Intense desire, work ethic drive St. Louis' Spiker
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Patrick Higa, front, is the only Hawai'i wrestler to win four state titles. St. Louis junior Jonathan Spiker, middle, already has two. Both were coached by Todd Los Banos.
Jeff Widener The Honolulu Advertiser Jonathan Spiker Age: 16 School: St. Louis Height: 5-8 Weight: 145 2002 record: 32-0, 29 pins Career record (high school, overall): 115-0 Championships: ILH 2000, 2001, 2002; State 2000, 2001 Grade point average: 4.5 (includes Calculus, Advanced English, Advanced Japanese) |
To celebrate on Sunday, Spiker went to church in the morning and then lifted weights for three hours.
In the sport that "asks nothing but demands everything," Spiker epitomizes the ultimate wrestler.
"His success is a combination of God-given talent and an incredible work ethic," St. Louis coach Todd Los Banos said. "He has the desire to be No. 1, and no matter what it takes, he'll find a way to win."
The formula has produced astounding results for Spiker in the past three seasons: a 115-0 record, two state championships and three ILH titles. At this weekend's Data House State Championships at Blaisdell Arena, he is expected to become only the second Hawai'i wrestler to win state titles in his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Iolani's Patrick Higa won four state titles from 1983-86.
Like Spiker so far, Higa never lost a high school match. Spiker, 5 feet 8 and 145 pounds, was introduced last September to Higa, who went 119-0 while wrestling at 105, 114 and 121 pounds and is now a Los Angeles policeman.
105, 114 and 121 pounds and is now a Los Angeles policeman.
"They're totally different types of wrestlers," said Los Banos, who coached Higa as an assistant to Carl Schroers at Iolani. "Patrick liked to use a variety of moves, and he flowed from one move to another. Jonathan has the techniques, but he mostly overpowers people with his strength. He can do the same move, and you know it's coming, but you'll have a hard time stopping it."
Despite the contrast in styles, Los Banos said Spiker and Higa are similar in some important respects.
"They have the exact same type of desire to succeed, the desire to work at it real hard," Los Banos said. "That's the common thread. And Patrick dominated his guys, too."
On the path to perfection
Spiker is 32-0, with about six of the matches coming at 152 pounds in order to help the Crusaders win team points. He has 29 pins, and the other three victories came by scores of 10-1, 12-3 and 10-4. Takasaki wrestled Spiker three times and was pinned in the first round each time.
"He is really strong, and he wrestles with a lot of confidence," Takasaki said. "He knows what he's doing."
Takasaki, a junior, said he'd like to challenge Spiker for the state title, but he also has a realistic approach.
"I use him mostly as a gauge as how I'm getting better," Takasaki said. "It helps me."
Spiker gets most of his help from his father, John, his mother, Donda, and Los Banos. John Spiker will lift and train with Jonathan and is there at every match. Donda, a Sunday School teacher and the daughter of a pastor, brought him to church.
And when proper opponents can't be found, Los Banos will lace up the shoes and wrestle Spiker himself.
"Our coaches have been around a long time, they have a lot of experience," Spiker said. "Tournaments are won in practice. I enjoy training."
That's putting it mildly.
Personal drive
During a typical personal workout, Spiker will bench press 225 pounds in three sets of 10, set the StairMaster at the highest speed and stay on it for 23 minutes, and work with weighted pulleys to help his wrestling techniques.
After practice, Los Banos said Spiker "is always the last to leave" the gym, and John Spiker said Jonathan will sometimes ask to be dropped off two miles from home so he can run the rest of the way.
"The two miles is not flat," John said. "It's up a steep ridge."
Spiker said his motivation is simple.
"When you put in the time, you see the results," Spiker said. "I like getting results."
That desire goes beyond the wrestling mat. Spiker carries a 4.5 grade point average with a course load that includes Calculus II and advanced classes in English and Japanese.
He received a letter of interest from Stanford University last week, and perennial powerhouse Minnesota recently called Los Banos to ask about Spiker.
"That's like Nebraska calling to ask about a football player," Los Banos said. "They asked me what kind of wrestler Jonathan is, and when I described him, they said, 'That's exactly the kind of guy we want.' "
High expectations
Spiker already has showcased his talents on the Mainland, beating Utah's two-time state champion en route to winning a national tournament in Reno, Nev., last summer.
The primary focus right now, though, is this weekend's state meet. St. Louis enters as the defending champion and reigning ILH title holder.
Los Banos said Spiker's tireless work ethic "rubs off" on most of his teammates, but it also sets an unusually high standard for others.
"Some guys will say, 'I can never be like that, work that hard,' " Los Banos said.
It's definitely rare air, and if Spiker matches Higa's feat by winning state titles this weekend and next year, it will be an atmosphere that will be shared by only them.
"That's one person Jonathan doesn't mind being compared to," said John, referring to Higa. "He's definitely a legend."
During their meeting in September, Higa gave Spiker some words of wisdom. Spiker, who had learned about Higa's career through Los Banos, listened carefully.
"It was cool meeting him," Spiker said. "He told me to keep training, keep focused and not give up."
That probably won't be a problem, especially this weekend.
"There's more expectations, but I'm ready to go," Spiker said. "I'm going to view it as any other tournament — I'm going to be aggressive, keep coming ... never letting up until the match is done."
And then he'll train for the next one.
