Homewood-Flossmoor’s Davion Henry has come a long way in a short time as a wrestler. Now he’s ready to take a gigantic final step in his senior season.
Henry, who just started wrestling as a sophomore, saw his junior season end in the most painful spot last winter when he lost in the blood round at sectionals, falling one win short of qualifying for the state meet.
“It was tough, but I knew what I had to do,” Henry said. “I knew I had to go back to the lab, focus up and get my mind right for next year.”
Henry is off to a fast start this season. He continued his success Saturday afternoon, winning the 106-pound championship at the McLaughlin Classic at Joliet Central.
Henry and St. Rita’s Enzo Canali (144) were the local champs at the event, where Yorkville Christian captured the team championship.
Providence’s Christian Corcoran (106), Marist’s Colin Phelan (113) and Jonathan Fields (138) and St. Rita’s Jack Hogan (120) and Nolan Keenan (150) were runners-up.
Henry, meanwhile, has big goals this season.
After last season’s near miss, he’s not just focused on making it to state. He believes he can make it all the way to the top.
“I’m going to win it,” Henry said. “That’s what I’m planning. It’s going to take continuous hard work. More than just practice. Continue to stay disciplined, listen to my coaches and keep grinding.”
Henry, who is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 106 by Illinois Matmen, opened Saturday’s tournament with a technical fall against Belleville East’s Jackson Schadegg.
He then pushed through two tough matches, beating Marist’s Gordo Gil 4-1 in the semifinals and overcoming an early deficit to hold off Corcoran 9-7 in the finals.
“My semi match, Gordo is my training partner over the summer,” Henry said. “I knew it was going to be a close match with him, but I like stuff like that.
“It pushes me to find a way to grind out the win because it’s not always going to come easy.”
Speaking of challenges, Henry has stayed at 106 — the lowest weight class in high school wrestling — throughout his career.
H-F assistant coach Jameel Carter knows that’s not easy for a wrestler to do as they get older.
“This is a kid who manages a lot with making 106 as a senior and an 18-year-old,” Carter said. “He’s making strides right now. He came in (Saturday) and knew he had a target on his back, and he lived up to expectations.”
Henry, in his second season with the Vikings after transferring from Rich Township, is looking to be a leader for a team with a lot of new faces.
“Most kids look up to me, but I look up to them, too,” Henry said. “We need each other. We fall back on each other.”
Sophomore Adante Washington, a transfer from Joliet Catholic who finished third at 126 on Saturday, said Henry motivates him to get better.
“He hasn’t been wrestling for long,” Washington said. “That’s what’s most impressive.
“Him and some of my other teammates have been pushing me in the practice room a lot. They make me work my butt off.”
Henry and his older brother, Diondre, decided to try wrestling for the first time in the 2022-23 season. Both had previously played just football.
Diondre graduated in the spring, leaving Davion to wrestle without him for the first time.
But you can bet his big brother still has an influence on him.
“It’s a different feeling,” Davion said. “I’ve been wrestling with him the whole time since I started wrestling. Every time he comes back from college, I try to wrestle with him, and he helps me, too.
“He gives me a lot of tips about training because he’s in college learning new things and he tells me, ‘You’ve got to start thinking next level.’”
