So far, for sophomore wrestler Zach Johnson, this has been a season of change.
Johnson, 19, started this season wrestling in the 174-pound weight class, but is aiming to get down to the 157-pound class that he wrestled at last year.
Johnson says that it has been tough to go from weight class to weight class.
“You feel the guys. They are a lot stronger at a higher weight class,” he said.
“When you go down a weight class the guys are not quite as strong. There is a lot more scrambling when you go down a weight class.”
Johnson mentioned certain strengths that he has.
“Keeping my cool and keeping good composure, not stressing [is one of my strengths]. That is one thing I have learned in college, not feeling like you are behind all the time.”
Johnson feels that his biggest weakness is the fact that he underestimates himself, and he questions his abilities.
“As the season progresses, you get more confidence,” he said.
“That’s one thing I learned last season. I was very unsure of myself and I came through at the end.”
Johnson, a business major, has been wrestling since he was 4 years old. “I started wrestling in Wasco. Me and my buddies just stuck with it our whole lives. It’s been great,” said Johnson.
Johnson feels that the toughest part of wrestling for him is keeping a positive attitude on the mat.
“Wrestling is 80 percent mental. It rides on how you feel when you wake up in the morning,” he said.
Head wrestling coach Bill Kalivas said that Johnson brings cohesion to the team. “I think he brings stability,” Kalivas said. “He tries to work by example.? He has his moments where things are real tense. He brings a little levity,” said Kalivas.
Kalivas also said that Johnson needs to improve on his offensive skills. He said, “He doesn’t have the confidence yet to utilize them often enough.?As we say, he won’t pull the trigger and attack. He doesn’t have the confidence yet on his feet to complete most of his skills.”
Kalivas mentioned determination, discipline, perseverance,?dieting and weight management as the top five attributes of a college wrestler.
Johnson said that his team has great chemistry on and off the mat. “The team has a lot of personalities. We’re fun. We keep that going in and out of practice.?I think this last tournament we really grew as friends,” he said.