Van Wyk adjusts to wrestling
NORTH HUNTINGDON — Having grown up playing rugby in his native South Africa, it seemed only natural for Johan Van Wyk to play football — but wrestling?
This winter, Van Wyk tried his hand at the sport, a different animal, but one the Mars High junior was able to tame.
Although he had no prior wrestling experience, Van Wyk went 14-13 overall — including six pins during the regular season — and placed fourth in the Section 3-AAA tournament to qualify for the WPIAL Championships at 195 pounds.
He dropped an 8-0 major decision to Trinity's Don McWreath in Thursday's pigtail match, thus ending his season.
“At first, I didn't expect to start,” Van Wyk said. “I did it to stay in good shape for rugby. As the season went on, I liked it more and got into the starting lineup.
“I want to use in wrestling what I've learned from rugby. I do what the coaches tell me and just practice hard,” Van Wyk added.
“We thought it was something he could pick up,” Mars coach Ray Machusko said. “This was something for Johan to do and as the season went on, he got into it.
“When he lost ... he was just a competitive kid,” Machusko added.
Van Wyk and his family came to Mars back in August, just in time for football season, where he was listed as an offensive and defensive lineman.
In wrestling, Van Wyk used his discipline from rugby and tried to translate that into his newest sport.
“I played rugby my whole life and it's rough. Wrestling is just for six minutes, but it's one of the hardest sports,” said the junior. “It's a lot tougher than the others.
“It's like rugby. I like the control,” Van Wyk added.
Machusko saw the athleticism that Van Wyk possessed right away.
“Every wrestler would love to have his hips, his positioning,” Machusko said. “If someone wants a takedown, he knows how to counter. It's a unique talent.
“He's a quick learner. The more fundamentals he learns, the better off he'll be. He picks things up so fast,” Machusko added.
Van Wyk, who plays with the Pittsburgh Harlequins rugby team, has enjoyed his first taste of wrestling and hopes to take this year's experience and apply it next winter.
“The friends I've made have helped me get strong,” Van Wyk said. “I'll come back next year and I'll do some lifting, do some camps and get more teaching.
“When I first came here, I didn't think I'd get into the starting lineup. When I got into the starting lineup and then I was going to sections, I didn't think I'd get through sections. That's tough.
“I'm very glad I made it through. I definitely want to take what I've learned this year and use it next year.”
