Wrestling: Lindenwold’s Morris Johnson passes away

Morris Johnson, a former Olympic wrestling team member and NCAA Division II national champion and Lindenwold resident, passed away on Sunday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was 54.

The California native recorded a 79-9 record in two seasons at San Francisco State. He won his national title at heavyweight in 1984, one season after finishing runner-up.

After college, he was a Pan American Games champion in 1986 and placed fifth at the USAW Greco-Roman Nationals two years later. In 1990, he was runner-up at the Sombo World Championships in Moscow. He also wrestled against Olympic medalist and legend Dave Schultz.

Johnson was an assistant coach at San Francisco State and Arizona State before coaching under Roger Reina at Penn.

A memorial has not be set yet. He is survived by his wife Ellen, his daughter Isadora (Izzy), and son Desmond, who is a member of the Penn wrestling team.