CrossfaceWrestling.net Tribute to Mike "Bobcat" Johnson
"Never taken down" , 84-0 , 4X Time State Champion
Mike Johnson of Lock Haven became the first four-time state champion. He also completed his career undefeated.
They don't have any celebration today that would rival that night and that trophy presentation.
The best wrestling example I can
share with my readers involves a matman
of yester year named Mike Johnson. I had
the privilege to observe his skills in person
as a high school and freshman
wrestler at the University of Pittsburgh.
Mike was a four-time Pennsylvania
state champ from Lock Haven (1958-1961),
who perfected the “duckunder” takedown
as a scholastic grappler. As a freshman at
Pitt, Mike Johnson competed at the prestigious
Wilkes Tournament during the
Christmas holidays. Mike wrestled his
way to the finals of the competition. His
opponent in the final match was an fantastic
senior EIWA champion from, would
you believe it, Pitt.
What you must totally understand at
this point in the column, Mike and his
senior matmate have practiced together on
a daily basis for at least two months. Thus,
his senior practice partner, the Pitt varsity
wrestler, knew his every move.
In the championship finals of the
Wilkes tourney, Mike lost to his senior Pitt
matman, 4-3. But what is so ironic, Mike
Johnson did score a takedown. Guess
what, it was a duckunder!
My point, drill work is the key to success.
It is the simple formula to perfecting
a move in wrestling or skill in any sport
you can imagine. Ask any great athlete.
Johnson's high school team, Lock Haven had 4 state champs in 1961, and they had 5 different kids on that '61 team that placed at D1 NCAA's a total of 9 times. And yet they didn't win their league championship.
1961 State Champs at Rec Hall
95 J. Lattimore - Trinity -7
103 Terry Wilson - Waynesburg -7
112 R. Kelvington - Trinity -7
120 Mike Johnson - Lock Haven -6 (1st four time champion)
127 Rod Wentling - Greenville -10
133 Lee Deitrick - Lock Haven -6
138 John Eckenrode - Bethlehem -11
145 John Dussling - Springfield Dela -1
154 Bob Kopnisky - Shaler Twp. -7
165 Gary Cook - Lock Haven -6
180 Jerry Swope - Lock Haven -6
UNL James Nance - Indiana -6
1960 State Champs at Rec Hall
95 Bob Bell - Columbia -3
103 Terry Haise - Strong Vincent -10
112 Mike Johnson - Lock Haven -6
120 Jerry Twoey - Philipsburg-Osceola -6
127 Carl Fraley - Hughesville -4
133 Doug Koch - Bethlehem -11
138 George Reese - Trinity -7
145 John Carr - Hanover Twp. -2
154 Frank Eisenhower - Bald Eagle-Nittany -6
165 Lee Hall - Hughesville -4
180 M. Dauberman - Sellinsgrove -4
UNL James Nance - Indiana -6
1959 State Champs at Rec Hall
95 Dick Rushatz - Allentown -11
103 Mike Johnson - Lock Haven -6
112 Art Maughan - Canonsburg -7
120 Floyd Welker - Shamokin -4
127 Dick Tressler - State College -6
133 Gene Tressler - State College -6
138 Bill Bonus - Trinity -7
145 Frank Eisenhower - Bald Eagle-Nittany -6
154 Wayne Rider - Hughesville -4
165 Gene Dixon - Philipsburg-Osceola -6
185 George Azar - Johnstown -6
1958 State Champs at Rec Hall
95 Mike Johnson - Lock Haven -6
103 Don Hopkins - Trinity -7
112 Dick Stauffer - Kingston -2
120 Dick Tressler - State College -6
127 Bart Mosser - Bethlehem -11
133 Earl Harris - Philipsburg-Osceola -6
138 John Byard - Wayneburg -7
145 Phil Edmunds - Forty Four -2
154 Ron Pifer - Bellefonte -6
165 Al Rushatz - Allentown -11
185 Ray Bazzoli - Chartiers-Houston -7