MANHEIM, Pa. - Gabe Johnson picked up his biggest award yet Monday when the Central Oklahoma senior star was selected Division II Wrestler of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
It was an honor clearly deserved after Johnson captured his third straight 157-pound national championship to cap a perfect 23-0 campaign, but there was a time early this season when there was real concern about his health.
"Something was off and I really felt it in the McKendree dual," Johnson said of that Nov. 22 match in Edmond. "My body was cramping up all during the match (a 7-2 win) and after that I never really recovered."
Johnson wasn't bouncing back like normal after practice and competition, so there were thoughts of a blood deficiency. Tests didn't reveal anything, but clearly something was wrong.
Complete rest was ordered and Johnson spent three weeks on the sideline. Three weeks of zero activity in the middle of the season. No running. No wrestling. No lifting. Nothing.
"I had never taken that much time off before and it was tough to do," said Johnson, who missed two duals and the Midwest Classic during the sabbatical. "My shape didn't get too bad and I came back in time for the National Duals and just powered through."
Did he ever. Johnson had three bonus-point wins and an 8-1 victory in UCO's march to the NWCA Division II National Duals title and continued his relentless pursuit of another national title before a late-season hiccup.
"It kind of came back on me at the Kearney dual (Feb. 6)," Johnson said. "I didn't wrestle against Fort Hays (the next day), then took three or four days off. I was good to go after that and just had to not go too hard in practice and make sure I let my body recover."
Johnson finished the season with a flourish. He claimed a third straight Regional IV title and cruised into the national finals with a trio of easy wins before beating previously unbeaten Joel Jesuroga of St. Cloud State in a tense tiebreaker.
The senior from Choctaw had 17 bonus wins in his 23-0 season with eight technical falls, six pins, two major decisions and a forfeit in also earning Division II's Most Dominant Wrestler award. He allowed just nine offensive points all year and was earlier named MIAA Wrestler of the Year and Super Region IV Wrestler of the Year.
Johnson became UCO's fourth Division II National Wrestler of the Year, joining Chris Watson (2014-15), Heath Gray (2019-20) and Shawn Streck (2022-23).
"It's a good way to go out," Johnson said of being named Division II Wrestler of the Year. "It's been a long road, but well worth it. I feel fortunate and couldn't have done it without my coaches and teammates."
Johnson was a five-time Division II national qualifier and four-time All-American, finishing seventh in 2023 national tournament before winning the title his final three seasons.
He ended his spectacular career with a 114-16 record and won 64 of his last 65 matches, including the last 36 straight. Johnson ranks sixth at UCO for career winning percentage (.877) and is 17th on the all-time wins list in addition to having the career record for technical falls with 30.
