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Previous Mat Chat Interviews
Casey Randles, Coeur d'Alene
Jake Rosholt, Sandpoint
Ridge Lovett, Post Falls
Derrick Booth, Post Falls/North Idaho College
Adam Hall, Bonners Ferry/Boise State/Utah Valley
Brock Zollinger, Sugar-Salem
Lita Cruz, Minico
Adam Freeman, Caldwell
Brad Muri, Meridian
Roy Perales, Nampa
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In my next "Mat Chat," I sit down with Jonathon Fagen, a former Fruitland High School and collegiate wrestler. Jonathon, who comes from a family of accomplished student-athletes, credits wrestling with providing him the tools to succeed in life. Now, he's paying it forward in the Treasure Valley by coaching and serving as an employee at the renowned Suples Wrestling Club in Boise.
Jonathon's family is defined by a legacy of athletic and academic excellence. This impressive lineage includes his father,John, a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) champion for Colorado State University, and his mother,Patti, a competitive swimmer at Pacific University. His brother,Nik, not only became a state wrestling champion but also an accomplished track athlete and a U.S. Navy pilot after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. The family's success continued with his older sister,Tali, who secured two state pole vaulting titles and four national titles at Eastern Oregon University.
Jonathon's path to wrestling was shaped by his father's love for the sport. From childhood, he was immersed in the world of high school wrestling, frequently attending practices and matches until he was old enough to train with the team himself. A natural competitor, Jonathon also pursued other sports, but the challenges and camaraderie of athletics were what truly drove his passion and led to success at every level.
By the time he joined the high school wrestling program at Fruitland High School, Jonathon had established ambitious goals, primarily focusing on the challenging objective of becoming a four-time state champion. This aspiration was fueled by the presence of his teammate, Sammy Eckhart, then a junior who was on track to achieve his own third of four state titles.
In my writing, I often explore the profound challenges, both mental and physical, that accompany entering the wrestling circle. Without a doubt, wrestling is one of life's most demanding experiences. People close to me still ask why the fire for wrestling never dims. They point to the grind, the obscurity next to flashier sports. The answer is straightforward: the mat is life in miniature. Inside the circle you meet yourself—no filters, no excuses. Strengths surface, weaknesses glare back, and the mirror never lies. Wrestling doesn’t forge character so much as it strips away the façade to show what was already there. This reality alone would dissuade most people from attempting such a feat. Not Jonathon; he immediately embraced the challenges at Fruitland and began working diligently from day one.
Jonathon's wrestling career at Fruitland began with an immediate and intense challenge at his first prep competition. Despite the tough start, his dedication and passion propelled him through the season, culminating in a dominant finish where he secured the district championship and the first of a possible four state titles, leaving no question about his talent and potential.
With his sights set on continuous improvement, Jonathon maintained an intensive off-season schedule, participating in freestyle and Greco tournaments both locally and nationally. A commitment to pursuing the highest possible level of competition was his guiding principle from the start. This dedication yielded significant results: he secured another district and state title during his sophomore year, earned All-American honors in freestyle, and clinched his first national title in cadet Greco.
The next two seasons solidified Jonathon's reputation. He became widely recognized as one of the premier upper-weight wrestlers in Idaho and the nation. Highlighting this dominance, he was a two-time participant in the annual Idaho All-Star Classic (sophomore/junior years) and secured two more All-American honors at the NHSCA Championships, all before earning a coveted spot on the 17U Greco World Team.
Jonathon was driven by two main ambitions: securing a fourth state title and pursuing his sport in college. His dominance left no question about his status among Idaho's elite. He effortlessly won both his fourth district and fourth state titles, solidifying his place in Fruitland High School's history books. This achievement made him a four-time champion, joining former teammate Sammy Eckhart and an exclusive group of athletes in Idaho to reach this milestone.
With four state titles, multiple All-American honors, and experience competing at the world level, Jonathon had a remarkable prep career at Fruitland High School. He further demonstrated his versatility and dedication by playing four years of varsity football and graduating as the 2019 class valedictorian.
Closing one chapter and starting anew, Jonathon began his college career at Cornell University, a highly prestigious Ivy League institution. His objectives mirrored his previous ambitions: reach the pinnacle of his sport at the highest level of competition. Despite this ambition, the reality is that success at one level does not automatically translate to the next. Competing at the Division I college level is the benchmark standard and a formidable challenge to navigate from start to finish. Jonathon rose to the challenge, holding his own against top-tier talent and maintaining a roughly .500 record before the remainder of the 2020 postseason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fast forward to his sophomore season at Cornell. The 2020-2021 Ivy League sports season was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, presenting a challenge for all athletes, including Jonathon. At this crucial juncture in his young career, Jonathon maintained his focus and continued to train for the U20 World Team Trials. He advanced to the finals with relative ease and won the best-of-three series to secure his second world team spot at 82kg.
Competing at the U20 level in Greco-Roman wrestling was a formidable test and a stark revelation for Jonathon, offering a glimpse into the elite, full-time dedication of Eastern European Greco athletes, a level of competition not commonly experienced in the United States. While a world medal remained elusive, he fully embraced the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. Upon returning to Cornell, facing uncertainty regarding the Ivy League's 2021-2022 season participation, Jonathon decided to transfer to Arizona State University to continue his collegiate wrestling journey.
Utilizing a waiver for sophomore eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnathon transferred out west. His return to the mat was short-lived, as recurring injuries prematurely ended his 2022-’23 season and subsequent athletic involvement. At that juncture, he weighed foregoing the rest of his collegiate wrestling career to prioritize his physical health and earn his marketing degree.
After nearly four years of steady academic progress, Jonathon's wrestling career had been consistently challenging. He faced a difficult dilemma: either balance his final academic year with returning to the mat or focus solely on completing his degree. A timely opportunity arose when a family friend,Frank Johnson, the head coach for the newly established Division III wrestling program atLinfield Universityin Oregon, contacted Jonathon about transferring to continue both his education and athletic pursuits in the start of 2024.
Jonathon accepted the offer and enrolled at Linfield University in 2024, intending to both compete and complete his degree. Despite initial success on the mat, recurring injuries altered his trajectory. After placing in the top six at the Senior World Trials, Jonathon shifted his focus entirely to finishing his degree.
During the creation of this article, I spoke with coach Johnson regarding Jonathon's journey on the mat and his impact on the program; he stated the following: “ Jonathon is an athlete who is set apart. He has some rare qualities that few people see unless they work directly with him or they know him well. From youth wrestling through college and into senior level competition, he has established himself as one of the top contenders in his weight class across the nation. He has always added a lot to his team in terms of scoring points, but it’s his leadership, the way he thinks outside the box, and the time he gives to his teammates away from the spotlight that put him in a category with very few peers. He pursues excellence in everything he does, and it elevates those around him. On the mat, he’s fiercely competitive and his approach to competition makes him fun to watch. He takes chances, uses his athleticism, and goes all out. He’s so capable, both physically and intellectually, and he brings those skills to the table and everything he does. Regardless of the venture I was embarking on, I would want Jonathon on my team.”
Conversations with Jonathon and insights from coach Johnson reveal a young man destined for success in any arena. What defines his outlook is an unwavering commitment to forward momentum, a drive that shines through even when facing the toughest challenges. This same determination is present in his passion for wrestling, his marketing aspirations, and his recent accomplishments as a published poet. Truly a “poetic warrior in the classical sense,” Jonathon embraces life’s challenges with equal parts, combativeness (wrestling) and intellect. He is a true “Gem” in the wrestling community, and it has been an honor to document his journey thus far. Below is my Q&A interview with Jonathon in addition to his academic and wrestling accomplishments. Enjoy!
Q&A WITH JONATHON FAGEN
How did you first get involved with wrestling?
JONATHON – My Dad, John Fagen, told me he used to grab my Mom’s belly when she was pregnant with me and taunt me to come out. I grew up on the wrestling mat going to practices with my Dad. He always made sure I had a partner to drill with, even when I was in elementary school attending high school practice. Sometimes I would hide and read books because I was tired of wrestling with bigger kids. I played every sport I could growing up but I always considered myself a wrestler competing in other sports.
Who has been your biggest influence in wrestling?
JONATHON – This might be common theme, but my Dad, John Fagen, is by far my biggest influence. He won a WAC Championship at Colorado State University and finished at Pacific University after CSU dropped their program. He always had that “go-getter” mentality that inspired me to set goals as high as I could. When I was little, he made his wrestlers yell “STATE CHAMPION” whenever they climbed to the top of the rope. The first time I was able to climb the rope I yelled “4X STATE CHAMPION” and everyone liked that a lot. My Dad’s best friend, Craig Fournier, has also been a big influence on me. They coached together at New Plymouth and that is where they had the ropes. He used to send my Dad and I scouting reports on my opponents when I would wrestle in big tournaments like Virginia Beach and Fargo. Those two were great role models for me. They never had egos and always encouraged me to seek coaching from people like Coach Ivan Ivanov, who also played a big role in my wrestling success.
Being a native of Idaho, describe your experience growing up in Fruitland, as well as competing for Fruitland High School.
JONATHON – Fruitland was a great community to grow up, especially being an athlete. There was a lot of support. My grandfather was the superintendent way before I got there and the athletic complex is named after him, Ben Kerfoot. My mom and two uncles also graduated from Fruitland, so I have some heritage there. It was a really special experience growing up with the same group of friends and competing in sports together from elementary school through high school. I even went to daycare with one of my high school wrestling teammates, Dalton Arnzen. There really isn’t a substitute for that. The community support around Fruitland High School is what makes it so special to me. My parents still live in Fruitland and I can’t go into town without seeing someone I grew up with or that knows my family. It’s a small town with a rich community.
What life lessons have you learned in wrestling that apply in your day-to-day life?
JONATHON – Grinding it out. Wrestlers have a special kind of grit, and it’s recognized by people who have never wrestled. Coaches never put you through anything they haven’t been through. I remember talking to one of the upperclassmen at Cornell my freshman year who did an internship as an investment banker. He talked about how miserable everyone was because they had to work 80-100 hour weeks but all he thought was “This isn’t that bad. I’m hydrated. I can eat; I’m in an air conditioned office.” There is always a silver lining in any situation. Sometimes it can be hard to find, but it’s there. Not everyone goes through wrestling but everyone goes through hardships in life. I think wrestling is the best preparation for life’s hardships.
What advice would you give to young athletes wanting to be successful in wrestling?
JONATHON – Obsess over the details. The highest level wrestlers care about the smallest details. Technique gets simpler the better you get, but the details get more refined. Recovery is another piece that I never took seriously until I got to college. Taking care of yourself and body is something you’ll never regret. It’s a lot easier to maintain your health than rehab your body. And have fun with it. Wrestling is a grind, but joy is the key to mastery. Don’t take anything too seriously except your commitment to developing. It’s nobody’s journey, but yours.
What other sports were you involved in while growing up in Fruitland?
JONATHON – I played as many sports as I could growing up. Football was a big part of my life outside of wrestling, but I played soccer, basketball, and track until I had to choose between the sports because seasons overlapped. In the summers I also spent a lot of time in the mountains rock-climbing and whitewater kayaking with my family. Football was a big part of the Fruitland community. We made it to the state finals 10 years in a row before I got into high school. My high school team won back-to-back state titles and I started both of those seasons. That meant a lot to be a part of because it was so special to the community. Like I said before, there was a lot of support from the community for all sports, but football was on a different level.
Describe your college academic and wrestling experience.
JONATHON – My college experience was especially unique. I went to Cornell University after graduating in 2019 and spent two years there in the business school. I wrestled at 184s, but had the opportunity to start 3 duals at 197s after the starter, Ben Darmstadt, was injured for that time. My second semester is when Covid-19 hit. That was quite the experience being sent home and returning to being locked down in upstate New York and doing school online. We had to train in a mall that the RTC rented because all facilities were shut down. I had the opportunity to train Greco all year, which worked out because I made the Jr World Team that spring. I excelled in school while at Cornell, made the Dean’s List, but the Ivy League cancelled all sports my sophomore year and didn’t commit to having sports the next year. Two coaches, Rob Koll and Gabe Dean, both left the program as well as Gabe’s younger brother Max and I ended up at Arizona State University (ASU). My first year there was a struggle after I tore my labrum and had to miss a season of competition. However, I came back and started at 197 lbs for the Sun Devils.
I enjoyed competing at ASU. Being at a school that supported athletics was a big deal compared to the Ivy League. I almost felt like a superstar sometimes between traveling and all the perks that came with being an athlete at a big school. Unfortunately, I struggled with injuries all year and ended up sustaining a significant concussion right before the Pac-12 championships. On top of that, I had surgery on my other shoulder once I recovered from the head injury.
My relationship with wrestling wasn’t great after battling injuries for a couple years, so I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I took some time off school to get healthy. That is when a good family friend, Frank Johnson, called me and asked me if I wanted to compete for him at Linfield. I was pretty excited about the opportunity to compete for Frank because I’ve known him and spent time with his family since as long as I can remember. He also supported me a lot throughout my wrestling career. It’s funny because I never imagined I would wrestle Division 3 in high school. Linfield had a brand new program, so I was excited to be a part of building something and to wrestle for someone I really looked up to and respected so much.
My experience at Linfield was incredible and it really helped me experience school and wrestling in a new way. I took an acting class and felt like I had professors that were truly invested in my learning. I did well in the season with a 12-1, made the Dean’s list again, and ended up getting 6th at the Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials. My perspective changed a lot because I enjoyed being a part of team in a way I hadn’t experienced since high school. Frank really set a standard for caring about each other and helping each other develop that not many coaches can do. It was definitely a unique journey, but I’m really grateful for every part of it.
Describe your experience being on the Cadet and Junior World Team and competing at the World Championships
JONATHON – While Making a world team is one of the most incredible things I've ever experienced. I was definitely not prepared for international competition my first go at Cadet Worlds in Zagreb, Croatia. Wrestling Greco-Roman overseas is almost a new sport. It was cool getting to know guys from around the country and training together all representing the USA. Honestly, I wasn't prepared for Junior Worlds, either. Greco-Roman wrestling in the US doesn't prepare athletes for overseas competition. Wrestling in Russia was an incredible experience. The people over there treated us so well and they had an intense love for the sport. It was amazing. I'm really grateful for those experiences. Looking back, I might have enjoyed training full-time with Coach Ivan at Suples and focusing on Greco-Roman instead of pursuing folk style, but I'm grateful for my experiences.
Outside the sport of wrestling and coaching, what other hobbies do you have?
JONATHON – While I was at Arizona State, I began writing poetry frequently. I recently published a book titled “Prisdante: The Poet’s Way” on Amazon. That is a fun outlet for me. I like to snowboard in the winters and kayak in the summers as well. The mountains feel like home to me. Anytime I can get away and go hiking or jump in a hot springs I like to do that. I consider myself a bit of a wild man. I love being in Nature and exploring this playground where we live.
Since graduating from Linfield University, you’ve been working and coaching at Suples and served as the lead clinician at the Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) wrestling camp. What inspired your decision to give back to the wrestling community?
JONATHON – I’ve mentioned a few people who have poured into my cup along my journey and I want to do the same for young wrestlers chasing their goals. I could type pages of people who have helped me along the way. I think about my high school head coach, Isaac Mackenzie, and how grateful I am he was willing to hang out with high school kids all season. It means a lot to have people who are so invested. I feel like I had an army behind me, especially growing up in the Treasure Valley. The wrestling community here is amazing. I’m really inspired by TVCC’s head coach Luis Cisneros and his commitment to helping kids get an education while pursuing their goals in wrestling. It’s awesome to have a wrestling program there. Chris Owens has done amazing things with Idaho wrestling, taking it to new heights. He’s another person that was a big part of my journey competing and coaching. Also, returning to Suples is an incredible opportunity. Coach Ivan Ivanov is a legend as a coach and entrepreneur. I can’t imagine a better place to be able to learn and grow as a coach. I’ve been training and working with his son the last couple months. My body is a little beat up so I’m enjoying doing what I can right now. It’s been really cool being able to represent Suples. I’ve actually been coaching at Suples alongside my high school teammate, Jason Gissel, and we used to commute from Fruitland to Boise to train at Suples together in high school. A lot of things have worked out in a special way for me since moving back to the Treasure Valley. Coach Robbie Rocole has been showing Jason and I the ropes and he’s also an inspiring coach. It is cool to see how Coach Ivan continues to improve things, but it keeps me on my toes, always learning.
JONATHON FAGEN’S WRESTLING AND ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
HIGH SCHOOL – Fruitland High School, 2015-’19
4x 3A State Champion (170, 182, 195)
4x District Champion
Idaho All-Star Classic (Soph/Junior Years)
194-14 career record (93% win percentage)
2x NHSCA All-American (3rd place twice)
Varsity Football (all 4 years)
ACADEMICS (High School)
Valedictorian, Class of 2019 (4.0 GPA)
FREESTYLE/GRECO-ROMAN (Suples WC)
16U Greco-Roman National Champion, 2017
16U Freestyle All-American, 2017
2x USA World Team Member – Greco-Roman (17U/20U)
COLLEGE
Linfield University, McMinnville, Oregon (NCAA Division III), 2024-’25
Arizona State University (NCAA Division I), 2021-’23
Cornell University (NCAA Division I), 2019-’21
ACADEMICS (College)
Graduated from Linfield University with a BS in Marketing (3.4 cummulative)
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