ADAM HENDRICKSON, HEALDSBURG, SOPHOMORE, WRESTLING

WHAT HE DID:

Hendrickson, who is ranked second in the North Coast Section at 135 pounds,

finished sixth at the 33rd annual Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis, one of

the state's most prestigious tournaments. Hendrickson went 5-3 in Clovis and

has a 17-3 record this season.

GOOD GENES:

Hendrickson, who grew up playing Pop Warner football, became interested in

wrestling in fifth grade -- in part because his friends were involved in the

sport and also due to his dad's background. Jon Hendrickson wrestled at the

University of Iowa and has helped teach his son some of the sport's finer

points. The tutoring has clearly paid dividends. As an eighth grader, Adam,

wrestling at 108 pounds, won his weight class at the junior high state

tournament at Fresno City College. In the summer before he entered high

school, he finished fifth at the youth wrestling nationals in Green Bay, Wis.

''He's a great kid and he just loves wrestling,'' Healdsburg coach Scott

Weidemier said. ''He eats, sleeps and breathes it.''

LOOKING AHEAD:

The 5-foot-8 Hendrickson missed a chance at qualifying for the ultra-exclusive

state tournament as a freshman when he didn't make weight during the second

day of the North Coast Section Championships. This season, he's focused on

winning an NCS title and earning a top-three finish at state.

-- Eric Branch