Mardela Head Wrestling Coach Dion Johnson honored for legendary career
MARDELA SPRINGS, Md. – At Mardela High School, they are hosting a special ceremony honoring former Hall of Fame Head Wrestling Coach Dion Johnson.
His extraordinary leadership and dedication has shaped thousands of students, athletes, and families within the Warrior community.
Coach Johnson speaks on when he started the sport. “When I was 13 years old, we moved to a community called San Domingo, and the first person to befriend me was a kid named Isaac Smith. Isaac introduced me to wrestling, there were no mats, no referees, really no rules.”
Coach Johnson reflecting with WMDT on how his passion for wrestling got started. Unfortunately, his friend Issac Smith who played a pivotal role in his start, passed away a couple months later. But that relationship, Johnson says, that relationship not only changed his life, but it shaped lives Johnson went on to impact
“His older brother, my best friend Elijah, made this for me, made this belt when I was inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. It’s the same belt, a replica of the same belt, black duct tape, cardboard, the only thing missing is the blood, sweat, and tears.”
Mardela High School named its Auxiliary Gym in Coach Johnson’s honor. The school uses the space for wrestling practice and the weight-room. Principal Liza Hastings tells WMDT, Coach Johnson is one-of-a-kind.
“Phenomenal role-model, anytime I had a parent call me concerned about their son, the first thing I asked, if they would be interested in wrestling.”
For Johnson, he says wrestling teaches aspects of life. “Regardless of your skill level, you win with humility, and lose with dignity, and I think that will carry them throughout life.”
Coach Johnson would always begin practices and end matches with one quote for his team.
“Life is about challenges, challenges make life interesting, and overcoming those challenges gives life meaning.”
Coach Johnson had 200 career wins as a wrestler and has coached many high-achieving wrestlers. His biggest focus is not the result of those matches, but the life lessons that come with it.
