AMMAN, Jordan --- Linfield head wrestling coach Frank Johnson placed fifth at the United World Wrestling Veterans World Championships, held October 6–11 in Amman, Jordan. Johnson previously won the U.S. Open Masters Championship in April.

Johnson opened the tournament against Russian national champion Gasan Dzhamalov, falling 10-0 and suffering a separated rib when he was caught in a trapped-arm gut wrench in the first exchange of the match. Dzhamalov went on to win the world title.

Dzhamalov's advance to the gold medal match pulled Johnson back into the bracket with an opportunity to compete for bronze against Latvia's Jevgenijs Boiko, the defending world champion.

Johnson led late in the match but overextended himself attempting to score again rather than wrestling defensively in an effort to preserve his lead. Boiko capitalized, scoring the final points to win on criteria after the match ended 2-2.

For Johnson, who returned to competition at the U.S. Open in April after years away from the mat, the world championships offered an opportunity to experience firsthand what Linfield wrestlers face throughout a season, and Johnson appreciated being on the athlete's side of the experience again. The tournament brought together more than 500 athletes from 50 nations.

Despite falling short of the podium, Johnson said he came away with a renewed appreciation for the demands of competition and the preparation required to succeed at the highest level.

"I'd much rather be coming home with a medal, but it was a great experience overall," he said. "I'm looking forward to being back home and working with our wrestlers. This was fun, but coaching is where my heart is."

Johnson's efforts at the world championships capped off a big week for Linfield wrestling.

On Friday, Wildcat character coach Tim Hess was named Sports Ambassador of the Year by Wrestling for Peace. In addition to working with the Wildcats, Hess serves as a chaplain for USA Wrestling's national teams across multiple age groups, frequently accompanying them to international competitions. Wrestling for Peace is an international sports diplomacy and humanitarian group that uses wrestling to foster peace and cultural exchange globally.

"We are so fortunate to have Coach Hess as part of our wrestling family," Johnson said. "He is an amazing ambassador for the sport, and he is fully bought into the Linfield wrestling vision. He pours his heart into the men and women on our team."

"One of the best things is that most of our athletes understand how fortunate they are to have Coach Hess in their corner, not just in wrestling, but in the game of life," Johnson added.

On Saturday, Tammy Johnson was inducted into the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Tammy Johnson, who these days typically runs the computer bracketing programs for Linfield wrestling events, has spent decades as a tournament administrator, statistician and leader of high school and college tournaments across the region. She is married to Coach Frank Johnson and mother to Linfield assistant coach Josh Johnson.

"Wrestling tends to be a family-oriented sport, and that's certainly been true of our family," Coach Johnson said. "Everyone in the region involved in wrestling knows Tammy, and I'm so proud of her. The Lifetime Service Award is very fitting for her. She's so competent and works so hard to make sure things run smoothly."

NEXT UP
The Linfield men and women open the season Friday, Nov. 13, with home duals against rival Pacific University. The matches start at 7 p.m. inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium.