Men's Basketball

THREE WARRIORS SELECTED TO REPRESENT USA

THREE WARRIORS SELECTED TO REPRESENT USA
Posted: May 02, 2022

Ottumwa, IA – Three members of the Indian Hills Athletic Department have been selected to represent the United States at the men's basketball 2022 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China June 28 – July 7.

Indian Hills head men's basketball coach Hank Plona has been selected to serve as an assistant coach on staff. Dr. Brett Monaghan, Indian Hills Vice President, Student Development & Operations and Athletic Director will serve as the Assistant Athletic Administrator while Indian Hills Head Athletic Trainer Kristin Mayson will serve as the United States' team athletic trainer.

Originally scheduled to be played in August 2021 but postponed due to COVID-19, this year's Summer World University Games are a bi-annual multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The men's basketball event features 22 competing nations from around the globe. The United States has been placed into Pool B which is comprised of Croatia, Taiwan, Portugal, and Romania.

This year's roster will be comprised of current and former National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) athletes. The team will be led by head coach Steve Green of South Plains College (TX) who Plona previously coached under during his time with the Texans from 2011-15. Also serving on the coaching staff will be Joe Eatmon of Shelton State Community College (AL), Drew Kelly of Harcum College (PA), and Kyle Taylor of Salt Lake Community College (UT).

Plona, who has been head coach of the Warriors since 2015, will join a prestigious staff of coaches who have all led their respective programs to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament in recent years. Along with Plona's connection to Green and South Plains, the Warriors' head coach has faced off against both Taylor and Kelly in previous years.

"Working together with great coaches and players to represent our country is one of the greatest honors a coach can have," stated Plona. "I am looking forward to doing whatever is asked and help be a small part in this group's experience and success. I think it is great that our level of two-year basketball gets to be showcased on the world stage. These current and former NJCAA players are world class people and future professionals. Being around them for a few weeks will be the joy of a lifetime."

Monaghan, who also represents Indian Hills as the NJCAA Region XI Women's Director, will serve the program in an administrative role during the games in China.

"I want to thank the NJCAA for providing this unique opportunity," Monaghan stated. "To be able to experience this with two individuals like Kristin and Hank makes the opportunity that much more special as I have the upmost respect for what they do in the coaching and athletic training arena. I look forward to working with Dr. (Chris) Parker and the NJCAA National Office staff, Nels Hawkinson, Dean Myrick, Steve Green, Joe Eatmon, Drew Kelly, and Kyle Taylor to provide the student-athletes that will be involved a once in a lifetime experience at the World University Games this summer."

Mayson, who has served the Athletic Training department at Indian Hills for the past six years, was named the 2020 NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year.

"I am so incredibly excited to be given this opportunity to go to China for the FISUI games," Mayson stated. "I would never have been able to imagine what working for Indian Hills would do for me these last six years. The fact that I have this opportunity to represent Indian Hills athletics and do that with Brett and Hank is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a dream come true."

The roster for the games will be announced at a later date along with the schedule of the tournament.