The sophomore from Cartersville, Ga., became the second Hokie player to accomplish the feat on the mat. mekhi lewis (2019; 165 lbs.), the first national champion from Georgia. Henson is the fourth Hokie to reach the NCAA finals, and the fifth time a Hokie has reached the NCAA finals.
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how did it happen
Henson was relentless from the first whistle throughout the match. Hawkey conceded the first takedown, but attempted a quick escape from Gomez's attack before landing a bodylock and a five-point move to take a 6-3 lead. Henson added four more points on a sackback for four points, still extending the lead in the first period. Gomez escaped, but Henson countered the cement mixer and led 13-4 at the end of the first round with 1 minute 17 seconds riding time. The Hokies would make another run to start the third to further extend their lead. More attacks from Gomez narrowed the lead, but the Hokies made another successful escape and led 15-7 at the end of the second period. Gomez chooses neutral to start the final frame. Despite multiple scoring attempts, the score was 15-7, and the Hokie star and newly crowned champion, a multi-time All-American, held his own on an unforgettable Saturday night at T-Mobile Center. and the University of Michigan, which qualified for the 2024 Olympics.
The road to the finals
Last season, Henson won his first match, then lost in the second round before racking up five wins and a podium finish. This year, Henson took a direct path to the podium, scoring a commanding victory over No. 29 Alec Martin of South Dakota in the opening round with an offensive outburst of five takedowns and an 18-3 tech fall to advance to the championship. started running. A two-point difference for victory.
The Hokies will advance to the Round of 16 and face a familiar foe from high school, No. 20 Jordan Williams (Oklahoma State). Henson scored two takedowns and one escape in the control match to advance to the quarterfinals.
Awaiting him was Big 12 champion No. 7 Ty Watters of West Virginia, with the winner receiving All-American honors and a ticket to the semifinals. Henson goes for the lead with a takedown, but Watters keeps it interesting with a reversal and gets the score within one point in the third period. The hitman kept his foot on the gas and escaped, then got another takedown to stop the fight and advance to the semifinals, earning his second All-American spot in the process.
Waiting in the semifinals was No. 1 and former national finalist Ridge Lovett of Nebraska. The two have met once before, with the Cornhuskers winning 4-3 in the controversial Cliff Keene Las Vegas Invitational final in December. For Henson, there couldn't have been a better chance to change the script. It was a chess match in the first period with multiple scoring attacks by Henson and a fierce hand fight, but the first period ended without being able to find the score. Henson opted for neutral in his second start, and the same thing happened as time expired for Henson seconds before scoring. With the previous encounter in mind (Las Vegas had the difference in riding time points), Lovett opted to start the third period on top. The Hokies made an escape with less than a minute left to take the lead. Henson still posed a threat with attacking potential, but this escape was his only goal and earned him a place in the finals for the first time in his young career.
