Having only just finished his sophomore wrestling campaign, ADM’s Zach Johnston has two years left in his high school career to try and obtain an always coveted state championship.

The Tigers’ 152-pounder got ever so close to winning it this year, losing in the title match this past Saturday to Davenport Assumption’s Danny Bush by an 8-0 major decision.  ADM head coach Justin Schmauss says he was proud of Johnston’s effort even in defeat, and he’s got all the confidence in the world that a state title awaits in the seasons ahead.

“Coming off the mat, any wrestler is going to be down and upset, but after awhile, I think (Zach) realized he accomplished something really great in being in the state finals as a sophomore.  I know he’ll be back… he’ll get his championship I guarantee it.  And I think if we wrestle that Bush kid again, Zach beats him every time.  (Bush) was just a funky wrestler that nobody really knew much about.  If we would have seen earlier in the year or just seen wrestle a couple times, I think we would have had his number easily.”

Johnston will be the highest ranked wrestler returning at 152-pounds in Class 2-A next season.  The only other top-10 competitor returning in his weight class is I-35’s Sal Arzani, who Johnston defeated in the district tournament en route to his state berth.