym in Naperville, wrestled with DeKalb assistant coaches Andy and Max Hiatt and weight trained at FitWorkz in DeKalb. He'll take the same training approach this summer and will try to qualify for Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D.

"I wish I knew where Doug got his drive from because I would instill it in other wrestlers," Pater said. "He had a tough time growing up, but the one thing he had success with was wrestling."

When Johnson loses a match, something that has only happened 13 times in two prep seasons, he quickly leaves the mat. His frustration boils over.

"I hate that feeling," Johnson said. "I don't like to lose at all. Whenever I take the mat I am pretty sure I can beat anyone."

There was even a time when Johnson was sure he'd wrestled someone better than him. But he qualified the statement.

"Eighth grade at Nationals in Fargo there was a kid," Johnson said. "But he was older, bigger and more experienced."

After losses as a freshman, Johnson wanted to leave the mat before the referee raised his opponents' hand. This season, Johnson offered opponents a quick handshake and waited for the official, but the feeling was still the same.

Pater will take the abrupt reaction that comes with a loss because it's filled with passion. The DeKalb coaching staff has worked to make sure Johnson understands the importance of good sportsmanship, but also knows it can easily mold a driven wrestler.

"Doug really wants to be a state champion," Pater said. "He's had a lot of success and expects a lot. He might not always react the best way after a loss. But, look at the alternative; a wrestler that doesn't care. That is more frustrating to me.

"Doug has grown up in two years and has worked hard to make sure he's respectful. But I know if he loses he's going to try and fix it and learn from it."

Chances are he'll be wearing a DeKalb wrestling sweatshirt when he does so.