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Henderson Continues Breakout Season
The Northwest College wrestling team left the Battle of the Rockies in Great Falls, Montana, as they’ve left every competition this season — better.
The Trappers didn’t place a winner in Saturday’s open tournament, nor did they win either head-to-head dual with Minot State or Simon Fraser on Friday, but they enter a three-dual weekend on the rise.
“We are better now than we were last week, and the week before and the week before,” NWC head coach Jim Zeigler said. “This group has continued to get better.”
Northwest placed four top-four finishers on Saturday, including John-David Henderson’s runner-up performance at 149 pounds, and fell by just three points to Simon Fraser on Friday despite being shorthanded.
“I felt real good about the way they competed,” Zeigler said. “I thought they discovered some things. It’s that point in the year where they’re starting to get enough matches and figure out, ‘I’m just as tough as that guy.’ Some of that freshman intimidation is starting to go away.”
Henderson recorded a 12-6 decision against Minot State, won by forfeit against Simon Fraser and won three straight decisions to make it to Saturday’s title bout, which he lost 5-3.
“He’s just wrestling really, real well. What a difference in maturity from year one to year two,” Zeigler said. “(Last year), he won when he was more talented, this year there’s those hard-fought matches where the outcome is uncertain and he’s finding a way to come out on top. I’m just real impressed.”
It’s still early in the season, but Zeigler said Henderson is on a path that could lead to the top.
“He’s a top-six, top-eight kid right now, with the potential to be top-four or even higher if he continues,” Zeigler said. “I’d say the projections are good for John- David right now.”
Heber Shepherd took third place at 184 pounds with a 5-1 record on Saturday. Shepherd lost his quarterfinal bout by major decision, but rallied for four straight wins, culminating in a 4-2 double overtime victory in the third-place match.
Shepherd won 6-0 against Minot State and lost by pin to Simon Fraser.
Like Shepherd, Tevin Nuttall took third at 174 pounds after falling in the quarterfinals. All four of Nuttall’s victories came by decision, and his lone loss was by pin.
Nuttall dropped decisions in both of Friday’s duals, but was still one of the standouts of the weekend, according to Zeigler.
“The bright spots for me are the young guys in the middle, with (Justin) Polkowske, (Andres) VonRein, Nutall and Shepherd,” Zeigler said.
Polkowske pinned four opponents on his way to a fifth-place finish at 157 pounds. He lost his opening bout by a 5-3 decision and lost in the consolation semifinals 11-1.
VonRein went 2-2 and did not place at 165 pounds. All of his matches ended with a pin on Saturday. He won a 4-2 decision against Minot State and lost an 8-3 decision to Simon Fraser.
Riley Loveless took fourth with a 4-2 record in the Battle of the Rockies and lost a 11-0 major decision to Minot State Friday. He won by forfeit against Simon Fraser.
Zeigler said Loveless hasn’t yet reached his potential, but will be a force once he breaks out.
“There’s some things we’re going to work on with him. But he’s certainly capable of making that jump and when he does, he’ll make a big difference,” Zeigler said.
The No. 20-ranked Trappers travel to Couer d’Alene, Idaho, for a dual against No. 11 North Idaho at 8 p.m., followed by Saturday duals against No. 4 Clackamas and Southwest Oregon.
Northwest will be challenged by two highly ranked teams and an always competitive Southwest Oregon. Zeigler said he is not focused on the dual’s team scores, but is pushing for his guys to establish themselves in their weight class, especially with three region teams in attendance (Clackamas, SOU, Western Wyoming).
“Even though they may be more talented than us, I always feel like we do the little things better than those programs,” Zeigler said. “And that’s been our identity. We’ve been the program that does the little things right, pays close attention to details, we are the team that makes the improvements.
“Hopefully those things will start to show, and if not this time, we’ll see them again later. If there’s a gap, we’ll close the gap even more by the time region gets here.”