Amanda Rink, Editor
Longtime wrestling contributor John “Johnnie” Johnson will receive the Russ Smith Community Impact Award in recognition of his dedication to the sport in Iowa. Johnson, a coach, photographer, broadcaster, and journalist, has devoted much of his life to promoting wrestling at all levels.
A Clarion native, Johnson currently serves as an assistant girls’ wrestling coach at East Buchanan Schools in Winthrop. His remarkable career includes being a five-time national wrestling photographer of the year and a former president of the National Wrestling Media Association.
Johnson’s journalistic achievements have been widely recognized; he has earned awards such as the Dan McCool Media Award from the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and the Iowa High School Athletic Association Media Award. He is also the Small College Editor for Amateur Wrestling News and a national staff photographer for Wrestling USA.
Beyond media contributions, Johnson officiated high school and college wrestling for over 40 years. In 2023, he received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the Iowa Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is also a Distinguished Member of the Iowa Central Community College Hall of Fame.
His long list of achievements traces back to his roots in Clarion. Growing up as one of eight children in the Johnson family, wrestling was a key part of his upbringing.
“My dad, Jimmie Johnson, also had a passion for the sport. When I was about nine and we were building our house at Lake Cornelia, many of the bricklayers were current Iowa State wrestlers such as Tom Peckham from Cresco, who helped get me excited about the sport as they were my idols. The ISU athletes along with the long line of wrestling legends from Clarion such as Walter Oldham, Wally Hagen, Carrol Wilson, Morris Wilson, Paul Bell, Larry Bensen, Gary Tourtelotte, Mel and Tom Waldon, Les Anderson and Andy Anderson, Ted Derscheid, Randy Smith and of course Glen Brand.”
Clarion has long been known for producing exceptional wrestlers, including Olympic gold medalist Glen Brand. Johnson credits that rich environment with sparking his passion.
“The culture and environment in Clarion was very supportive of wrestling, and many of the home events were just electrifying!” Johnson recalled. “The North Central Conference during the late ’60s and ’70s was the premier wrestling conference in the state. The intense competition helped develop my passion for the sport.”
Johnson’s wrestling journey continued at Iowa Central Community College, where he was part of its first NJCAA national championship team in 1981. An injury ended his competitive career, but his dedication to the sport never wavered, he turned to coaching, officiating, and writing.
Reflecting on his experiences, Johnson emphasized the life lessons he strives to pass down to young wrestlers.
“There are many lessons I try to instill in my student-athletes, teamwork, dedication, hard work, and discipline,” he explained. “We also talk with our wrestlers about life after wrestling and the importance of being strong, positive contributors to society. Even as young adults, they need to be aware that they’re role models for younger athletes. We focus on a positive mental attitude and the self-fulfilling prophecy in that if they truly believe in something, positive or negative, such as telling themselves I can or can’t do something- it will come to fruition.”
Johnson has excelled not only in coaching but also in wrestling media. His award-winning photography and journalism have been instrumental in promoting the sport.
“I started writing articles and taking pictures when I was a coach at Sioux Empire College and Kirkwood to help promote not only my student-athletes and program but NJCAA (JUCO) wrestling in general,” he said. “From there, I expanded to covering everything from youth wrestling to international events.”
Despite numerous honors, the upcoming Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame induction holds special significance for Johnson.
“This award is particularly special to me because Glen Brand and I are both from Clarion,” he said. “Additionally, this Hall of Fame honor is for native-born Iowans who’ve significantly impacted wrestling in the state, which makes it incredibly humbling.”
When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Johnson reflected on the challenges and rewards of the sport.
“I would tell myself that the hard work, practices, and competition, especially the losses, are well worth the effort because the sport of wrestling teaches you many lessons that are valuable and will lend themselves to success in life. ” he shared. “As Dan Gable said, ‘Once you have wrestled, everything else in life is easy!’”
Johnson will be honored alongside the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa’s Class of 2025, which includes Kevin Darkus, Daniel Dennis, Felicity Taylor, Joe Zuspann, and the 1985-86 University of Iowa wrestling team. The Class of 2025 banquet will take place at Prairie Links Golf & Event Center in Waverly, Iowa, on June 20, 2025. For more information, contact the Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745 or dgmstaff@nwhof.org.
