Quiet St. John has intensity of a winner

Derek St. John performs like Superman on the wrestling mat, even though his demeanor is more like Clark Kent's.

The mild-mannered St. John appears as unassuming on the mat as he is off it, but looks can be deceiving. St. John won his third national title since March with a 160-pound title at last weekend's Junior National tournament in Fargo, N.D.

“It's not that he's not intense. You just can't see it,” said Iowa City West Coach and Iowa Wrestling Federation Chairman Mark Reiland. “The intensity is a little different than a physical bruiser. He's the type of kid that will keep attacking, but it's more of a tactical and technical thing.”

St. John won't be seen pounding his chest or showing people he's No. 1 by raising his index finger, Reiland said.

“I'm just quiet and confident,” St. John said. “That's how I see it.”

Few impose their style as successfully as St. John, a two-time state champion for West.

He is undefeated this spring and summer, winning the FILA Junior National title in Las Vegas and the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. He teched his way through the field at folkstyle nationals.

“The FILA (title) stands out because it's another step up in competition,” St. John said. “The Fargo one means a little bit more. It was definitely something I wanted. I just went out there and competed and let it all loose.”

Reiland said St. John can be underestimated.

“If you were an opposing coach and Derek walks out on the mat, would you really feel like you're wrestling one of the best kids in the country?” Reiland asked. “He just doesn't give you that appearance of a Tom Brands' type of attitude.”

The goal now is to continue winning national titles for the fiery Brands at the University of Iowa.

“I think it looks that way for the most part,” said St. John, projected at 165 or 174 in college. “It's the same intensity, but his is a lot more vocal or out there emotionally. (He) shows it more.”

St. John said he performs best with a “calm and clear mind.”

“I try to do it just because when people look at you and they don't see any emotion it weighs on them,” he said. “They don't know what's going through your mind, It mentally weighs them down.

“If (people) don't like me or the way I act ... then I can't really do a whole lot about it, because I'm not going to change for them. I'm going to keep doing what I do. It's not going to change me.”