Dominant Dillan
Joliet Catholic’s Johnson improves record to 104-0 along with third straight state title
Junior heavyweight Dillan Johnson has been so dominant throughout his high school career that it sparked a unique concern for Joliet Catholic coach Ryan Cumbee.
Cumbee wanted to make sure that Johnson, who is known as the most serious competitor for the Hilltoppers, still enjoyed winning.
“My biggest fear with Dillan is, ‘Is he getting bored with all this success?’” Cumbee said. “It sounds so weird, and I didn’t think I’d ever say that about a wrestler.
“But I try to tell my guys that any sport is just a sport. It’s not life and death, and you need to have fun. One hundred percent, I think Dillon would say this year was his most fun year. It’s nice to see him smile and have fun with his teammates.”
Johnson (45-0) won his third straight Class 2A title, beating Aurora Christian’s Braden Hunter 8-2 in the 285-pound championship match.
Now 104-0 in his high school career, Johnson has remarkably not given up a single takedown. He is No. 1 in FloWrestling’s national rankings at heavyweight.
Johnson, the 2022-23 Daily Southtown Boys Wrestler of the Year, also said he’s not getting bored with winning. He’s always working to get even better, but he’s trying to loosen up a bit.
“I had a lot more fun this year,” Johnson said. “I was able to kind of open up, I guess. I realized I don’t have to take it that seriously all the time. I guess that can be kind of hard for me to do.”
Sophomore Nico Ronchetti said he and his teammates worked to get Johnson to talk more.
“We opened Dillan up this season,” Ronchetti said. “It’s very hard to do, but we just started messing with him and agitating him all the time. He had fun with us.
“Watching him wrestle is crazy. It’s just expected that he’ll get the pin. We know it’s coming. It’s so fun to watch.”
Johnson’s older brother, Eric, recently finished his rookie season as a defensive lineman with the Indianapolis Colts.
Seeing Eric reach the pinnacle of his sport has given Dillan something to shoot for.
“It’s definitely shown and set a solid example of what can be done,” Dillan said. “It’s not a question of if I can do it or if it’s possible because I’ve seen it done before.”
Dillan, who also stars on the defensive line for the Hilltoppers in football, confirmed that Eric often gives him pointers about football and wrestling.
“I thought it’d be different at first, having a brother in the NFL, but he’s still the same as he’s always been,” Dillan said. “He’s just my brother.
“It was very exciting seeing him get drafted. I was really happy for him. He’s worked hard all his life, and it’s all paying off.”
Dillan knows he has some big decisions ahead of him. His football recruiting has taken off recently with offers from Missouri, Iowa State, California and Kansas State.
For now, he can’t decide between pursuing football or wrestling in college. Or possibly doing both.
“It’s still too early for me to choose,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s going to come down to figuring out everything I want in a school and figuring out what school is the best.
“Then I’m going to have to sit down and think about football, wrestling or both and make that choice.”
One thing is for sure. Johnson has another wrestling season ahead of him. He plans to stay undefeated and become a four-time state champion.
There’s also the matter of bringing the Hilltoppers another team title. Joliet Catholic fell one point shy of back-to-back championships, losing 28-27 to Washington in the Class 2A final.
“Next year is going to be the finale, so the theme you could say is just ‘finish out strong,’ ” Johnson said. “I want to keep dominating and make sure I’m on top of that podium again for the last year.”