READER MAKES A GREAT STORY
Latest Davison star answers questions about last year
He won’t be a four-time state champion. In fact, he hasn’t had an undefeated season … yet.
He doesn’t have a pile of Cadet or Junior National titles. In fact, he doesn’t yet have one … yet.
Incredibly, many don’t have him ranked No. 1 nationally at his weight class … yet.
The fact is, however, that Davison (Mich.) High’s Jonathan Reader just might be the best high school senior in a pretty good Class of 2006.
Arguably the most athletic senior, Reader hasn’t been pushed at the 160-pound weight class this year.
At the Medina (Ohio) Tournament of Champions this year, dubbed “The Greatest Show in Wrestling” for good reason, Reader’s scorecard was simple yet elegant: Four matches…four first-period pins…one dominating 160-pound title performance. Davison finished second behind Lakewood St. Edward High.
Reader has accomplished this at a school that has had its share of individual stars. Brothers Chase and Brent Metcalf combined for six state titles in Cardinal singlets. Now, it’s Reader’s team and coach Roy Hall’s Cardinals are starting to round into s
hape.After finishing third in the Division I state tournament as a 112-pound freshman, Reader grew quickly. He won state titles as a sophomore and junior at 135 and 152 pounds, respectively. His career record heading into this season: 175-5.
Despite growing up in a state with three powerful programs, Michigan, Michigan State and Central Michigan, Reader will leave the state to continue his wrestling career. He signed a national letter of intent with Iowa State in November, helping the Cyclones to what could be their second consecutive blockbuster recruiting class.
Recently, W.I.N. Magazine caught up with Reader for this candid interview.
WIN: Your team was at Detroit Catholic Central High this past weekend. How did that go for you?
Reader: It was an individual tournament. We won that as a team. We had a few guys out with injuries and they should all be back real soon. But our team took the title.
WIN: Detroit Catholic Central’s pretty good, aren’t they? They were last year.
Reader: Yeah, they’re always really tough. Coach Hall told us that there were seven teams that were ranked in the state there, so it was good for us to win it, even with a few guys out.
WIN: You signed in November with Iowa State. How has that affected your senior season? Has that taken a lot of the pressure off you?
Reader: Yeah, it’s definitely taken a lot of the pressure off, not having to go through the recruiting process during the season. I’m so happy that I chose Iowa State. I look back on my signing and everything, it was a perfect fit for me. It’s made the season go by a lot smoother and I’m ready to make the next jump.
WIN: I’m sure you broke a lot of hearts in Michigan when you announced you were going to sign with Iowa State.
Reader: Yeah, I think a lot of people were wishing I had stayed in Michigan so they could watch me a little more. But Iowa State is a premier program. I’m ready to wrestle for the Cyclones.
WIN: You look at the class Iowa State brought in last year and with you and (state of Iowa recruits) Mark Kist and T.J. Sebolt coming in this year, they’ve got another great class going. You’re part of something that’s really building there, aren’t you?
Reader: Oh, yeah, they’re going to be really awesome there the next few years. That class they brought in last year was phenomenal. I know most of those guys really well from (Junior) Nationals. It’s really neat how we all ended up at the same place.
WIN: I’m sure Cael Sanderson had a lot to do with your recruiting. Great wrestler, great person and now he obviously has become a big recruiter. What about him was so impressive to you?
Reader: He and I really connected when I went there on my recruiting trip and throughout the whole recruiting process. I’ve really developed a big brother type of feeling, that kind of relationship with him.
He calls me up a lot to talk about how I’m doing and how things are going and so does Coach (Bobby) Douglas. Both of them are great guys.
It’s unbelievable how much Cael brings to the table. He told me everything he’s gotten out of wrestling so far in his life, he wants to put it right back into coaching. That’s awesome.
WIN: There’s a lot of talent at Iowa State and a great opportunity to be coached by (Sanderson). Were there one or two things he told you that sealed the deal for you?
Reader: Basically, the workout partners will be great. The Paulson brothers are going to be there to work out with me. I’m going to redshirt my freshman year and the Paulsons are going to be seniors, so I’ll be able to work out with those guys next year and get ready, mentally and physically, and jump right into the line-up and go from there. Cael told me that once I get there, I’ll start improving every day, just being around those guys and their style and all that.
WIN: Davison is a program that’s been under the influence of the Metcalf brothers for such a long time. Now, you’re a senior and this is your team now. What does that feel like?
Reader: We’re still doing the same things we did when the Metcalf brothers were here. We have the same style; we attack, we wrestle in your face.
That’s basically the thing about Iowa State; that’s pretty much their style and that’s another thing I loved about them, not just because of the workout partners, but because of their style. I love to wrestle that in-your-face style. That’s how we wrestle here at Davison.
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