St. Charles, MO – The No. 19 nationally ranked Indian Hills Men's Wrestling team saw 10 individuals place at the Lindenwood Open on Saturday, including a pair of second-place finishers and four top-five placewinners.
The Warriors relied on second-place finishes from the 125lb and 285lb weight class to highlight an impressive performance in the 44-team field. Freshman Isaac Gibbs (Prosper, TX/Rock Hill) took a runner-up finish in the 125lb class while fresman Noah Iobe (Mendon, MI/Mendon) took second overall in the heavyweight division for the Warriors.
Gibbs starred in the lightweight division, scoring four consecutive victories before dropping the championship match. The freshman collected an opening round 20-4 tech fall over the No. 4 ranked National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) wrestler Brady foster of Cloud County Community College before securing a pin in 2:10 to advance to the quarterfinals. Gibbs followed up with a 17-2 tech fall and a 19-4 tech fall to advance to the finals before falling to Oklahoma State University's Sam Smith.
Iobe scored three consecutive victories to open up the day at 285lbs for the Warriors. The freshman boasted back-to-back decisions, 2-0 and 2-1, before securing an 11-0 major to advance to the finals. Iobe's lone loss of the day came at the hands of Wade Wheeler of Liberty University.
Justin Bradford (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) took home a third-place finish in the 125lb weight class for the Warriors, picking up five wins on the day. Bradford picked up an opening round 20-4 tech fall followed by a pin in 1:30 to advance to the quarterfinals. After suffering a loss to Oklahoma State's Jayce Caviness, Bradford battled through the consolation bracket with a 5-3 decision, a 7-3 decision, and a 23-3 tech fall over Liberty's Aiden Scheeringa in the third-place match.
Yaveion Freeman (Alton, IL/Alton) produced another strong showing after a third-place finish at last week's Luther Hill Invitational. The freshman placed fifth at 149lbs after winning two straight matches to open the day, both by narrow decisions over four-year university opponents.
The Warriors saw three individuals place sixth overall in their respective weight class as sophomore Arojae Hart (Murphysboro, IL/Murphysboro) captured three consecutive victories to open the day, including a tech fall, a fall, and a sudden victory before a medical forfeit ended Hart's afternoon. Ayden Kingery (Altoona, IA/Southeast Polk) placed sixth overall at 157lbs after winning three straight matches to open the day while Peyton Asbury (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) took sixth at 165lbs, picking up two pins on the day.
Three individuals advanced to the consolation championship bout, with two picking up victories for the Warriors. Jaquan East (Kokomo, IN/Kokomo) continued his strong start to the season after winning the consolation bracket at 174lbs, earning a fall, tech fall, and decision to close out the day. Steven Marquez (Rock Island, IL/Rock Island) took top honors in the consolation bracket at 184lbs, securing four consecutive pins to close out the day. Marquez's only loss came to Oklahoma State's Carlos Alvarado.
Sophomore Syrron White (Minneapolis, MN/Patrick Henry) also advanced to the consolation championship match after winning three consecutive matches before falling to Lucas Liberatore of McKendree University.
The Warriors are back in action November 29 at for an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) dual at Iowa Central Community College.
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