Ngu Tran awarded the James Johnson Trophy at Falcon Frenzy Tournament

TakeDown Report Press Release, November 18, 2007

            State Champion Ngu Tran (51-3 last year, 140-22 career) of C. B. Aycock High School was presented the 6th Annual James Johnson award as the best scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina in 2007, at the Falcon Frenzy wrestling tournament.  The award is named in honor of three time national champion James Johnson.  TakeDown Report Editor Martin Fleming presented the award to Ngu and his coaches Kevin Smith and Mark Bass.   Ngu placed 2nd in the state his junior year and 4th his sophomore year.
He was the Eastern Regional Champion three years along with numerous tournament and conference titles.  Ngu is a National Honor Society member.  Ngu is a student at East Carolina University majoring in Biology with a minor in art and goals of becoming a dentist. 
            The TakeDown Report, an on-line publication promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina, sponsors the Award.  “The award is to recognize the most successful wrestler from the area each year.” Fleming noted, “It encourages the young men from the teams in the eastern part of the state with another opportunity for others to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added.  The TakeDown Report is in its’ 11th year of publication in North Carolina reporting wrestling results and encouraging media coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR at tdr@tarboronc.com or (252) 883-3311 and http://www.thetdr.com
            James Johnson started wrestling in his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach.  James was Coney's 1st state champion in any sport in 1976.  He was North Carolina's 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina's 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976.  He went on to start four years at the University of Kentucky.  He is now a sports consultant and coach for the Phoenix-based Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. He also specializes in developing unique training for people of all fitness levels with a broad background in public speaking, sports training techniques, and health and fitness.  He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame last May.
            Before developing James Johnson, Inc., James served as a Public Relations/ Community Speaker for Sunkist worldwide.  He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, Olympic Team Alternate, and numerous accolades worldwide. He has been an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 16 years.  More information at http://www.nutritionforlife.com/blueteam/ or http://jjchamp3x.com/ the trophy can be seen at http://www.pittsburghtrophy.com/wrestlingpage/guillotine.htm and is exclusively manufactured by Pittsburgh Trophy.

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