Wednesday, January 16, 2002
[ PREP WRESTLING ]
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Spiker sculpts JONATHAN Spiker has a dangerous addiction.
wrestling career
The hard-working St. Louis
School junior has put himself
in position for another state title
and a college scholarshipBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comDangerous, that is, to anyone facing him on the wrestling mat.
Spiker, a junior at St. Louis, is addicted to the sweat and sacrifice required to become a two-time state champion wrestler.
"When I say 20 sprints, he'll do 30," St. Louis coach Todd Los Banos said. "Because he knows it's going to take that to be good,"
A full practice capped by grueling conditioning drills in muggy Gerber Fieldhouse is just a warm-up for Spiker, who will practice with his father, John, or hit the weight room long after most of his coaches and teammates have called it a day.
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"They lock up for me," Los Banos said. "That's how it is almost every night."Spiker's workouts have resulted in a perfectly sculpted physique and a trophy case brimming with gold.
Spiker has won 20 national championships in judo and is on course to become only the second Hawaii wrestler to win four state championships. Iolani's Patrick Higa accomplished the feat in the 1980s and St. Louis' Travis Lee came close, winning three titles before graduating last summer.
Spiker captured the state championship in the 135-pound weight class as a freshman and won the 145-pound championship last year, helping lead the Crusaders to their first state team title.
And the taste of victory has inspired Spiker and his teammates to turn it up another notch this winter.
"We trained even harder," Spiker said. "Last year, when the team did well, it was a good feeling and we want to experience that again so you have to work harder to keep up.
"The team helps build individuals up, and the individuals help build the team."
This season, Spiker has won all 18 of his matches, 16 by pins, and recently passed the 100-win mark for his career. He is currently ranked ninth in the nation among juniors in his weight class by USA Wrestling.
Most of Spiker's wins in Interscholastic League of Honolulu dual meets have come in the 152-pound class as Los Banos often bumps him up a level for strategic purposes.
Spiker doesn't beat his opponents with an extensive repertoire of moves, but relies on strength, quickness and flawless execution to overpower them.
"He doesn't do a lot of things technique-wise, but the things he does do, you can't stop it," Los Banos said.
Spiker started taking judo at age 5 and heard about the wrestling program at St. Louis through friends in his class. He started training with Los Banos when he was 11, and hasn't stopped working since.
"He had a lot of energy," John Spiker said. "He was always willing to work, always excited to work and loved training. He just really enjoyed the contact."
Spiker and Lee grew up together in judo and wrestling. The duo trained relentlessly, pushing each other on the mat and in the weight room. Lee is now wrestling at Cornell University, and his example helps Spiker maintain his drive to excel.
"I know he worked hard, he trained a lot, so that just motivates me," Spiker said. "If I want to be like him and accomplish things like he did, I have to work hard myself."
Spiker's work ethic on the mat also translates to his studies. He carries a 4.5 grade-point average at St. Louis and is taking calculus at neighboring Chaminade University. He's a member of the National Honor Society and writes for the campus newspaper. Spiker is also active in his church, regularly participating in community activities.
He has aspirations of attending Harvard and wrestling in college. And a key to his future may lie in Fargo, N.D., site of this year's Junior National Championships. It was at the national championships that college coaches took notice of Lee, and Los Banos is hoping for the same for Spiker.
"It's that tournament that will put him on the map," Los Banos said.
Spiker's few waking moments not devoted to school, church or wrestling are usually spent with his family. His younger brothers, Jason and Jared, are already on their way to becoming champion wrestlers.
"It's something to do together in their spare time, something that helps develop their character, and they can help each other," John Spiker said.
As Spiker leads the Crusaders into the meat of the ILH season this weekend, he knows the pressure is building to defend his league and state titles. But the expectations are fuel for another afternoon and evening of sweat and sacrifice.
"It motivates me," he said. "It's just more motivation and more reason to work hard."
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