Centerville, IA – Following an unprecedented run to the program's second all-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) North Central District Championship, the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling program was honored with a pair of prestigious postseason honors.

Head coach Cole Spree was named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Men's Wrestling Coach of the Year while sophomore Riley Bettich (Stevensville, IN/Crown Point) was tapped as the ICCAC Men's Wrestler of the Year. Both honors were announced following the Warriors' team championship at the 2025 NJCAA North Central District Tournament in Council Bluffs, IA on Sunday.

In his first full season at the helm of the men's wrestling program after previously serving as the men's and women's head coach at Indian Hills, Spree led the Warriors to new heights during the 2024-25 season. The fifth-year head coach guided the program to its first-ever undefeated dual season in program history as the Warriors went 10-0 on the mat, including a 6-0 mark in the ICCAC regular season. The Warriors reached its highest national rank in program history, climbing to No. 1 in The Open Mat polls and No. 2 in the NJCAA rankings.

Spree led the Warriors to the District title for just the second time in program history, and first since the team's inaugural season in 2021. Indian Hills saw a program record six individual District champions while the Warriors placed all 10 individuals in the upcoming NJCAA National Championship.

The 2024-25 season saw Indian Hills set a school record for team dual points in a season with 387, including a 237-47 advantage in ICCAC contests, the most points for and fewest points against in the seven-team conference. With the 10 dual victories under Spree, the Warriors have now won 13 consecutive dual matchups.

The honor is the second for Spree after previously being named ICCAC Coach of the Year following the 2018-19 season while he was the head coach at Ellsworth Community College.

Bettich, a 2023 NJCAA All-American for the Warriors, returned to Centerville for a second season that has seen remarkable success. Ranked No. 1 in the nation at 133lbs from the start of the season, Bettich wrestled down to the 125lb bracket in the NJCAA North Central District Championship to claim the individual title. At the District tournament, Bettich secured an opening round fall in 2:51 to advance to the finals before upending No. 5 nationally ranked Jaydale Whitlock of Iowa Central with a pin in 2:59 to claim the title.

The sophomore has earned 14 victories this year and has not lost a match against an NJCAA opponent throughout the duration of the year. Bettich has secured four ranked wins on the season for the Warriors.

Bettich becomes the first Indian Hills Men's Wrestling student-athlete to earn ICCAC Wrestler of the Year honors.

Bettich will look to earn one of the top seeds at the upcoming NJCAA National Championship after placing seventh overall at the 2023 tournament.

The 2025 NJCAA National Championship is set for March 7-8 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA.

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