Marty Gordon
Braden Henderson, an outstanding wrestler from Blacksburg High School, has announced plans to continue his career at Roanoke College.
The 132-pound wrestler said he chose Roanoke college for a few different reasons.
“I chose Roanoke college mostly because I liked the campus, the location, and the coaches,” he said. “Roanoke college isn’t too far from home for me, so I still have access to the same hikes and outdoor activities as I do now. Over the few times I visited, I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about either the campus, the town, or any of the facilities. On top of that, the coaching staff is phenomenal. At Roanoke, I know I’ll be in good hands.”
Henderson is a three-time state place winner, placing fifth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and first as a junior.
He has won every tournament that he has competed in this season apart from Beast of the East, a national tournament, including the NOVA Classic and the Richmond Invitational. He is a two-time region champ and has been a captain on his high school team for all four years. His career record is 128-17.
Nate Yetzer was hired as Roanoke’s first head wrestling coach when the Maroons began competition in the Fall of 2021, and he has brought the program into national limelight already in that brief span. RC has had three wrestlers earn All-American honors and the Maroons won back-to-back Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Yetzer earned State, ODAC and Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors in 2023-24 after leading the Maroons to a third-place finish in a 22-team field at regionals. He helped five wrestlers qualify for national competition and saw two earn All-American accolades in just the third year of varsity status for the program.
The team is currently 12-2 on the season and is ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III dual team rankings by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
On the mat, Henderson’s main goal is always to get better.
“Wrestling is a sport where there is always a way to improve,” he said. “I know that the program is fairly new, so I look forward to being a part of the team and helping it grow and develop.”
Henderson also is looking ahead to a possible state title later this season.