Four In-State Wrestlers to Join Little Rock Roster

LITTLE ROCK - The wait is finally over: this week, the inaugural 2019-20 Little Rock Trojans wrestling team will be unveiled, one day at a time. Today, head coach Neil Erisman and assistant coach Javier Maldonado will begin by introducing four new faces that come to Little Rock while also calling the state of Arkansas their original home: Dylan Johnson, Cash Jones, Matthew Muller, and Jake Turner.

"Coach Javier and I believe in our Arkansas athletes and we know we cannot win without them," said Erisman. "As our state grows we will continue to recruit the top in-state talent. This group of four have paved the way for future Arkansans, and we look forward to having them represent our great city and state."
 

Dylan Johnson (Pine Bluff, Ark.)

Johnson is a junior transfer, heading back home to Arkansas after spending the past two years at Cowley College in Kansas. While competing for Cowley, he was a two-time qualifier for the NJCAA Wrestling National Championships. During Johnson's time at Woodlawn High School, he was a two-time Arkansas state champion as well as three-time All-State honoree.

Erisman on Johnson - "Big, strong and tough. That's what you are going to get with Dylan Johnson. He is a competitor and we can't wait to watch him."

Cash Jones (Bentonville, Ark.)

A three-time Arkansas state champion at Bentonville High School, Jones is one of the first Trojans to commit to Little Rock. He helped lead his school to back-to-back Class 6A/7A state titles in 2017 and 2018 while posting a 62-1 record as a senior. Jones also represented Arkansas at the Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman nationals in Fargo.

Erisman on Jones - "I have loved watching Cash grow over the last semester and this summer. He can really be all he wants to be."



Matthew Muller (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Muller represented Fayetteville High School as a Class 6A/7A Arkansas state and conference champion in both 2018 and 2019. He also is a two-time national team member, and has wrestled at Fargo. Along with his success on the mat, he also played center for his high school football team, earning an All-Conference honorable mention his senior year.

Erisman on Muller - "Matt is someone who you want on your team. He has a great attitude and his work ethic is contagious. We are anxious to see his progression and how he competes."

Jake Turner (Rogers, Ark.)

A three-time State champion for Rogers high school, as well as a state finalist as merely a freshman, Turner finished his senior year with a perfect 44-0 record, the cherry on top of his combined career record of 136-2 his last three years. He was awarded the Arkansas State High School Outstanding Wrestler in both 2018 and 2019.

Erisman on Turner - "We are excited about Jake Turner. He brings a high pace and tough attitude. We're excited to watch him grow."

Stay tuned as we introduce the rest of the roster over the next three days, and make sure to mark your calendars for the Grand Opening of the Greg L. Hatcher Wrestling Center, open for the public next Wednesday, September 25 at 5:30 p.m. 

For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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