Johnny Matacic Jackson-Milton

The junior added to Jackson-Milton’s long legacy of championship wrestlers when he captured the 130-pound title in the Division III state tournament in Columbus in March.

Matacic compiled a 36-6 record en route to winning the crown with a 5-3 victory over his nemesis, Mike Kovach, of Bedford Chanel.

Kovach had defeated Matacic twice earlier in the season, including in the district finals the week before.

Matacic used what he had learned in those two setbacks and counted on his opponent using the same offensive moves.

Matacic changed his strategy and the moves paid off with the victory.

“I learned what he did and his style,” Matacic said, “and he did the exact same thing. I changed how I did my shots and that paid off big.”

“I wanted to do well in the [regular season] tournaments and place in the top four in the state,” said Matacic of his preseason goals.

As a sophomore, Matacic qualified for the state tournament and reached the podium by placing seventh. He said the experience of competing before huge crowds in cavernous Value City Arena was invaluable as he prepared himself mentally for this season’s tournament.

“I wasn’t nervous because I knew there would be a bunch of people, so I just blocked all that out,” he said.

Also a champion in the Hephner tournament at Austintown and the sectional champion at Rootstown, Matacic said he didn’t change his approach as the season went along.

“I found what worked and stayed with it and tried to get better,” he said.

Matacic is also a member of the Jackson-Milton golf team and carries a 46 average.

His goal for 2010-11? Pretty simple. “Be state champion again.”