Alburnett’s Owen Henriksen focuses on little things for big success on the wrestling mat

CEDAR RAPIDS – Owen Henriksen writes down goals before daily practice.

He dials in on the specific areas he wants to improve, forgoing the generic and vague. Move his feet, stay in his stance, get out from bottom position and finish takedowns fast are examples of how he tries to improve.

The devil is in the details, but so is success.

“Little things matter,” Henriksen said. “Focusing on the really small details can raise your level in many ways. Take the time and effort, getting in actual workouts after practice, focus on those things and really fine-tuning them is how you jump (levels).”

Henriksen applied those lessons to his matches, winning the 144-pound title at the J-Hawk Invitational Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. He was one of two Pirates champions, helping Alburnett claim the team title with 224 points, 9 1/2 more than Waukee Northwest.

Henriksen, a sophomore, is up almost 25 pounds from last season when he placed fourth at the Class 1A state tournament. He has been unfazed by bigger opponents, pinning his way through the semifinals and improving 32-1 after a 3-2 decision over Northwest’s 3A No. 5 Hayden Hutt.

“I came out on the right foot,” Henriksen said. “I’ve been feeling good this year, and less of a weight cut, so it's been a lot smoother a ride this year.”

The 17-team J-Hawk field included 14 3A teams. Rankings and classes are just a number to Henriksen, who is ranked second in 2A this season. He is prepared to embrace any challenge. him.

“I have really good partners and really great coaches,” Henriksen said. “I always feel prepared coming in. Day in and day out, I’m ready to compete against all levels.

“I wrestled all 3A guys today. I felt good in every single match.”

Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush has noticed the gains from last season to this year, including the progress since competition began in December. Henriksen has been more poised in competition and more precise with his work in practice.

“He thinks about things in a good way, and he just has the ability to see, be told and then apply,” Rush said. “His daily focus is just getting better at wrestling. That's something that we preach as a program. We all know what we want to be, but it's the process that's going to get you there. We have to fine-tune smaller details to get to that point.”

Henriksen scored a first-period takedown against Hutt, who answered with an escape and added another in the second period. Hutt rode Henriksen the entire third but Henriksen was able to thwart Hutt’s late threats to score.

“His composure has grown immensely from last year to this year and even from the start the year,” Rush said. “He’s grown in that area, being a composed competitor.”

  Buy Photo

Henriksen was joined in the finals by teammates Kam Roberts at 132 and heavyweight Eaghan Fleshman.

Roberts entered as the No. 6 seed and won it all, tallying two takedowns and defeating Dallas Center-Grimes 3A No. 10 Avery Van Zelderen, 8-1, in the final. Fleshman finished second to Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross in a battle of top-ranked wrestlers in the championship match. Ross, three-time state champion that signed to compete at Oklahoma State, was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler for the second straight year.

Alburnett was missing a couple starters but had 11 finish fifth or better.

“I honestly didn’t expect this,” Rush said. “Kudos to the tough teams that are here. Kudos to our guys for coming in here and competing.”

Iowa City High boasted a champion in Raphael Etuma at 215. Etuma, ranked third in 3A, notched three takedowns in the final two periods to defeat Center Point-Urbana’s Danny Small, 10-3, in the final.

CPU had two runners-up. Will Griswold (150) also finished second for thee Stormin’ Pointers.

J-HAWK INVITATIONAL

At C.R. Jefferson

Teams – 1. Alburnett 224, 2. Waukee Northwest 214.5, 3. Pleasant Valley 182.5, 4. Fort Dodge 178, 5. Dallas Center-Grimes 176.5, 6. Bondurant-Farrar 175, 7. West Des Moines Valley 130, 8. Iowa City High 101, 9. Center Point-Urbana 80, 10. Clinton 67.5, 11. Forest City 66.5, 12. C.R. Jefferson 51, 13. Davenport North 49.5, 14. Cedar Falls 45, 15. Muscatine 42, 16. Davenport Central 34, 17. Waterloo East 31.5.

Championship matches

106 pounds – Knox Ayala (FD) dec. Lucas Reeder (PV), 2-1 tiebreaker-1; 113 – Carew Christensen (WNW) major dec. Damien Yeoman (FD), 22-9; 120 – Trace Rial (FD) dec. Liam Fitzgibbon (PV), 6-3; 126 – Coby Fiser (BF) dec. Joey Cahill (WNW), 2-1; 132 – Kam Roberts (Alb) dec. Avery Van Zelderen (DCG), 8-1; 138 – Jeran Gilge (BF) major dec. Blake Forrester (DCG), 10-1; 144 – Owen Henriksen (Alb) dec. Hayden Hutt (NW), 3-2; 150 – Soren Kelsall (PV) tech. fall Will Griswold (CPU), 20-2; 157 – Nolan Fellers (BF) tech. fall Brogan Ganshert (DC), 21-4; 165 – Brayden Crosser (DCG) major dec, Rylee Brown (FD), 15-4; 175 – Tyde Nelsen (DCG) dec. Gabe Rubino (WNW), 7-4; 190 – Andy Franke (Mus) major dec. Jesse Egli (FD), 16-3; 215 – Raphael Etuma (ICH) dec. Danny Small (CPU), 10-3; Hwt. – Dreshaun Ross (FD) tech. fall Eaghan Fleshman (Alb), 21-6.

Outstanding wrestler - Ross, Fort Dodge

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com