The moments in which Jeremy Johnson looks like a first-year college wrestler are becoming increasingly rare.
There aren't many indications at practice. Johnson is all business inside The Convo's wrestling room, grappling with training partners as if they were rivals from another school.
The signs don't exist on college wrestling websites, either. Along with seniors Germane Lindsey and Erik Schuth - Ohio's All-American and Mid-American Conference champion, respectively - Johnson is the only other Bobcat ranked among the top 20 wrestlers in the nation at his weight by Intermatwrestle.com.
And it certainly can't be seen during matches. Johnson is one of four Bobcats (Lindsey, Schuth and redshirt junior Nick Purdue) with a perfect dual-meet record.
The only time the 19-year-old Johnson's age shows is when he's the subject of good-natured ribbing by his coaches, or when a glance at Ohio's roster reveals the words redshirt freshman next to his name.
Johnson spent last year practicing with his heavyweight counterpart, redshirt junior Andy Hartshorn and competing in open tournaments. He went 26-9 on the year.
I think I was more ready to go than anything
Johnson said of his redshirt season. (I was thinking) 'I want to start I want to start.'
Few freshmen come as prepared for Division I wrestling as Johnson was.
In his career at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, he won the state heavyweight title and the biggest high school tournament in the nation in Fargo, N.D. His high school feats were documented in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd.
Last summer, Johnson competed against the best wrestlers in the world at his age, tying for fifth in the Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Anytime when you're wrestling in the summer you're getting better
Johnson said. I feel like wrestling over there was really good for me.
When it came time for him to officially begin his college career last fall, Johnson had high expectations for himself.
When I came here this year
it was like
'It's my time now
' he said.
Johnson's first test of the season was a position battle for Ohio's heavyweight spot against Hartshorn, the starter for the last two seasons.
Johnson placed ahead of Hartshorn in two open tournaments and beat him head-to-head in the Green and White intrasquad meet.
Neither Johnson nor coach Joel Greenlee has looked back. Johnson has started every tournament and dual meet this season, with impressive results.
At the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 19, he placed second. To get there, he defeated four wrestlers, including the No. 5 and No. 1 seeds.
Johnson came in seventh at the Southern Scuffle Dec. 29 and 30. He advanced two rounds before losing to Cameron Wade, the sixth-ranked 285-pounder in the nation, according to Intermat.
Johnson has also established himself as one of the toughest and hardest workers on the team.
I think that's one of the things that makes him good
Greenlee said. He practices hard. He wrestles hard. He lifts hard. He does it all with a purpose.
He knows what he wants to get out of wrestling, and he's working hard to get it.
Greelee said Johnson is ahead of the curve for a freshman. Even so
the 14th-year-coach added that Johnson is nowhere near as good as he can be
especially if he works on his offense on his feet.
As for Johnson
age is no obstacle in his mind. His goal for this season is to become an All-American.
I'm excited, he said. But I know there's much work to be done.
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