Franklin junior Chase Henderson enters the Division II district tournament at Bowling Green with a 36-5 record. The 285-pounder won a sectional championship last week at Tipp City.

Henderson recently sat down with The Journal.

Question: How did it feel to finally got that win against (undefeated) Beau Harmon (Ben Logan) in the sectional finals. Answer: Yeah, that was a huge one for me. I put in a lot to get there and it was nice to get hat one for sure.

Q: You two have developed quite a rivalry this year.

A: Yeah, we have slugged it out three times now. He beat me in our tournament on a takedown at the end of the match and the same way at the Holiday (tournament) before I finally got him in overtime. He is a heckuva wrestler and a pretty good guy. I wouldn’t be surprised to wrestle him again at districts. If we both perform this weekend the way we did last weekend, we will see each other for the district title. One of us will be the district champ and that will be huge for the draw we get at state.

Q: How has people’s perspective of you changed since placing third at the Holiday tournament?

A: Out of 50 plus schools there to be in the top four, for me, was a huge confidence boost. But I also seemed to get a lot more respect since then. I have been the one or two seed at every tournament since then. Last year when I placed, I thought it turned my season around from being an average wrestler to a state qualifier. This year, I hope I turn things from being a state qualifier to a top-four kid.

Q: With all of your success in wrestling, it is going to make picking what to do in college tough.

A: I know I want to go out and perform against the best. I love putting on the pads and going out on Friday nights (for football), but there is nothing like wrestling. It is just you and him out there and when it is over, you know who is the best. I love that aspect of going out and doing that against the best there are out there. Ever since I was a little kid, I have dreamt of going out and playing for Ohio State against Michigan, but I have also developed that love for wrestling.