February 2007: Millcreek Journal

New Olympus Coach Looking to Keep Wrestling Team at the Top
by Josh McFadden

When Theros Johnson took the job as head wrestling coach at Olympus High School, his objective was simple: keep things going.

Johnson, who spent time as an assistant to his father at Taylorsville before coming to Olympus, didn’t need to fix much with the program he inherited. After all, the Titans won region championships each year from 2001 through last season. A year ago, Olympus placed fourth in the 4A state tournament.

Johnson knows he faces big expectations in his new position. But he is also eager to continue the Titans’ dominance in Region 6.

“I have big shoes to fill,” he said. “But it’s fun. It’s exciting. I have good kids that work hard and make it fun. It’s been a good season.”

Though the Titans have enjoyed tremendous success over the past six years, the previous regime didn’t leave Johnson a whole lot of experience. Olympus had five wrestlers place in the 2006 state tournament but all five graduated at the end of last school year. Johnson was left to begin his tenure with competitors that played a more supportive role last season. Now, those wrestlers have stepped up as leaders.

“The previous coaching staff lost a lot of good wrestlers,” Johnson said. “They lost a ton of seniors. But we have some good wrestlers back.”

The Titans have just five seniors on this squad, meaning the coming seasons could be good ones as Johnson tries to keep up the winning tradition at Olympus. Josh Van Den Berg, Steve Christiansen, Nick DeJong, Jared Lever, Thomas Lee, Dustin Moffit and Steve Leahy are among the Titans’ contributors this season.

The team also has no vacant weight classes, meaning it doesn’t ever have to forfeit points in any matches. The team’s depth has helped it in matches where teams may not have wrestlers in each class. In the regular season finale at home against West, the Titans won 18 free points because of this.

Olympus’ bid for a seventh straight region crown began at the Region 6 tournament Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Olympus won the tourney (its 7th in a row) by 11 points. Johnson said second-place finisher Cyprus was “heavily favored going in.” He also said two of his top wrestlers had pins late in the meet to score a come-from-behind win. “We pulled it off in the last few matches. We’re keeping it rolling.”

Olympus will compete in the 4A state tournament at Utah Valley State College Feb. 7-9.