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Show DAVIS REFLEX JOURNAL, DECEMBER 19, 1984 JiuLstiini Junlasiderj A Giant Among 9 8 --Founders By KEITH DUNCAN Jl'LANDFR Journal Sports intimidation - You can talk all KAYSV1LLE you want about the techniques that the graduated Shawn Robinson taught Justin Julander, but perhaps the greatest lesson Davis star learned was that of 'hard work. I HAVE to believe that Robinson proved to Justin that hard work does pay off. Of course there's been a lot in between, but Justin realizes what it takes to be the best, said Jim Dickson. It's nothing new that Robinson and Julander have much in common. Last season they were the smallest Dart wrestlers at 105 and 98 respectively, Robinson being a senior returning state champ while Julander was trying his hand at varsity wrestling for the first time ever. Davis Justin Julander grimmaces during title match at Viewmont tournament. Johnson Sheds Shyboy Image; Becomes A Fighter By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports CLEARFIELD - No one ever really told Clearfields Merrill Johnson that he couldnt be a decent wrestler someday, but hardly anyone really cared anyway. -- BUT IF you were to ask any coach from Delta on the south to Box Elder on the north, there isnt many of them that wouldnt trade their wifes wedding diamond to have a chance to put Johnson on their team roster. Coming out of junior high, the wrestling speci-ma- n skinny would have had a tough time even making it as the waterboy on most good teams. BUT DEEP down inside, Johnred-head- son wanted to be somebody someday. As he learned from Scott Tennis in the beginning, his mind was slowly made up that hed give it everything he had and then some. to be the very best he could be. AS A sophomore it was no surprise we didnt hear of him. He was muddled somewhere in the junior varsity system. But midway through last season, Johnsons determination which had been fueled with hour upon hour of hard work, finally began paying off. ALL OF a sudden the Johnson name was becoming a household name when talking about Clear- field wrestling. Through the season he placed first the University of Utah tournament and again took top honors at the Jordan Invitational. At seasons end he was knocking the socks off some people with sheer aggressiveness alone. He concluded his junior year by taking second at the region meet and culminated a spectacular year by finishing fifth at the state tournament. This guy still hasnt got even a partial load of talent, but on the other hand is loaded to the hilt when it comes to determination and working hard. AND WITH that hes making his senior year at Clearfield something to remember. After the Viewmont Invitational he was heads above field in most of the with a fine record. Through that stretch he had taken first place in the Layton High tournament and a very respectable second place in the tough Viewmont tournament. Its simply a story of dogged-neve- r say die determination that follows Johnson everywhere he goes this winter. Last weekend he beat a good Bountiful wrestler and then claimed one of the most impressive victories of his upstart career by beating Viewmonts Adam Howard. Another victory over a Union wrestler put him in the finals. 132-pou- 8-- 4-- A 2 WHERE DO you get motivation to fuel your spirit that never gives up? After being asked that ques tion, Johnson paused for a moment and said it was his coach and parents. Coach Tennis has done most of it by scheduling good teams to dual with, good tournaments to meet the best in and has told me that if I stay and practice while the rest of the field is home eating turkey, Ill have a chance to beat them. Thats how its done, said Johnson. LAST SEASON Johnson wrestled at 138 but is down this year to 132. It was a good move, to go down, said Johnson. But I believe where ever I end up, there are good wrestlers who want you as bad as you want them. Johnson's hard work and display of grittiness is something he hopes rubs off in a positive way on the rest of the team. We've gotagood team but weve got a long ways to go before we can even hope of winning the region title, he said. TENNIS loves everything about Johnson and has stated several times during the last few months, he's one of the greatest kids that Ive ever coached." As far as Im concerned, Johnson is a champion in everyway. Hes a gentlemanand a hard worker in every sense of those words. WHEN HE first came out for wrestling he used to get thumped. But he stayed after practice and worked harder than any kid Ive seen. He hated being the loser and was determined to get up or. top. Last summer he spent $400 of his own money and sacrificed one entire month to attend a wrestling camp in Iowa. In addition to that he wrestled all the freestyle tournaments and has never shied away from wrestling the toughest kids that he could find. JOHNSON isn't scared of anyone and more than anything in the world wants to become a good wrestler. Hes honest and one of the greatest kids Ive ever know. If I had a son, thats exactly what I'd want him to turn out like," said Tennis. TOP FINISHERS Viewmont Tournament Justin Julander Davis High second place Todd Kopecky THE TWO kids developed a liking for each other and it's been something that has carried over into another year. Even though Robinson now wrestles in college, he still comes back when he can to check-i- n on Julanders progress. Needless to say, if Julander continues the upward trek he's riding this year and wins a coveted state crown this year or next, you can bet he'll be grateful for that one year he spent under the expertise of Robinson. JULANDERS sophomore greatness. Julander struggled, but learned, from start to finish. He won only 10 of 25 matches but his progress late last season gave every indication hed be back to get his piece of the pie as a junior and senior. A second place in the region tournament was a lot to talk about. AND JULANDER has emerged. After helping out in track last spring in long distances races and doing the same in cross country this past fall, its as if hes obsessed with the hard work epic. But its all paid off, at least to this point in the season. He presently sports an impressive 1 record in '84-8having lost only to Delta's Tim Nelson last Saturday night during the finals of the Viewmont Invitational. Prior to that tournament he was 11-- 5, 8-- By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports LAYTON -- - Mike Hansen and Brent Higgs have a friendship that goes back a long ways. And after this winter is over, it'll be a friendship that will last a lifetime. BRENT happens to be the unspoken star of the '85 wrestling team at Layton High while Hansen is the veteran coach there. These two have developed a fondness for each other over the past couple of years that stems primarily from Higgs love for a sport that has been as much a part of Hansen's life as getting up everyday nd eating breakfast. COACH HANSEN has told us Clearfield High Merrill Johnson ling, but wxre fighters he would help us to be winners in time," said Higgs with a ton Clearfield High second place According to Dickson, the lightest Dart wrestler is as confident as hes ever been dont think I'm as scaled to face anyone anymore because ol some of the little things Shaw n has 1 taught me." said Julander. "Shaw n has tried to teach me some ol the little things that ically make a difference in a close match " OF COl RSE a lot of Julandei's support comes from home where his father, Allen, helps in any way he can. Even though Allen wasnt a wrestler himself, he and his wife Tharis are kindling a love for the sport that has completely enveloped their son. When you're as good as what Julander appears to be. there is always talk of winning it all Justin claims "it wont be easy" especially with kids like Clearfield and Layton has. Everyone has a good chance to win the state title, but some are better than others," he said. WINNING IS fun this year. said Julander. "Its a lot more fun that losing. 1 think that's the greatest thrill Im having so far. I had a pretty tough time last year." Julander first got involved with athletics in junior high, as a w rest-leIronically he had Robinson as a coach one year and another was spent under the direction of Bait Thompson, now the assistant coach at Clearfield High. r. AS A ninth grader he went 12-- 0 and won the district championship. "I believe I began to love w rest-linin the ninth grade. 1 here's not a lot a high school kid can do in athletics, besides track or cross country." said Julander. g 100-pou- IM then." KINDA glad 1 found it he concluded. I think Justin saw a chance foi success when he first came to Davis High as a wrestler. Naturally hes a hard workerand hopefullv w ill all pay off for him like it did for Shawn when he was here. it ITS BEEN real fun to see Shawn come back and assist Justin in anyw'ay he can, even though hes pretty busy. said Dickson. It's exciting for me to see Justin have the success he's having this year becuase of the lumps he took last year. His confidence level is way up this year," continued Dickson. Not Much Talent, But Higgs Isnt Scared Of Anyone the past that even though we might not know a lot about wrest- second place seasons ago. he wasnt very big pysically, maybe 135 pounds at the most. But despite the lack of sie. he was a fighter when it came to athletics and Hansen has taken that d attribute and helped to d build one of the state's quality wrestling stars. high-value- THIS SEASON his record stands at 10-- 1 after the Viewmont Invitational last weekend at Viewmont High. He was 0 going into the tournament but was challenged by one of the toughest tournaments to be held this year and eventually settled for third place, losing to a tough opponent front Wasatch (2-in the semi-final- s. Higgs earlier was the champion at the Layton tournament in which he beat the same Wasatch wrestler. 6-- in nonc-lhe-Ics- s, I JUST didnt wrestle well ing that one who lost it 2-- 1. When Brent entered the doors at a sophomore two dur- match." said Higgs In getting third he pinned his first match, won of conviction. Layton High as I sea- son. an entire year of varsity wrestling under Dickson, set a foundation down that months from now will be looked upon as the beginning of a wrestler destined for isnt wiextlmg wi'h factors any mote. see next page 1 in ' : |