Morrison is "college ready"

[admin]

By Seth Schwartz | Special to Illinois Matmen

As a 95 pound freshman, Jon Morrison found the going a little rough at 103. A first round double overtime loss Downstate forced him to refine his craft and eventually transform into a top 10 prospect in the country.

“It was very frustrating,” Morrison admitted. “I would get in on guys, but I couldn’t finish. My coaches [Mike Polz, Eric Siebert, Tony Siebert] worked with me on my set ups and using high percentage moves. I really had to focus on having the best technique possible.”

Hitting the weights hard, Morrison has been closing the deal with authority ever since. As a sophomore, he lost to Mount Carmel’s B.J. Futrell (103) for the title.

After a Junior National crown in 2007 (112) and a state championship (119), Morrison’s mission was to repeat at Fargo. Dominating his field with six technical falls and three decisions before facing Missouri’s Justin Forrest in the finals, Morrison scored on a tilt and was in control with a 3-0 lead early in the first period. But going through a trap arm gut-wrench, he rushed his roll, and his shoulder slipped. Forrest reached back, secured a headlock and used Morrison’s momentum to bring him down for a pin at 1:25.

“I expected to win this year and I was much better prepared,” said Morrison. “Wrestling with guys like Ed Giese and Kerry Boumans [Team Illinois and Overtime coaches] was a tremendous help. There were so many little adjustments they helped me with. He [Giese] had a number of turns he showed me and I was able to score points in bunches on top. I liked to pick his brain for different things. Working with those guys made me a better wrestler.”

According to Morrison, his mom, Carol, put him in a winning position by buying a home in Oak Forest before his freshman year.

“That was the best thing my mom ever did,” Morrison stated. “There’s no way I’d be where I am if I didn’t come to Sandburg. Our coaches, the type of competition we have in the room, the schedule we wrestle and going to Overtime are the reasons I’ve been able to get where I am.”

Staying up late has become a habit for Morrison, who carried three AP classes last semester and holds a 3.4 gpa and 31 ACT. There’s always enough time to tune into YouTube and Flowrestling.

“I like to watch John Smith, Cael Sanderson and the Russians,” said Morrison. “When I see something I like, I hit rewind and watch it again to see if I can pick something up. Then I’ll go and ask coach Siebert or Giese about it. We’ll go over it and they’ll show me the finer points.”

While Morrison doesn’t possess blazing quickness seen in some of the 125 pounders, his game is rock solid. He’s tough defensively, strong on the mat and his feet.

“Jon is a student of the sport,” said Eric Siebert. “He soaks it up like a sponge. He does a lot of work on his own; he’ll pick something up from a tape and ask me about it in practice.”

“Jon is technically sound, he’s never out of position and he makes fewer mistakes than any kid I’ve coached. He’s very good at what he does; he’s college ready right now; his short offense is outstanding.”

Sandburg has been producing a string of blue-chippers, with Morrison the latest addition. Two-time state champion Brandon Precin (2006, Northwestern All-American), two-timer Matt Cusick (2007, Virginia Tech) and three-timer Conrad Polz (2008, Illinois). Pete Friedl, a three-time All-American at Illinois, began the run with a title in 2001.

[soupeallday]

i seen the finals match in fargo, and morrison was straight up caught! he was very in control and he rushed his trap arm gut wrench and he got caught under his guy and pinned! but i believe morrison for sure should of won that match!

[popcornplayer]

This is a great article and Morrison is a great wrestler,but truth be told he should be college ready since he is turning 19. It certainly does not look like he was held back because of his academics those scores are outstanding!