LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Tied 4-4 as the clock ticked toward zero at the U.S. Open master's national championship match on Wednesday, and facing a former world bronze medalist, Linfield wrestling coach Frank Johnson pulled off a dramatic inside trip to claim an 8-4 win and his first national title since college. 

The trip came with 20 seconds remaining on the clock, and qualified Johnson for the United World Wrestling Veteran World Championships scheduled for this October in Amman, Jordan.

"I've been navigating some complicated things in my life lately, so being back on the mat and competing felt like therapy," Johson said. "I had a chance to live out that attitude of gratitude that we preach to our athletes at Linfield, and appreciate being out there. No real nerves, just an opportunity to be present and do my best."  

His best was pretty good against Don Jones of Ohio in the finals. Jones was the No. 1 seed and had been the 2023 UWW world bronze medalist. Johnson, who won an NAIA national title and was a two-time All-American in college, said it was an honor to compete against athletes of that caliber.  

"I love wrestling, I really love this sport," said Johnson. "And getting to do it on this stage, with this type of competition, is a true gift."  

The U.S. Open, which brings together the top American wrestlers in a variety of weight classes and divisions, focuses on the Olympic styles – freestyle and Greco-Roman. Wednesday in Las Vegas, Johnson opened the 70kg freestyle tournament with a 10-0 tech fall over Jesse Ortega from California. 

In the semifinals, he faced multiple-time U.S. Open freestyle champion Chad Otterness of Minnesota. Otterness also won the master's folkstyle national championship last month in Iowa without giving up a point.

Otterness used front-headlock and Russian-tie upper-body attacks early to build a 3-0 lead, but Johnson stayed calm and chipped away at the deficit. A pushout late in the first round made it 3-1 at the break, then Johnson used a four-point inside trip midway through the second round to take control and claim a 5-3 win. 

Johnson joked afterward, "I put myself in position where I had to come from behind." 

Johnson said he came away with a new appreciation – or at least a reminder – of how coaches on the sideline can make a real difference for athletes during the match. When he was fatigued and still need to push the pace and score, he fed off the encouragement of Linfield assistant wrestling coach Josh Johnson and friend and fellow coach Ian Butler in the corner. 

"The takeaway for me will be the need to be intentional about being fully present and understanding what our athletes need when we are in their corner," Johnson said. "Especially in those intense moments where the match could go either way. It was good for me to experience it from the athletes' perspective again, for the first time in so many years." 

Wildcat wrestler Camden Roofener will compete at the U.S. Open this week in Las Vegas, also. And Linfield's Jessica Cottings competed at the 2026 USA Wrestling Women's National Championships earlier this month in Spokane.  

"I'm super proud of them, and hopeful that it will encourage more Linfield athletes to wrestle at the higher-level national and international events in the years ahead. That's the kind of program we're building here."