Gerrit Nijenhuis has marked off quite a few bucket list items during his senior year at Canon-McMillan High School.
• He became a four-time WPIAL Class 3A finalist and won his second title.
• He placed at the PIAA tournament for the fourth time and won his second title.
• He finished the season with an unblemished record of 47-0.
• He became the WPIAL’s all-time career wins leader with 181 wins.
Nijenhuis will mark off the final bucket list item of his high school career Saturday when he wrestles in the 46th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at Pitt’s Fitzgerald Field House.
“I’ve been going to the classic since I was a kid,” said Nijenhuis, a Purdue recruit. “It’s always been a goal of mine to wrestle in the classic. There have been so many Canon-McMillan wrestlers who have been picked over the years. It’s an honor to follow in their footsteps.”
Nijenhuis will be the 46th Canon-McMillan wrestler to participate in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, which was formerly known as the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, and the 17th Big Mac to appear in the feature match.
“Wrestling in the classic gives me an opportunity to face one of the top wrestlers in the country,” Nijenhuis said. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
Nijenhuis (181-16) will face John Poznaski (155-12), a New Jersey state champ and Rutgers recruit from Colonia High School, in the 182-pound match.
The feature match has a significant change to its lineup as the weight classes at 113 and 285 pounds have been replaced by an additional match at 138 and 195.
“A lack of top-tier high school seniors in Pennsylvania and/or United States in certain weight classes and an overabundance in other weight classes is the primary factor that drove this difficult decision,” said Kraig Nellis, co-chairman of the selection committee. “The emphasis on showcasing the best wrestlers in the state and country was a critical factor in our decision.”
Nijenhuis is one of four WPIAL wrestlers on the Pennsylvania All-Star Team. The others are Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps, North Hills’ Sam Hillegas and Mt. Lebanon’s Luke Stout.
Phipps (153-10), a Bucknell recruit, is a four-time WPIAL Class 3A champion, three-time PIAA finalist and one-time state champ. His opponent in the 126-pound bout is Virginia Tech recruit Eddie Ventresca (156-17), a New Jersey state champion from Pope John Paul XXIII.
Hillegas (157-5), a Virginia Tech recruit, is a three-time WPIAL Class 3A champion, three-time PIAA finalist and two-time champ. His opponent in one of the two matches at 138 pounds is Northern Iowa recruit Cael Happel (217-5), a four-time Iowa state champ from Lisbon High School.
Stout (153-16), a Princeton recruit, won Class 3A WPIAL and PIAA titles this year after placing second in both tournaments last year. His opponent in the 195-pound bout is Iowa University recruit Gabe Christenson (156-23), a two-time Iowa state champion from Southest Polk High School.
The feature match between the Pennsylvania All-Stars and United States All-Stars is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The preliminary match between the WPIAL All-Stars and Maryland All-Stars will begin at 4 p.m.
United States All-Star Team
120—Ryan Miller, Blair Academy, N.J. (113-13)
126—Eddie Ventresca, Pope Paul XXIII, NJ (156-17)
132—Dominick Serrano, Windsor, CO (168-0)
138—Cael Happel, Lisbon, IA (217-5)
138—Frankie Tal-Shahar, American Heritage, FL (175-13)
145—Austin Boone, Lowell, MI (159-8)
152—Chase Saldate, Gilroy, CA (149-14)
160—Keegan O’Toole, Arrowhead, WI (157-5)
170—Gavin Kane, Cambridge, GA (167-2)
182—John Poznanski, Colonia, NJ (155-12)
195—Gabe Christenson, Southeast Polk, IA (156-23)
195—Silas Allred, Shenandoah, IN (144-2)
220—Braxton Amos, Parkersburg South, WV (142-0)
Pennsylvania All-Star Team
120—Sheldon Seymour, Troy (141-13)
126—Kurtis Phipps, Norwin (153-10)
132—Kenny Herrmann, Bethlehem Catholic (152-35)
138—Sam Hillegas, North Hills (157-5)
138—Beau Bartlett, Wyoming Seminary (177-9)
145—Lachlan McNeil, Wyoming Seminary (59-8)
152—Ed Scott, DuBois (151-6)
160—Andrew Cerniglia, Notre Dame Green Pond (121-17)
170—Tyler Stoltzfus, Saint Joseph’s Catholic (165-26)
182—Gerrit Nijenhuis, Canon-McMillan (181-16)
195—Luke Stout, Mt. Lebanon (153-16)
195—Gage Garcia, Southern Columbia (163-6)
220—Hunter Catka, Sun Valley (134-9)
WPIAL All-Star Team
113—Dom Giordano, Kiski Area (71-28)
120—Ryan Michaels, Elizabeth Forward (123-11)
126—Zach Wright, Hampton (112-38)
132—Gabe Willochell, Latrobe (134-28)
138—Nathan Lukez, Pine-Richland (129-29)
145—Mason Spears, Franklin Regional (96-44)
152—Jack Blumer, Kiski Area (150-29)
160—Thayne Lawrence, Frazier (120-12)
170—Eli Brinsky, South Fayette (125-49)
182—Austin Walley, Ellwood City (139-25)
195—Luke Montgomery, Bethel Park (94-38)
220—John Meyers, Greensburg Salem (89-25)
285—Riley Kemper, Burgettstown (139-40)
Maryland All-Star Team
113—Alex Dufour, Owings Mills (158-16)
120—David Panda, Atholton (124-23)
126—Will Guida, St. Paul’s (114-19)
132—Lorenzo Lopez, Landon (165-27)
138—Maxwell Bentley, Easton (135-10)
145—Phil Smith, Owings Mills (164-4)
152—Owen Butler, La Planta (148-19)
160—Josh Stokes, Huntington (184-31)
170—Drew Sotka, Glenelg (145-16)
182—Dominic Solis, McDonough (154-34)
195—Jack Wimmer, McDonough (160-42)
220—Tim Ferguson, Damascus (177-13)
285—Garrett Kappes, McDonough (155-29)
First Published: March 9, 2020, 9:58 p.m.
