Wrestling: Johnson leads Golden Eagles into new era

Johnson takes over a Golden Eagles program that maintained a high level of excellence under Cory Kness for so many years.

And the coaching change also happens to coincide with a realignment of districts that saw Naples lose two of its local rivals -- Gulf Coast and Lely.

The challenge now facing Johnson in Class 2A District 12 will be to prepare his wrestlers to match up with a traditionally strong Fort Myers team and to try and measure up to the legacy left behind by Kness.

"I don't think there's any pressure," says Johnson, whose credentials speak for themselves -- three-time national champion wrestler at the University of Kentucky and a coach on the USA national wrestling team. "What was done before, I have all the respect for the coaches that came before me, but I'm hoping to take this to another level, like Coach (Bill) Kramer has done with football. My goal is to win a couple of state titles because Naples hasn't won one in a long time."

Johnson already has established a youth feeder program, the James Johnson Wrestling Club, and took a group of wrestlers over to Miami for this weekend's Seahorse Open at Dr. Krop High School. His club practices every day from 5-7 p.m. at Gulfview Middle School and he said having a youth feeder program is a key component in developing a strong high school program.

Meanwhile, Barron Collier's Andrew Ward is trying to continue the success he brought to the Cougars' program when he took over as head coach three years ago. And Brian Jones is in his second year as head coach for Estero after replacing the very successful John Brock. Both of those schools remained in Naples' district along with Cypress Lake and Lehigh, and Cape Coral-Mariner joins Fort Myers as newcomers.

"Fort Myers is a great tournament team, and a tournament team is different from a good dual team," Ward explains.

"Tournament teams are built for the stretch run to states, and Naples, Fort Myers and Estero all finished well last year at the state series."

Mike DiGrigoli's Gulf Coast team and Jeff Mustari's Lely squad moved up to Class 3A District 7, where they will compete with state powers Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota-Riverview and Sarasota.

Immokalee head coach Ed Munn is preparing his Indians for another tough year in Class A District 12 against the likes of Clewiston, Riverdale and Lemon Bay. His season begins this weekend in a dual meet tournament being hosted by North Port Charlotte. The Indians have been guaranteed eight matches in the 10-team event.

Naples

Coach: James Johnson

District: Class 2A District 12

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 6/4

Key wrestlers: Eric DiGiacomo, Danny Toledo, Luis Hernandez, Hector Hernandez, Geraldo Argon, George Oregno

Coach's Quote: "This year we have a young team and so I think we'll come on strong at the end of the year. It's a step-by-step process and I need these guys to buy into my system. Having been a national coach you realize you're going to lose some guys but it's a promising team."

Outlook: The Golden Eagles lose on of their biggest district rivals in Gulf Coast, but they gain what is sure to be an even bigger rival in Fort Myers. Barron Collier always wrestles Naples tough, and the two teams open the season against each other Wednesday. But Johnson will be without DiGiacomo and Toledo, who won't be eligible to return until January because of grades, so the result could be tainted for the Cougars should they win.

Estero

Coach: Brian Jones

District: Class 2A District 12

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 12/3

Key wrestlers: Dean DesRochers, Grady Harrison, Kyle Farquhar, Devin Caster, Christian Kayne

Coach's Quote: "The senior leadership is going to be a key to our success. Basically, we've been trying to mix up conditioning with our moves. With the older guys, we're trying to sharpen their moves and have them teach the younger ones the situations and what to do. Everybody has weaknesses and we're still not where we need to be. Hopefully but the end of the season we can get there. "

Outlook: Jones thinks the Wildcats should be pretty competitive in a realigned district. He said he expects Naples, Barron Collier and Fort Myers to be the toughest competition.

Gulf Coast

Coach: Mike DiGrigoli

District: Class 3A District 7

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 5/8

Key wrestlers: Brian Young, Joe Pitingolo, Zac Kolegue, Edwin Ray, Joe Lopez, Brent Jackson, Tony Newkirk, Tony Berry, Lee Campbell

Coach's Quote: "We're hoping to build off of last year's record. We have a good nucleus of upperclassmen."

Outlook: Gulf Coast left the tough Class 2A-12 district only to move up to 3A-7 along with Lely. They join an even tougher district with traditional powers Sarasota, Sarasota-Riverview and Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch. Odds of getting out of this district for the Sharks and into the state tournament as a team are slim.

Barron Collier

Coach: Andrew Ward

District: Class 2A District 12

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 10/1

Key wrestlers: Kyle Matulay, Adam Blower, Tom Hornyak, Derek Baker, Andrew Hall, Eddie Blanchard, Richie Rosabella, David Treglown

Coach's Quote: "My senior wrestlers have worked hard the past four years and the coaching staff and the kids are looking forward to a positive and productive year."

Outlook: The Cougars are in a seven-team district that lost Gulf Coast and Lely but added Fort Myers and Cape Coral-Mariner. Ward thinks the district title is up for grabs and his squad is reaching and hopes to be in the running.

Lely

Coach: Jeff Mustari

District: Class 3A District 7

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 6/8

Key wrestlers: Dusty Leutz, Trent Kincaid, Kimpson Joseph, Jude Sineus

Coach's Quote: "We've got a good group of young kids. Coming off what football did, they've got a great attitude and you can see it's a runoff from what Coach Metzger did."

Outlook: Lely not only moves up into a tougher district wit Gulf Coast, 3A-7, but Mustari has to figure out how to replace one of the most dominant wrestlers in the history of Collier County, Obie Blanc. Some wrestlers are irreplaceable.

Immokalee

Coach: Ed Munn

District: Class A District 12

Varsity wrestlers returning/lost: 8/6

Key wrestlers: Peterson Augustin, Michael Estrada, Jessie Herrera

Coach's Quote: "We should have about 25 kids after football season ends. We're always thin at the beginning of the season because of how well the football team does in the playoffs, but then we make a strong run in the end."

Outlook: Clewiston is always tough and Lemon Bay might be rebounding from last year.

La Belle has some tough individuals, so Immokalee has its hands full trying to crack the top three.