Jordan Henning found his sport — wrestling — 14 years ago. The Newton High senior will continue competing on the mat after high school.
On Monday, Henning signed a NCAA Division III commitment letter to wrestle for Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. Henning said he was excited to have the opportunity to wrestle at the college level.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I knew wrestling was my sport. When I began to decide what I wanted to do after high school, I couldn’t think of not wrestling,” Henning said.
Henning said Buena Vista felt like home from the first time he stepped on the Storm Lake campus. He said the wrestling opportunity combined with the right academic opportunities pushed BVU to the top of his list.
“I went up there for a wrestling camp, and it felt right from the get-go,” Henning said. “I spent the day and took a tour. The coaching staff made me feel like family. They told me having me in their program was a top priority for them. That was nice to hear.”
The BVU Beavers are under the direction of head coach Jeff Breese, who is in his second season. Buena Vista is a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Henning is the returning starter at 220 pounds for Newton High’s Cardinals. Henning posted a 13-17 record last year. He placed fifth in his weight class at the Little Hawkeye Conference meet.
“I think I can give Buena Vista somebody who is going to work hard and put in four years of effort for its program,” Henning said. “I hope to go up there, wrestle behind a guy who is pretty good my first year, then in my second year become a point scorer for the varsity squad.”
Henning will move to heavyweight in college wrestling. He said once his senior season for Newton is finished, he will hit the weight room hard to put on muscle.
Henning said his academic pursuits will be in criminal justice or physical education and coaching.
“Buena Vista had both majors I was looking for which weighed a lot in my decision,” he said. “Some of the other schools I was interested in, or were interested in me, didn’t quite have the academics I needed.”
Henning is the son of Tori Rhoads and the late Aaron Henning of Newton.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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