Matacic is the standard for Jackson-Milton wrestling

Photo

Johnny Matacic II

Top Athlete: Johnny Matacic

Video

Although Craig Beach is on a lake, Johnny Matacic II put it on the map.

The Jackson-Milton senior brought statewide acclaim to the tiny village along Lake Milton when he became Ohio’s 130-pound wrestling champion in Division III for the second time.

The back-to-back titles gave the easy-going Matacic the distinction of being Jackson-Milton’s only two-time state champion.

Between washings for the last three years, Matacic has worn a T-shirt with two inscriptions: “Craig Beach” on the front and “Craig Beach-trained” on the back. The words, air-brushed on by Matacic’s Aunt Cathe, exhibit pride in his part of the woods.

“That’s where roughnecks from Lake Milton grew up,” explained Matacic’s dad, Johnny.

His 152 career wins is also a school record, surpassing Nick Dierkes, currently a J-M assistant coach.

“He trained a lot with me,” Matacic said of Dierkes. Matacic’s wins during a 44-10 sophomore season still stand as the most in a single season.

Last month in Columbus, Matacic went 4-0 by beating Archbold’s Kenny Price (pin, 4:52) in the prelims, Sycamore Mohawk’s Kyle Parker (10-0 major dec.) in the quarterfinals and Hicksville’s Cody Laney (11-6 decision) in the semifinals before an 8-2 decision over Alex Carroll of Galion Northmor in the title match.

“He was on the lower bracket surprising some [other] kids,” Matacic said of Carroll. “That made it easier for me because I was expecting [another] kid. Because he [Carroll] was upsetting everybody and, since he made it that far, he had no pressure.

“It felt great,” Matacic said afterwards. “I heard everybody from my team cheering for me and I saw everybody looking down at me.”