FFX Wrestling

Virginia National Team Members! 🤼‍♂️🌎

Johann Jose is now a 2x VAWA National Team Member. Jo placed 2nd in Greco and then took 3rd in Freestyle. Jo is looking to make some big jumps this year out in Fargo, North Dakota!

Sophie Sharp is your 190lbs Freestyle State Champion! In her first year wrestling she has become All-State with a 4th place finish and became a VA National Team Member!

This is our third year of consistently having someone on VA’s National Team. Started with Lorenzo Pellot Class of 2023, and last year had Two with Harry Maltese and Johann Jose.

Can’t beat the memories and training that a trip to Fargo brings. Look forward to seeing how they stack up with the best in the Nation come July!

🦁

🧑🏻‍💻:

An episode at Fairfax High School in 1988 prefigured the grit and resilience of Johnny Curtis. Ranked #1 statewide before districts, he tore his ACL, typically a season-ender.

Instead, Johnny consulted a well-known specialist, slapped on a state-of-the-art knee brace, beat some good wrestlers, and qualified for states. Before every match that month, he would consult the Old Testament advice to Joshua: “Be strong, and of a good courage.”

After a red-shirt rehab at George Mason University, he took advantage of all that hard work could grant him, finishing as a two-time NCAA All-American for the Patriots (seventh and eighth place).

After high school and college, most wrestlers step back from combat and serve the sport through coaching, officiating, or volunteering. For Johnny however, the period from 1993 to 2000 was his exploration of all possibilities.

He learned much from his mentor Dave Schultz at the pre-eminent Foxcatcher program; he made the US National Team and qualified for the Olympic trials in 1996; he toured the world with the Christian group Athletes in Action, combining charity with competition... but his boldest venture was professional fighting, begun with MMA (mixed martial arts) in his late 30s.

His local following loved it; because of his tree-maintenance business, Freedom Tree Service, his sobriquet was “Treeman,” perfect to describe his height and arm length.

All this while, he was building a life that included wife Karen, the business, and five kids (River, Beau, Callie, Addie, and Willow). As his body began to express reluctance at the constant pounding, he switched readily to informal coaching stints, first for Mason, then for the Capitol Area Wrestling League CAWL, and finally, the Marauders, a youth team in the area of his sons’ high school, Battlefield High School in Prince William County).

His boys took eagerly to their dad’s sport, winning six state titles between them. His commitment reached a memorable peak when, with admiring press coverage, he created on his property a purpose-built wrestling facility, thrown open to all comers.

Johnny’s mission, throughout all his adventures, has been to build character in young people. His strong Christianity, preached and practiced, lends him the ecumenical messages of hope, fortitude, and caring that he shares with his charges. Last year, he was inducted as an inaugural member (with VA Hall-of-Famer Mike Moyer) in the George Mason Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Fairfax High School Athletic Department, FFX Wrestling, George Mason Wrestling, Battlefield Wrestling, Fairfax City Patch, Fairfax County Times, Prince William Times

Congratulations Alumni Johnny Curtis on his induction to the Virginia Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Repost below:

“An episode at Fairfax High School in 1988 prefigured the grit and resilience of Johnny Curtis. Ranked #1 statewide before districts, he tore his ACL, typically a season-ender.

Instead, Johnny consulted a well-known specialist, slapped on a state-of-the-art knee brace, beat some good wrestlers, and qualified for states. Before every match that month, he would consult the Old Testament advice to Joshua: “Be strong, and of a good courage.”

After a red-shirt rehab at George Mason University, he took advantage of all that hard work could grant him, finishing as a two-time NCAA All-American for the Patriots (seventh and eighth place).

After high school and college, most wrestlers step back from combat and serve the sport through coaching, officiating, or volunteering. For Johnny however, the period from 1993 to 2000 was his exploration of all possibilities.

He learned much from his mentor Dave Schultz at the pre-eminent Foxcatcher program; he made the US National Team and qualified for the Olympic trials in 1996; he toured the world with the Christian group Athletes in Action, combining charity with competition... but his boldest venture was professional fighting, begun with MMA (mixed martial arts) in his late 30s.

His local following loved it; because of his tree-maintenance business, Freedom Tree Service, his sobriquet was “Treeman,” perfect to describe his height and arm length.

All this while, he was building a life that included wife Karen, the business, and five kids (River, Beau, Callie, Addie, and Willow). As his body began to express reluctance at the constant pounding, he switched readily to informal coaching stints, first for Mason, then for the Capitol Area Wrestling League CAWL, and finally, the Marauders, a youth team in the area of his sons’ high school, Battlefield High School in Prince William County).

His boys took eagerly to their dad’s sport, winning six state titles between them. His commitment reached a memorable peak when, with admiring press coverage, he created on his property a purpose-built wrestling facility, thrown open to all comers.

Johnny’s mission, throughout all his adventures, has been to build character in young people. His strong Christianity, preached and practiced, lends him the ecumenical messages of hope, fortitude, and caring that he shares with his charges. Last year, he was inducted as an inaugural member (with VA Hall-of-Famer Mike Moyer) in the George Mason Wrestling Hall of Fame. “

end of the season recap! 🦁

Fairfax wrestling graduated 4 District & Region Champs, including 4 State Qualifiers, and a State Champ coming off a State 8th place finish in 22-23 season.

The Lions responded with rebuilding and developing a squad that followed up and out preformed the historic squad before them. These wrestlers put together the 2nd best EVER finish in school history with a State 6th finish.

Accolades from this year:
* Loco Dual Champions
* Willie Walters Tournament Champions
* Judges Invitational Tournament 2nd Place
* Occoquan Regional Tournament 2nd Place
* 3.602 Team GPA
* STATE CHAMPION, State Runner Up, State 3rd & Girls State 4th
* 6 State Qualifiers, 5 State Alternates
* 12 Top 6 Regional Placers
* 14-3 Overall Record

on full display all season with our young squad that was looking to leave their mark. Thank you Seniors for the bridge you’ve built for our program.

Grateful for what’s to come!