Nijenhuis leads O-R All-District Team
Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis has decided to attend Purdue University after he graduates.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis, right, and McGuffey’s Christian Clutter, center, take part in the Parade of Champions before the start of the finals at the Powerade wrestling tournament.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis hopes to be in the spotlight again at the state wrestling tournament in Hershey.
When Gerrit Nijenhuis returned from the PIAA Wrestling Championships last year, he took note of the outpouring of admiration by the rabid Canon-McMillan fans.
While the entire program was feted, Logan Macri was especially singled out for winning a state title.
Nijenhuis, who was returning with a bronze medal after a controversial loss in the semifinals to Carter Starocci of Erie Prep, was determined not to make another homecoming without a gold medal this year.
The junior from Canon-McMillan fulfilled that goal when he rolled past Edmond Ruth, a two-time state champion from Susquehanna Township, 8-3, in the Class AAA 170-pound final at the Giant Center in Hershey two weeks ago.
His victory was so dominating that Nijenhuis was named Outstanding Wrestler in the class.
His victory also earns him the Outstanding Wrestler on the Observer-Reporter All-District Wrestling Team.
Nijenhuis heads a group of 28 wrestlers on the team.
The other wrestlers on the first team are Ken Hayman (126) and Tanner Rohaley (145) of Canon-McMillan; Christian Clutter (170) of McGuffey; Scott Joll (182) of Belle Vernon; Jonathan Vargo (195) of Bentworth; Cole Homet (120), Trey Howard (145), Luca Augustine (152) and Colby Morris (160) of Waynesburg; Dom Fundy (195) of Beth-Center; Gerald Comedy Jr. (Hvy) of Washington; Brandon Matthews (182) of Peters Township, and Riley Kemper (Hvy) of Burgettstown.
The second team includes Nathan Yagle (113), Jett Pattison (126) and Ethan Barr (152) of McGuffey; Jimmy Gwyer (120) of Beth-Center; Shane Kemper (145) of Burgettstown; Costa Moore (106), Jimmy Baxter (113) and Gio Ramos (Hvy) of Canon-McMillan; Bryce Wilkes (120), Coltin Jezioro (152) and Jeff Markert (170) of Peters Township; Cole Whitmer (182) of Trinity; Quentin Franklin (Hvy) of South Fayette and Logan Seliga (120) of Belle Vernon.
Mark Caffrey of McGuffey is the Coach of the Year in Class AA and Jeff Havelka of Canon-McMillan receives the honor in Class AAA.
As usual, inclusion in the all-district teams was determined by the accomplishments of each wrestler within his respective weight class.
Injuries are taken into consideration.
Nijenhuis became the 22nd state champion for Canon-McMillan and third in a row for the Big Macs.
“Canonsburg is one of the best wrestling communities in the world and I’ve been welcomed back. It’s been awesome,” said Nijenhuis. ” The whole community has been rising up and congratulating me. I got a big chocolate bunny from (Sarris Candies). There was a giant welcoming committee when we got back. It was really surreal.”
Nijenhuis finished third in the past two state tournaments.
“I was tired of that, really frustrated,” he said. “I was not always in the best mood on the car ride back. I got it right this year. I’m really glad I did.”
Nijenhuis came into the tournament as the second seed and won four straight to raise his record to 44-3 for the season and career mark to 134-16. Ruth came into the match as the No. 1 seed with a 37-0 record this season and a 137-11 career mark. His two state titles came when Susquehanna Township competed in Class AA. Nijenhuis was simply dominating, taking Ruth down in the opening seconds and putting him away with a four-point move at the end of the second period. Ruth saw his streak of 105 straight wins come to an end.
“Setting the tone and the pace was definitely a big part of me winning that match,” said Nijenhuis. “I feel like I wrestled really well there.”
Nijenhuis had some rough spots in his season. He lost a 5-2 decision to Starocci in the 182-pound final, and premiere bout, in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament. The two nearly came to blows at the end when Nijenhuis took exception to a push that sent him to the mat. Fortunately, the two were separated before things got ugly.
In the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament, Nijenhuis lost a 2-1 decision to top-rated Max Shaw of Thomas Jefferson at 195 pounds. Nijenhuis was giving up 25 pounds and limped off the mat at the end after aggravating a left knee injury. But it healed with a bit of rest and Nijenhuis finished his drop to 170 for the individual postseason.
“You have to stay positive during the season,” he said. “I could have easily said, ‘Man, I’m hurt. I’m giving up weight.’ I could have done not as well as I did. I kept a really positive mindset and thought, ‘I’m tough. I’m going to get through this.’ I’m not going to let any obstacle stand in my way.”
Nijenhuis committed to Purdue University in January and will enter his senior season with expectations raised. He doesn’t mind.
“If anything, it’s less pressure,” he said. “I don’t have to go out there (next season) worrying about getting my (first) state title. I’m going to go out there and have fun.”
Outstanding Wrestler: Gerrit Nijenhuis, Canon-McMillan
Class AA Coach of the Year: Mark Caffrey, McGuffey
Class AAA Coach of the Year: Jeff Havelka, Canon-McMillan
First Team
1. Gerrit Nijenhuis, Jr., Canon-McMillan, 170, 44-3
2. Christian Clutter, Sr., McGuffey, 170, 43-4
3. Ken Hayman, Sr., Canon-McMillan, 126, 42-13
4. Scott Joll, Sr., Belle Vernon, 182, 37-8
5. Jonathan Vargo, Sr., Bentworth, 195, 30-8
6. Colby Morris, Sr., Waynesburg, 160, 41-8
7. Cole Homet, Fr., Waynesburg, 120, 45-9
8. Dom Fundy, Sr., Beth-Center, 195, 22-4
9. Gerald Comedy, Jr., Washington, Hvy., 28-8
10. Riley Kemper, Jr., Burgettstown, Hvy, 36-10
11. Tanner Rohaley, Jr., Canon-McMillan, 23-15
12. Luca Augustine, So., Waynesburg, 152, 42-9
13. Trey Howard, Sr., Waynesburg, 145, 35-8
14. Brandon Matthews, Sr., Peters Township, 182, 39-6
Second Team
1. Jett Pattison, Sr., McGuffey, 126, 34-9
2. Shane Kemper, So., Burgettstown, 145, 36-9
3. Nathan Yagle, So., McGuffey, 113, 28-10
4. Jimmy Gwyer, Sr., Beth-Center, 120, 40-10
5. Logan Seliga, Sr., Belle Vernon, 120, 30-9
6. Costa Moore, So., Canon-McMillan, 106, 26-10
7. Coltin Jezioro, Sr., Peters Township, 152, 36-8
8. Jeff Markert, Sr., Peters Township, 170, 35-6
9. Cole Whitmer, Jr., Trinity, 182, 35-5
10. Quentin Franklin, Jr., South Fayette, Hvy, 37-11
11. Ethan Barr, Sr., McGuffey, 152, 33-9
12. Jimmy Baxter, Jr., Canon-McMillan, 113, 32-13
13. Bryce Wilkes, Jr., Peters Township, 120, 31-6
14. Gio Ramos, Jr., Canon-McMillan, Hvy, 31-19