West Newsmagazine 3-21-18

24 I SPORTS I
March 21, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Johnson makes CBC history as first wrestler to win four state championships
By WARREN MAYES
CBC senior Malik Johnson has made
history with the Cadets’ wrestling program.
Johnson won his weight class of 126
pounds in the recent Class 4 state tournament
at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia,
marking Johnson’s fourth consecutive state
championship. He is the first CBC wrestler
to accomplish such a feat.
“It feels pretty good,” Johnson said. “I
did something that no one from my school
had ever done before.”
Johnson capped an undefeated season at
30-0 when he earned a 7-5 decision over
Seckman senior Cameron Fusco.
They have wrestled each other every year
for the district championship and for the
state championship. Johnson won them all.
“I don’t know if that’s ever happened
before where two kids met every year for
the championship,” CBC head wrestling
coach Cornell Robinson said. “That’s crazy.”
The two now will be teammates as they
both head to the University of Missouri in
the fall to wrestle.
Johnson became one of just 29 four-time
champions in Missouri wrestling history.
“I was pretty determined to get it done,”
Johnson said. “Not many people do it four
Johnson
times. I wanted it.”
Johnson finished with a 141-11 record in
his CBC career.
“He’s well-deserving of winning four
state championships,” Robinson said. “He
put in the time to do it. He didn’t take any
shortcuts. He wanted to win four times and
he did.”
There was pressure on Johnson. The
expectation was for him to win, but he was
not intimidated by that prospect.
“All I had to do was wrestle,” Johnson
said. “Earlier in the season, my stamina
wasn’t very good. I got it up by state
because that’s when it is important.”
Johnson won by fall over Aedan Brady,
of Waynesville, at 3 minutes, 59 seconds to
begin his state tournament.
“Going into the match, I knew I could
beat him,” Johnson said. “It was just a
matter of time when I could catch him. My
constant pressure would eventually break
him and it did.”
In the quarterfinals, Johnson won by
technical fall over Staley’s Brandon Borlinghaus
in 5 minutes, 32 seconds.
Johnson won by fall over Liberty’s Kage
Lenger in 4 minutes, 23 seconds in the
semifinals.
“That match was harder,” Johnson said.
“I didn’t think I was going to pin him. I was
happy to get it.”
That set up a rematch against Fusco.
“I kind of was more confident going into
this match. I’ve wrestled him a lot over the
years and I have always come out on top,”
Johnson said. “It was a good match. I knew
what he did and I was prepared for him. I
kept my pace up. I would not let him go.”
“This match, it was all Malik,” Robinson
said. “He had it all wrapped up. It was the
only takedown he gave up all year.”
Robinson was happy for Johnson.
“It looked like he enjoyed himself,” Robinson
said. “It was kind of sad, of course, for
Fusco. I feel like I know Fusco really well.
They’re joined at the hip. I think they’ll end
up being really good friends [at Missouri].”
Johnson credits Robinson with helping
him grow in the sport.
“[Robinson] is so dedicated,” Johnson
said. “He’s been in the room all the time.
He’s helped me a lot.”
Robinson said he knew it would take
work for Johnson to excel, but Johnson put
in the time and the results followed.
“He just came in and did what he does,
he’s all about business,” Robinson said.
“His mind remembers every situation
and every scenario. He has an answer for
everything on the mat. He’s a joy to watch.”
Johnson now is looking forward to wrestling
at the next level.
“Missouri was the one school that talked
to me the most,” Johnson said. “I really
liked the campus. I like the coaches a lot. I
think it’s a good fit for me.”
Robinson is sad to see Johnson go, but
knows he will excel at the Division I level.
“We will definitely miss him wrestling
for us. The one thing Malik is, is he’s a
competitor. You won’t show him up in
wrestling.”