Former prep stars Handevidt, Hennings compete in Worthington Open

Jan. 21—WORTHINGTON — When Payton Handevidt wrestled for Jackson County Central High School, he won three individual state championships. But upon taking his talents to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., he quickly discovered that he still had lots to learn.

During his first week with the Vikings, it became clear that college wrestling would be a big adjustment for him. The older wrestlers showed newcomers the ropes by, basically, beating up on them.

"I just knew if I was going to be in this wrestling room for four years, I was going to get better. Because they made me get better, or I was going to keep losing," Handevidt said Saturday while competing in Worthington for the Worthington Open tournament.

But so far, so good, for Handevidt. On Saturday morning he easily controlled his first Open opponent, Cael Larson of Northern State University, 6-1, to improve his freshman record to 13-1. Handevidt lost his first college match 5-4, but since then has been winning repeatedly.

"It's been really good. Obviously I'm redshirting this year. Just traveling around with all the other redshirts. Just competing, getting a little experience and just adapting to the college style of wrestling," he said.

The important thing in college, Handevidt said, is to learn how to maintain control against stronger collegiate wrestlers who are excellently schooled in tactics.

"A lot of it is just hand-fighting, and position. That's just the biggest part of the transition, I'd say. Another part of scrambling," Handevidt declared. "In high school it wasn't as physical as college. So you've got to fight a lot harder for positioning."

The Worthington Open is the perfect foil for freshman and sophomore college wrestlers who have not yet cracked their schools' varsity lineup. This year's Open attracted about 100 matmen from a wide Midwestern Area. Wrestlers came from the University of Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State University-Marshall, Moorhead State, Northern State, and other big schools, and from top two-year colleges. Minnesota West Community and Technical College wrestlers also competed.

West athletic director Bob Purcell, a former wrestling coach for the Bluejays, said that although the 100 competitors is less than many other years, it's a good number considering that the annual tournament hadn't happened since 2019. The event was canceled due to Covid in 2021, and bad winter weather canceled it in 2020 and 2022.

"We're represented great here," Purcell said Saturday morning.

This year's Open also featured the return of former Worthington High School standout Cole Hennings, now a freshman at Dakota Wesleyan University of Mitchell, S.D. Both Cole and his twin brother Tanner chose Wesleyan for their next step, and although Tanner isn't competing this year due to a National Guards commitment, Cole is getting a good college education.

In his first 285-pound match Saturday against Max Balow of Augustana, Hennings impressed spectators by working a beautifully-timed single-leg takedown for a 2-0 lead. Moments later he was turned, however, and was pinned. The loss put him at 3-4 on the winter season.

It was a good teaching moment for his coach, and after Hennings listened intently on how to avoid such losses in the future, he spoke with a local reporter.

"I just got caught," he said. "I didn't stay in a good position. I went upper body and he just threw me. I just remind myself that it's a whole 'nother level of wrestling (in college). I've still got three years. I'm not expecting to win a national title as a freshman."

Hennings said his first year at Wesleyan has been a good one. And when asked what he needs to continue to work on, his answer was quick.

"Everything. Just everything in general. In high school you wrestle some good kids, some bad kids, and in college they're all good," he said.

Fortunately, Hennings is a person who still appreciates the good things he's done even in defeat. It's a rare thing for a heavyweight to secure a single-leg takedown.

"I got pinned. But I DID take a really good shot," he said.

Hennings won his second match in a fall in 4:06, but lost the next one 8-1. Handevidt placed third in the tournament, losing in the semifinals 6-2 to Antrell Taylor (unattached). Bluejays Deante Porter (174 pounds), Nathaniel Dolezal (197) and Brandon Montgomery (285) didn't place.

Complete Worthington Open results can be found online at trackwrestling.com.