Feb 17, 2019 2 min read

Before the first whistle sounded in the Class AAA individual postseason, Gerrit Nijenhuis has already made a winning move.

The 170-pound junior from Canon-McMillan High School announced his commitment to Purdue University Sunday afternoon. The Boilermakers are coached by Tony Ersland.

Nijenhuis said a number of Division I wrestling programs were interested in offering a scholarship, including Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Iowa State.

“I got along with the coaches (at Purdue) and the kids, and I felt it was a place that would give me a chance to accomplish all my goals,” he said. “I’m really excited to get the recruiting process over with and I feel like I made the right call with Purdue.”

Nijenhuis said they have not determined what weight he will compete at in college. He began this season at 182 pounds and wrestled as high as 195 for the team. But his weight has always been within reach of 170.

Nijenhuis also said his knee, which has been heavily bandaged this season, is close to 100 percent, thanks to a break in the schedule.

“I’m getting my mind ready for the postseason,” he said. “I’m getting back into the room and working on the little things that could make the difference in winning a state title.”

Nijenhuis finished third in the PIAA Class AAA Championships in each of the past two seasons. He is ranked second in the state at 170 pounds behind Lehigh commit and two-time state champ Edmond Ruth.

Nijenhuis was a runner-up at the prestigious Super 32 tournamnet in late October and the FloNationals.