Mark Johnson Interview

[admin]

http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/colleges/uofi_trans.gifIf you didn't see the big announcement on our home page, we just posted a 26 minute interview with University of Illinois head coach, Mark Johnson. Click here (http://illinoismatmen.com/live/markjohnson.wma) to listen to the entire interview.

Topics include:
Mark Johnson's background (wrestling and coaching)
Illinois lineup preview (weight by weight)
Big Ten and NCAA team preview
National Duals (why isn't Illinois attending)
Sean Reynolds (what's his status)
Pero's bad rap
Poeta vs Tirapelle
Illinois wrestle offs (when and where)
Quality of wrestling in Illinois at all levels
Recruiting and scholarships
Illinois' style (what it takes to wrestle for the Illini)
IHSA class system (1, 2, or 3 classes)

Any comments on the interview?

[admin]

"Illinois Fan" posted a pretty good recap of the Mark Johnson interview on TheMat college message board.


Coach Johnson said Illinois line-up will look like

125 - Ott. It is his spot. Gomez will fill in for Ott. Ott won't wrestle the first semester. Bad knees.

133 - Flores has the inside track. Gomez will eventually challenge here. Johnson said both of these guys are 125 lbers and they will use whom ever makes the best 133.

141 - Pero. It is his spot. "His bad reputation is not deserved. Yes 3 different guys were injured wrestling him, but one of the guys Pero had cradled at the time of the injury." Johnson said Pero is not a dirty wrestler and is an extremely hard worker. He also said Pero improved in one season, possibly, more than any wrestler he has ever been around.

149 - Troy Tirapelle has the inside track.

157 - It is a toss up between Poeta and A. Tirapelle. Johnson would not tell who has the upper hand, but I have heard Poeta will win this wrestle off. Johnson did say that Tirapelle was injured going into the NCAA's last year and it definately affected his performance. Johnson said Poeta walked in as a freshman the most ready for college wresting out of almost anyone he has coached. Johnson also said this wrestle off will continue through the first part of the year.

165 - Loser of 157

174 - Donny Reynolds. It is his spot and Johnson says he is just getting back to top form after tearing his ACL two years ago. Johnson said before tearing his ACL Reynolds was giving Lacky all he could handle in practice. Reynolds should have a very solid season if he stays healthy.

184 - Freidl. It is his spot. Johnson said Freidl is the most finesse wrestler on the team.

197 - Byrd. It is his spot. Beat 5 of the 8 place winners last year.

HWT - Wide Open between John Wise, Matt Fletcher, and Matt Weight
Sean Reynolds is going to school part time so his eligibility won't start until next season. This should help Sean and Illinois in the long run since they have a log jam at 149 and 157.

Illinois will probably wrestle in the National Duals again next year, but won't be there this year. They told the Tirapelle's that they would wrestle in California and last year a couple of their guys were injured at the duals. Which Johnson felt hurt the team at NCAA time because it took the guys that long to recoop.

I thought it was a good interview.

[BigSky]

I enjoyed the interview with Coach Mark Johnson...and look forward to more! :)