Garrett Johnson still a force on the mat

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Twenty years ago, Medical Lake’s Garrett Johnson had completed one of the most storied wrestling careers in the history of the Cardinal program having won three consecutive state titles.

Fast forward to the last weekend of April and Johnson proved he’s still a force on the mat having captured two national championships in competition at Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was there that Johnson won his weight class at the U.S. Open Championships Greco competition April 25 and then doubled down April 26-27 for the Freestyle title at 130 kg, just shy of 290 pounds.

Simply put, Greco wrestling forbids holds below the waist, the main feature that differentiates it from freestyle wrestling.

Johnson, 38, won the Freestyle title over Bekbolsun Kushubakov, an exchange team member from Mongolia with a first-round pin. It took longer but the Greco championship also came by a final round pin, this over Mingo Grant in just 28 seconds.

The competition also may have opened yet another door for Johnson.

He was approached by a member of team USA and invited to wrestle in Croatia in January 20225. “I hope to wrestle for as long as possible,” Johnson said.

Since Vegas Johnson has remained active, most recently topping Pan Am Games Freestyle champ Gage Cook at

competition in Pasco.

Not a bad resume so far for a guy who only in February returned to the sport in which he last competed in 2008 while at college.

“Coaching allowed me to fall back in love with the sport,” said Johnson who returned to his wrestling roots at Medical Lake with both the high school and Mat Maulers Little Guy team. “I just want to start giving back.”

Johnson came through both Medical Lake schools and its Mat Maulers Little Guy wrestling program.

“He loved coming to practice because it was easier than the farm work his dad made him do,” Johnson’s Mat Maulers’ coach Wayne Terry wrote in a text message.

In a more serious observation, Terry added, “He’s been the most committed wrestler I’ve coached since he was in kindergarten. If you had a dozen Garret Johnson’s on one team they’d never be beaten.”

An all-around athlete, Johnson also played football in the fall at nose guard and then track and field in the spring.

Johnson’s monster Cardinal wrestling career began in 2002 when as a sophomore he won his first state championship. That came at a strapping 215 pounds under the guidance of coaches Sam Petersen and Jack Zappone.

The magic run at Tacoma came to an end at Mat Classic XVI in 2004 with a 6-2 decision over Quincy’s Cesar Williams.

His success led to competing at North Idaho College as a heavy weight and later at Great Falls University. And that’s where the luster wore off for Johnson. He admits to not being as focused as he is now as a married father of five to wife Bethany for 13 years. But how many teens and 20-somethings are?

“I partied a lot,” Johnson said, and that ultimately ended his collegiate wrestling career. “I wrestled in college because I had no clue about who I was if I wasn’t wrestling.”

Some might say this was a sadly forgettable time and find places for blame. But to Johnson, he’s quick to admit, “I robbed myself of my college wrestling opportunities.”

Since then, Johnson recognized he had a problem and sought help. “I left college due to my addiction and sought treatment and have been sober for 15 years.”

Johnson currently works for Spokane County in community resources assisting people coming out of Eastern State Hospital. He loves the challenge.

“I am unable to say what I would have been able to have accomplished in college had that been my path, but I am thankful that I am able to remain close to the sport of wrestling,” Johnson said.