As a brand new wrestler on the Baldwin High School wrestling team last year, Jakob Johanning had a recorded of 0-27. This record may have caused many to give the sport up after a first season without winning a single match, but not Johanning and his “no-quit attitude” as his coach explained.

“I admire his determination and his never-give-up attitude,” head BHS wrestling coach Kit Harris said. “He fights with everything he has every match. He even came into a lot of the summer workouts and to the summer camps to improve his skills, He was a regular in our off-season program.”

This past Tuesday, on Dec. 8 in the BJHS gym, Johanning, now a sophomore, earned his first win by fall as the entire BHS team stood by watching and yelling. When Johanning’s hand was raised, the Baldwin section erupted in cheers.

“It was great to finally have all my hard work from over the summer pay off, I have been working on bottom wrestling and trying to become more aggressive,” Johanning said.

Johanning works hard in practice he never takes a day off, according to his coaches. Working hard in practice would be hard knowing you did not have a single win to your name. Teammates of Johanning admire his hard work day in and day out.  

“He is a very nice kid I like seeing him in the wrestling room. He is a hard worker and I feel like wrestling is a good sport for him,” team captain junior Levi Green said.

Others have noticed the work ethic Johanning puts into his wrestling efforts.

“Wrestling never ceases to amaze me. This was his [Johanning] first win and tonight he won again! Never, ever say you can’t! This young man demonstrates an amazing determination to break through his physical barriers. Watching him win was as great as watching the best in our sport succeed,” said longtime wrestling coach Jimmy May, who as the Baker University head wrestlinng coach, used to work with the Baldwin wrestlers in the off-season.

Now with two wins under his belt, Johanning was back at practice the next day, preparing for more successes on the mat.