Fort Hall Legends Wrestling Team compete at Triple Threat Wrestling Tournament
Fort Hall Legends Coaches David Johnson and Terrence Johnson give some encouraging words to
wrestler Sholee Atcitty.
By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
BLACKFOOT — The Fort Hall Legends wrestling team went toe to toe at the Triple Threat Wrestling tournament on Saturday, February 5 at Blackfoot High School.
Fort Hall Legends Coach is David Johnson, who is also an experienced wrestler in both the high school and college levels.
He said the Fort Hall Legends was created by Matt Wilson who started the team 4-5 years ago. “When Matt first started the team, my son was five and I took him to wrestle and I started helping out and then I was kind of an assistant coach that year and the next year. Then Matt moved to Oklahoma and it was either I took it over or else the program went away, so I just decided to take it over and it’s something that I enjoy doing,” said Johnson.
This is Johnson’s second year coaching, since last year they sat out because of COVID-19. He also coaches alongside his brother Terrence Johnson and the new assistant coach Gaylen Edmo. To be a wrestling coach Johnson said they have to sign up through the Idaway Wrestling Association and do online classes and background checks.
The Fort Hall Legends wrestling season started in November and dedicated their practices to prepare for the Idaway Wrestling season which began the end of December and is when they start attending tournaments.
Wrestlers in action on the mat.
Johnson said the team has been to four tournaments with the next tournament being this weekend, where they have the option of attending either a match in Soda Springs or Jerome. He said, “I think we will probably go to Jerome High School because it will have different kids to wrestle and they have a big gym.”
The Fort Hall Legends has about 20 wrestlers, with five of those being girls.
Johnson said, “Most of the kids that we have, have been wrestling for three or four years. Of course, we have some newer ones and what we try to do is stick with the very basics, just because with kids they have a really hard time learning the basics. Right now, with them so young, the basics is what is going to help them be a better wrestler. We have a couple of kids that are pretty advanced so we teach them more advanced moves, but overall we run our practices doing fundamentals.”
Johnson said they are always accepting new wrestlers and if anyone wants to come out and wrestle, they can come out. “They will be behind a little bit, but that’s fine. We never turned anyone down,” he said.
Legends wrestler Sholee sizes up her opponent at the Triple Threat Wrestling Tournament on
February 5.
As head coach Johnson said he would like the Fort Hall community to know that there is a Fort Hall Wrestling program available. “We don’t charge fees and the only thing that we charge is the Idaway membership and that is not very much. We just want the support of the community and to let people know that were here and that everyone is welcome.”
The following are the Fort Hall Legends results from the Triple Threat Wrestling Tournament: Idris Quezada 6th place in 5&6; Tate Johnson 1st place in 5&6; Naia Johnson 5th place in 5&6, and 1st place in Girls 5&6; Lariah Edmo 5th place in Girls 5&6; Thomas Eagle 3rd place in 7&8; Riggin Haggard 2nd place in 7&8; Dean Perkins 2nd place in 7&8; Reginald Haggard 5th place in 9&10; Drayden Johnson 1st place in 9&10; Damarious Redfox 4th place in 9&10; Russell Perkins 4th place 9&10; Cali Tinno 3rd place in 9&10; Sholee Atcitty 2nd place in 9&10, and 1st place in Girls 9-11; Richard Crawford 3rd place in 9&10; Thomas Galloway 6th place in 11&12; Keen Wilson 2nd place in 11&12.
