Samuel Henson
Encyclopedia
Samuel Henson (born January 1, 1971 in St. Louis, Missouri
) is a World Champion wrestler, winning a gold medal in freestyle for the USA at the 1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships
, held in Tehran, Iran. He defeated Namig Abdullayev
of Azerbaijan
to take the gold. He was also a silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in the freestyle 54 kg category, losing to Abdullayev in the finals of that event, held in Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia. At the age of 36, he competed at the 2006 FILA Wrestling World Championships
held in Guanzgoua, China, earning a bronze medal. He was named USA Wrestling's Man of the Year, in 1998.
, in Columbia, Missouri
. He was coached at MU by Wes Roper. He chose Missouri
because it was close to home, and because he wanted to prove that he could win for his in-state school. He proved the point by becoming a Big 8 champion, and an All American in his freshman year, winning fifth place at the 1991 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He achieved this despite being the seventh seed in the tournament. Ironically, to win fifth place, he defeated second seeded Donnie Heckel, of Clemson University
, (the school where he would eventually finish his college career) by a score of 13-2. He then transferred to Clemson
to wrestle under Coach Gil Sanchez. He ended his college career as the most successful wrestler in Clemson history, going 71-0 over his last two seasons. He won back to back NCAA titles at 118 pounds in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was also named ACC Wrestler of the Year. He then returned to the University of Missouri to finish his degree, graduating in 1995 with a degree in Park, Recreation and Tourism Management. He was inducted into Clemson's Hall of Fame in 2000. Henson was one of Clemson's last wrestlers (the program was discontinued in 1995 due to Title IX) and named one of ACC's Top 100 athletes, despite being in a basketball-heavy conference.
, Henson also has Greco-Roman wrestling
experience. He won a gold medal in Greco-Roman at the 1990 US Open, and placed 4th in the event at the 1998 Open. In freestyle at the US Open, Henson placed 4th in 1995, won silver medals in 1997 and 2004, and won the gold in 1998, 2000, and 2005.
. He would go on to win the Silver in Sydney.
as a club coach, and Penn State University, West Point, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the University of Nebraska as an assistant coach. Sammie helped coach Michael Lightner and Byron Tucker to NCAA titles at Oklahoma, and helped coach Nebraska's Paul Donohoe to an NCAA crown in 2007. In just two years at Penn State, Sammie helped Coach Troy Sunderland build up the Nittany Lions program from 35th to 6th nationally, with two top-five recruiting classes. He is currently back at the University of Oklahoma as the assistant head coach under Jack Spates.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
) is a World Champion wrestler, winning a gold medal in freestyle for the USA at the 1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships
1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The following is the final results of the 1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships. Men's Freestyle competition were held in Tehran, Iran. Men's Greco-Roman competition were held in Gävle, Sweden and Women's competition were held in Poznań, Poland.-Medal table:...
, held in Tehran, Iran. He defeated Namig Abdullayev
Namig Abdullayev
Namig Yadulla oglu Abdullayev was an Azerbaijani Olympic Champion wrestler, winning a gold medal in freestyle for Azerbaijan at the 2000 Summer Olympics...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
to take the gold. He was also a silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in the freestyle 54 kg category, losing to Abdullayev in the finals of that event, held in Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. At the age of 36, he competed at the 2006 FILA Wrestling World Championships
2006 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The 2006 FILA Wrestling World Championships were held at the Tianhe Sports Center in Guangzhou, China. The event took place from September 25 to October 1, 2006.-Medal table:-Team ranking:-Men's freestyle:-Men's Greco-Roman:-Women's freestyle:...
held in Guanzgoua, China, earning a bronze medal. He was named USA Wrestling's Man of the Year, in 1998.
High school career
Sammie attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, Missouri. There, he was coached by Roger Hodapp (1986-1987), and Judd Hofmann (1988-1989). Sammie and brothers Chuck and Kevin helped lead the Francis Howell Vikings to 4 Missouri State Team Championships in the 1980s. Sammie was a member of the 1986 and 1987 State Championship teams. Individually, he placed fourth in state as a freshman, and was a three time Missouri class 4A State Champion. In 1989 he was named Missouri 4A High School Wrestler of the year, and was a First Team Asics High School All American.College career
Henson began his college wrestling career at the University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. He was coached at MU by Wes Roper. He chose Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
because it was close to home, and because he wanted to prove that he could win for his in-state school. He proved the point by becoming a Big 8 champion, and an All American in his freshman year, winning fifth place at the 1991 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He achieved this despite being the seventh seed in the tournament. Ironically, to win fifth place, he defeated second seeded Donnie Heckel, of Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, (the school where he would eventually finish his college career) by a score of 13-2. He then transferred to Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
to wrestle under Coach Gil Sanchez. He ended his college career as the most successful wrestler in Clemson history, going 71-0 over his last two seasons. He won back to back NCAA titles at 118 pounds in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was also named ACC Wrestler of the Year. He then returned to the University of Missouri to finish his degree, graduating in 1995 with a degree in Park, Recreation and Tourism Management. He was inducted into Clemson's Hall of Fame in 2000. Henson was one of Clemson's last wrestlers (the program was discontinued in 1995 due to Title IX) and named one of ACC's Top 100 athletes, despite being in a basketball-heavy conference.
US Open
Although primarily known for his freestyle wrestlingFreestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
, Henson also has Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
experience. He won a gold medal in Greco-Roman at the 1990 US Open, and placed 4th in the event at the 1998 Open. In freestyle at the US Open, Henson placed 4th in 1995, won silver medals in 1997 and 2004, and won the gold in 1998, 2000, and 2005.
Olympic Trials
Sammie was an Olympic qualifier in 1988, won silver at the Olympic Trials in 1992 and 2004, and won the gold in the 2000 Olympic Trials held in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He would go on to win the Silver in Sydney.
Coaching career
Sammie has worked at the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
as a club coach, and Penn State University, West Point, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the University of Nebraska as an assistant coach. Sammie helped coach Michael Lightner and Byron Tucker to NCAA titles at Oklahoma, and helped coach Nebraska's Paul Donohoe to an NCAA crown in 2007. In just two years at Penn State, Sammie helped Coach Troy Sunderland build up the Nittany Lions program from 35th to 6th nationally, with two top-five recruiting classes. He is currently back at the University of Oklahoma as the assistant head coach under Jack Spates.