Robert O. Johnson

NSWCA Hall of Fame
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Robert O. Johnson
COMPETITOR
Hall of Fame - 1997
Gordon &
University of Nebraska
at Omaha

Coming from Gordon, NE. Robert Johnson - wait a minute! Where is Gordon, NE? Oh, yeah! That’s way “out West” where those kids throw hay bales around all summer and then go out for wrestling and throw bodies around all season. No wonder they are so tough and hard to beat. Well, that is exactly how you would describe Robert Johnson, “tough and hard to beat”. Compiling a record of 71-19 in high school with 3rd place at State his junior year and the State Champ Crown his senior year, he came to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and under the direction of Coach Orval Borgialli (Hall, 85) he began to set the wrestling world on fire. He qualified for nationals 3 yrs., took 3rd in the Big 8 Tourney 3 yrs., and collected the most pins in the least amount of time at that tournament. He was a Varsity wrestler all 4 yrs., and as of 1976 had the 2nd best career won/loss % with .730 over 50 matches for a college record of 65-24-0. As testimony of his popularity with the team he was voted team captain his last 3 yrs. in college and the Optimist Club of Lincoln designated him the Outstanding Freshman Wrestler as well as Outstanding Wrestler. He captured first in the Air Force Academy Tourney defeating national Champ Evan Johnson, 1st in the Iowa State Invite defeating National Champ Al Nacin; first in the Miami Sunshine Open where he received the Champion of Champion’s Trophy and took 2nd in the Oklahoma Open defeating national Runner-up Johnny Johnson. Robert’s biggest thrill came at the Sunshine Open in Miami. In his own words: “The U. of N. wrestling team hadn’t won a major tournament in 25 years. I was wrestling at 190 lbs. and wrestling an opponent from the team that was ahead of ours in points. Neither team had any more wrestlers in the finals after our match. I had to win by 10 points or more for our team to win by 1/2 point. My opponent had defeated the two-time defending tournament champ to get into the finals. During my semi-final match I dislocated my thumb and strained my left knee, aggravating an old injury. Orval had taped my hand so I could use it like a hook and wrapped up my knee. When the whistle blew to start the finals match the kid shot into me deep on a single leg and had me good. Fifteen seconds left in the match I was ahead by 11 points and working on a pinning combination. I looked over to the coach’s corner and saw the whole team jumping up and down screaming and yelling. Tony Jennings was screaming ‘Pin him! Pin him!’ and Orval was screaming at Tony to shut up and let me ride him out. After the referee raised my hand the whole team ran out onto the mat and carried me off. I’ve beaten better wrestlers and won bigger tournaments but his was a team thing, and my biggest thrill.” Always trying to provide a positive atmosphere both inside and outside the wrestling room, Robert has spent the last 6 years helping with the Lincoln Wrestling Club, having served on the Board of Directors and helping with the coaching duties. He is introduced by his college coach, Orval Borgialli.

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