Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Adds Colin Johnston to Wrestling Staff
7/20/2015 1:25:00 PM | Wrestling
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Former West Virginia wrestler Colin Johnston has been named an assistant coach for the Davidson wrestling team, Bob Patnesky has announced. Johnston will join the Wildcats for the 2015-16 campaign.
"Colin is going to be a great addition to the Davidson wrestling family," said Patnesky. "He brings a wealth of knowledge of the sport and an intense energy from his competitive days that will make an immediate impact to our program."
Johnston and Patnesky both attended Cannon-McMillan High School before continuing their careers at West Virginia University.
"I think it's a pretty special bond we share," said Patnesky. "I'm excited to work with Colin and know that our similar backgrounds will have a positive affect on the program."
Johnston comes to Davidson after a successful career at West Virginia at 133 and 141 pounds. As a true freshman, Johnston posted a 9-9 overall mark with a second-place finish at the EWL Championships. In his second season in Morgantown, he transitioned to 133 pounds, where he was dominant. He spent the majority of his season ranked 18th in the country, posting a 21-4 record with 36 takedowns and six pins.
After missing two seasons due to shoulder injuries, Johnston came back to have a breakout senior year. The 141-pounder entered the 2014 Big 12 Tournament as the top seed, finishing the year with a 28-10 record and had a team-high 16-2 mark in dual action. Johnston earned an at-large bid to the 2014 NCAA Championship, where the senior posted a 1-2 mark in his first-ever appearance. His nine pins as a season ranks eighth among program leaders for wins by fall in a single season.
Hailing from Eight-Four, Pa., Johnston posted a 164-10 career during his four-year stint at Canon-McMillan High School. As a sophomore, Johnston was a PIAA State Champion in 2006, before finishing second in 2007 and third in 2008. He was also a three-time POWERade Champion (2004, 2005, 2007). In 2007, he was a Junior National Freestyle Champion, before competing in the Dream Team Classic, a tournament compromised of 14 top-ranked seniors from across the nation in 2008.
"Colin is going to be a great addition to the Davidson wrestling family," said Patnesky. "He brings a wealth of knowledge of the sport and an intense energy from his competitive days that will make an immediate impact to our program."
Johnston and Patnesky both attended Cannon-McMillan High School before continuing their careers at West Virginia University.
"I think it's a pretty special bond we share," said Patnesky. "I'm excited to work with Colin and know that our similar backgrounds will have a positive affect on the program."
Johnston comes to Davidson after a successful career at West Virginia at 133 and 141 pounds. As a true freshman, Johnston posted a 9-9 overall mark with a second-place finish at the EWL Championships. In his second season in Morgantown, he transitioned to 133 pounds, where he was dominant. He spent the majority of his season ranked 18th in the country, posting a 21-4 record with 36 takedowns and six pins.
After missing two seasons due to shoulder injuries, Johnston came back to have a breakout senior year. The 141-pounder entered the 2014 Big 12 Tournament as the top seed, finishing the year with a 28-10 record and had a team-high 16-2 mark in dual action. Johnston earned an at-large bid to the 2014 NCAA Championship, where the senior posted a 1-2 mark in his first-ever appearance. His nine pins as a season ranks eighth among program leaders for wins by fall in a single season.
Hailing from Eight-Four, Pa., Johnston posted a 164-10 career during his four-year stint at Canon-McMillan High School. As a sophomore, Johnston was a PIAA State Champion in 2006, before finishing second in 2007 and third in 2008. He was also a three-time POWERade Champion (2004, 2005, 2007). In 2007, he was a Junior National Freestyle Champion, before competing in the Dream Team Classic, a tournament compromised of 14 top-ranked seniors from across the nation in 2008.
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