Freshman wins 3A state wrestling title

Friday, Mar. 13, 2015

By Chris Long 

JDCHS Athletic Director

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

DRAPER — When Juan Diego Catholic High School freshman wrestler John Manning won the 138-pound 3A state championship, his achievement was impressive for at least three reasons. 

First, winning a state wrestling title is hard. To do it as a freshman is almost unheard of – only a handful of freshmen have accomplished this feat in the history of Utah high school wrestling.  Among the few who have is Wasatch High’s Cael Sanderson, who went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and now is the head wrestling coach at Pennsylvania State University. 

Second, the 138-pound weight class, particularly in the 3A division, is the toughest weight class in the state. 

Third, amazing as it was, winning the 3A state championship was not Manning’s most impressive victory this year. On Jan. 17, he won the Rockwell Rumble Tournament at Utah Valley University. 

“The Rumble” is among the most competitive tournaments in the western United States. At this tournament Manning beat the defending Idaho state champion, the defending Utah 5A state champion and, in the final match, bested the defending 2A state champion from wrestling powerhouse Delta High School. 

A week after the state tournament, Manning went on to win the Super State Tournament, which features the top six placing wrestlers from all classifications. In the finals of this tournament Manning pinned a former state champion from Maple Mountain High School. 

Many things contribute to Manning’s success. Prior to ever stepping on a mat for a high school match he had over 800 matches under his belt, having wrestled in tournaments all over the U.S., primarily coached by his father, Bill. 

As an old wrestling coach myself, what impressed me from the first time I saw him on the mat was his ability to focus: When John Manning steps on a wrestling mat, he sees nothing but his opponent. 

Former Tooele head wrestling coach and athletic director Rich Valdez said of Manning, “He’s just so deliberate! Every time I see him wrestle I’m more and more impressed.” 

Juan Diego assistant wrestling coach and former NCAA division I wrestler John DeHart says of Manning, “He has the best, most natural hips I have ever seen.” 

Perhaps only a wrestling coach would understand this, but trust me, it’s important. 

In addition to wrestling, Manning decided to play football for the first time this year and immediately became the starting inside linebacker on the Juan Diego freshman football team and saw time at running back as well. While preparing for the national high school wrestling tournament to be held later this spring, Manning has earned a spot on the Juan Diego soccer team. According to assistant boys’ soccer coach and head girls’ soccer coach Myriah Fankhauser, “Turns out John Manning is a really good soccer player, too!” 

Under the guidance of Coach Andrew Sedillo (former Arizona State wrestler) and Coach Jeff Richardson (former Idaho State wrestler) the Juan Diego little league team, Claw Wrestling Club, had so many team members they were forced to hold two practice sessions per night to fit the kids in the wrestling room.  

With the construction of the new addition to Saint John the Baptist Elementary School, which includes a new wrestling room more than twice the size of the old room, the future looks bright for Juan Diego wrestling. And leading the way is the phenomenal John Manning.