Men's Wrestling

RECAPPING THE WARRIORS' DOMINANT FIRST HALF

RECAPPING THE WARRIORS' DOMINANT FIRST HALF
Posted: Dec 27, 2021

In just its second season of competition, the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling team has exploded onto the national scene. The Warriors posted a 3-0 dual record along with three impressive open showings to highlight a dominant first half of the season.

Coming off an eighth-place showing at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship last season along with the program's first-ever North Central District Championship, the Warriors have been ranked No. 5 nationally throughout the first two months of competition this season. Head coach Cole Spree's program has been highlighted by a number of nationally ranked individuals and an experienced sophomore class to kickstart the 2021-22 season for Indian Hills.

SIX WARRIORS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

The NJCAA has published a pair of individual national rankings in the first two months of action, and the Warriors have been well-represented along the way. Returning All-Americans and North Central District Champions Caleb Meekins (Livonia, MI/John Glenn) and Deron Pulliam (Columbus, OH/Dublin Scioto) entered the year ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll in the 133lb and 184lb weight class, respectively. The two sophomores maintained the top spot in the latest rankings on Dec. 2.

Last year's North Central District Champion Chris Busutil (Homestead, FL/South Ridge) is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in the 125lb weight class. Returning All-American Victor Guzman (Rock Island, IL/Rock Island) scored a tech fall in his latest dual at NIACC and is ranked No. 6 in the 141lb weight class. Sophomore Khris Walton (Merrillville, IN/Merrillville), a returning All-American is currently ranked No. 6 in the 197lb weight class while the lone freshman in the national rankings is Cameron Nesbitt (Champaign, IL/Centennial), ranked No. 7 in the 165lb weight class.

NJCAA NATIONAL RANKINGS

MEEKINS PINS HIS WAY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF

While a number of individuals have powered the Warriors throughout the first half of the season, sophomore Caleb Meekins has stood out from the crowd. The 2021 NJCAA North Central District Champion, Meekins finished fourth at last year's national championships and has picked up right where he left off.

Meekins has scored three pins in each of the team's three dual matches this year, including this pin in 42 seconds against Iowa Central.

Meekins scored a first round pin at home vs. Ellsworth and wrapped up the first half dual action with a pin in 36 seconds on the road at NIACC. Meekins also claimed first-place in each of his two open competitions, the Lindenwood Open and the Drury Open.

HOME MAT ADVANTATGE

The Warriors moved all home matches in the first half of the season to the Indian Hills Centerville Campus Multi-Purpose Building. The Warriors have fed off of the electric sold out crowds at each of the team's two dual meets.

On Nov. 10, the Warriors rolled past No. 10 nationally ranked Iowa Central Community College 27-9 and followed up on Nov. 17 with a 28-17 victory over No. 16 Ellsworth Community College

HIGHLIGHTS VS. IOWA CENTRAL  |  HIGHLIGHTS VS. ELLSWORTH

Prior to the start of the season, the Warriors were selected to host the upcoming NJCAA North Central District Championship at Lakeview School in Centerville. The wrestling-rich community is set to host the prominent national championship qualifying event on Feb. 13.

WHAT'S NEXT

The lull between the Warriors' last outing at the Drury Opening and its next competition spans more than a month, but Indian Hills jumps right back into premiere competition at the National Duals in Miami, OK on Jan. 14-15.

Packed with some of the top junior colleges across the nation, the event will put the Warriors' chase for a national championship in focus.

The Warriors return home on Jan. 19 to take on Iowa Western Community College in the team's final conference home dual of the year. Indian Hills will also travel to Iowa Lakes Community College and Iowa Central for a pair of conference road duals along with a number of open meets scattered throughout the next two months.

The NJCAA National Championships are set for March 4-5 in Council Bluffs, IA.

To purchase tickets for all Indian Hills home wrestling events, visit: INDIAN HILLS WRESTLING TICKETS.

All home events are also streamed on the official streaming platform of Indian Hills Community College, GoHillsTV.

Keep up with the Warriors all year long by following on social media: Indian Hills Wrestling Twitter | Indian Hills Wrestling Facebook | Indian Hills Wrestling Instagram | Indian Hills Athletics YouTube