SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Reigning Pan Am Games bronze medallist Aaron Johnson is hoping that a change in tactics will propel him to the gold medal in the wrestling competition here at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

Johnson, competing in the 125kg category, is to take on Edurado Garcia of Mexico in his opening match, set to start at 11:30. But before that, Johnson’s teammate Jordan Mitchell is to battle Jordon Perez of Centro Caribe Sports in the 65kg class at 10:14 am.

Johnson told the Jamaica Observer that he is in tip-top shape going into today’s fight.

“I have a good draw and in my side of the bracket, I am looking at two guys that I beat in the qualifiers and so I am looking at making the final,” said Johnson.

“The guy that I lost to in the semi-final of the Pan Am Games is a two-time Olympian, but just wrestling him I know that once I can make minor adjustments, I can beat him,” he said.

“I think that I need to be more active with my hand fighting and be more [open] to take more risk to score more points,” he said.

Johnson, who won his Pan Am Games bronze in April of this year in Argentina, said the sport of wrestling has been making steady progress in terms of growth over the years, but he would definitely like more Jamaicans participating in it.

“I am feeling good about competing here because I have been representing Jamaica for about two years now and it has been a slow process building up the programme, but we are starting to get some more lead way now,” he said.

“I brought home a bronze medal from the Pan Am Games and so we are starting to get some more progress and we are hoping for further funding in the future,” Johnson pointed out.

He added: “I have been wrestling since I was 12 years old, and I love wrestling and I think it is the greatest sport in the world but Jamaica is not very known for wrestling and so I want to bring home some gold medals to start bring attention to the sport.”