Canon- Mac champ ready to defend title
It was the biggest upset at the 2019 PIAA wrestling championships, but Gerrit Nijenhuis does not want to dwell on it.
“It was clearly the biggest win of my career, but I don’t want to dwell on it,” said Nijenhuis, who will soon begin his senior year at CanonMcMillan High School. “I don’t want to get complacent. I want to stand atop the podium again.”
Nijenhuis stepped into the spotlight with his convincing 8- 3 upset of Susquehanna Township’s Edmond Ruth in the 170- pound title match in the PIAA Class 3A finals. Ruth was a two- time state champion and a heavy favorite to repeat.
“I look at that match as a stepping stone to many more accomplishments in my wrestling career,” Nijenhuis said.
Nijenhuis wants to finish his high school career as a two- time state champion and has spent the summer working toward that goal.
“I went to the Disney Duals and the Virginia Beach Duals with the Young Guns Wrestling Club,” Nijenhuis said. “We placed second at Disney and third at Virginia.”
Last month, Nijenhuis made his second visit to Fargo, N. D., to compete in the Freestyle National Championships in the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University.
“My first trip to Fargo was in 2017 and I placed fourth,” said Nijenhuis, who was competing in the Cadet Division. “I wanted another shot at winning a national title.”
This time, Nijenhuis was entered in the Junior Division and came close to reaching his goal, but had to settle for a silver medal after losing, 10- 0, in the 170- pound finals to Minnesota grappler Patrick Kennedy.
“It was a pretty cool experience,” said Nijenhuis, referring to the ceremony held before the finals to recognize the All- Americans in each weight class. “But I didn’t wrestle the way I wanted to. It showed me that I still have work to do.”
Nijenhuis took a week off after his trip to Fargo, but quickly returned to the training room to prepare for the Super 32 Challenge Oct. 12- 13 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.
“I placed second last year [ at 182 pounds]. I lost [ 5- 3] to Abe Assad, a wrestler from Illinois,” Nijenhuis said. “I want to win this year.”
Assad has since graduated and will soon begin his college career at Iowa University.
A month prior to the PIAA tournament, Nijenhuis accepted a scholarship to Purdue.
“I really liked coach Tony Ersland and assistant coach A. J. Schopp,” said Nijenhuis, when asked why he chose Purdue. “A. J. is a Pennsylvania wrestler [ Tyrone High School and Edinboro University]. He also wrestled for Young Guns.”
Wrestling in the Big Ten Conference was also a factor in his decision.
“The Big Ten has the best wrestlers in the country,” Nijenhuis said. “You have to wrestle the best to become the best.”
Nijenhuis is undecided on his major.
“Purdue is also a really good school for academics,” Nijenhuis said. “That’s the cherry on top.”
Nijenhuis broke into Canon- McMillan’s starting lineup as a 152- pound freshman. He placed second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA and finished with a 467 record. He moved up to 160 as a sophomore and had the same results in the postseason tournaments — second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA.
Last season, he moved up to 170 and posted a 44- 3 record en route to WPIAL and PIAA titles. Another move up in weight class is probable as Nijenhuis enters his senior year with a 134- 16 career record.
“I still haven’t decided, but cutting to 170 would be tough,” said Nijenhuis, who is considering a move up to 182. I will wrestle where my team needs me during the regular season, then make a decision before the postseason tournaments.”
Nijenhuis would also like to celebrate a WPIAL title with his Big Mac teammates. Canon- McMillan has placed second, second and third in the WPIAL team tournament the past three years.
“We should be very good this year,” Nijenhuis said. “Most of our team is back, so I expect us to make a run at the WPIAL title.”
Nijenhuis is not happy with the PIAA’s proposal to cut two weight classes for the 2020- 21 season.
“I’m not a big fan. It’s not very good for the sport. It especially hurts competitive teams.”
The new proposal would eliminate the 182- pound weight class. The new alignment would have a gap from 170 to 190.
“It’s unfair to wrestlers who are weighing in at 180 or 185,” Nijenhuis said. “Cutting to 170 is a big jump. I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.”