Men's Wrestling

WARRIORS READY FOR NATIONAL TITLE RUN

WARRIORS READY FOR NATIONAL TITLE RUN
Posted: Mar 03, 2022

Council Bluffs, IA – 10 individuals will set their sights on a national championship this weekend as the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling program looks to make history at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestling National Championship at the Mid-America Center. Action gets underway Friday morning.

CHASING HISTORY

In just its second year of existence, the Warriors will look to improve on the team's eighth-place finish at last year's NJCAA National Championship. The Warriors made a statement after winning the NJCAA North Central District title in its first year as a program and return five All-Americans to this year's tournament.

After a fourth-place finish at this year's district championship, the Warriors qualified all 10 individuals to make a run at a national championship in Council Bluffs this year.

Clackamas (OR) returns this year as three-time defending national champions. Western Wyoming placed second overall last year followed by Iowa Central. 

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS

All 10 wrestlers get underway Friday morning as action opens up at 9:30 AM. To view brackets of all 10 weight classes, visit: NJCAA Wrestling National Championship Brackets

*Numbers in parenthesis denote current individual national ranking

125: (7) Chris Busutil vs. (3) Nic Aguilar, Clackamas (OR)

Busutil returns to the NJCAA National Championships after earning All-American honors last season. Busutil will open up Friday morning against No. 3 nationally ranked Nic Aguilar of defending national champion Clackamas.

133: (1) Caleb Meekins vs. Jake Campbell, Henry Ford (MI)

The top seed and No. 1 ranked wrestling at 133lbs, Meekins returns to this year's national championship after a fourth-place finish last year. The North Central District champion will take on Jake Campbell of Henry Ford. Campbell won a match at last year's national championships at 133 and won the NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship this year.

141: (6) Victor Guzman vs. (1) Marckis Branford, Clackamas (OR)

Two individuals with All-American honors to their name will square off in the opening round at 141. Victor Guzman, who placed seventh last year, will compete against Marckis Branford who placed third last season and was this year's NJCAA West District champion.

149: Matthew Lewis vs. (1) Jake Beeson, Pratt (KS)

One of just two true freshmen competing for the Warriors at the national championship, Lewis enters the 149lb class after a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA North Central District Championship. Lewis will take on No. 1 nationally ranked Jake Beeson of Pratt. Beeson won the 2020 national championship and finished as runner-up last season for the Beavers.

157: (10) Destin Jones vs. Alfonso Martinez, North Idaho (ID)

Jones will matchup with North Idaho's Alfonso Martinez in the opening round after Martinez claimed second-place at the NJCAA West District Championship to earn an automatic bid. Jones placed fourth overall at the North Central District to earn a spot in Council Bluffs.

165: (5) Cameron Nesbitt vs. Ty Pfeufer, Bergen (NJ)

No. 5 nationally ranked Cameron Nesbitt placed fourth overall to receive an automatic bid to this year's national championship. Nesbitt will go up against Bergen's Ty Pfeufer who ran through the 165lb class in the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic Championship to win the title.

174: Jacob Anderson vs. (2) Dayton Fields, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (OK)

Anderson's third-place finish at the District championship secured an automatic bid to this year's national championship where he will square off with Dayton Fields of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Fields placed fifth overall at last year's national tournament and second at this year's NJCAA South Central District Championship.

184: (1) Deron Pulliam vs. (5) Devin Winston, North Idaho (ID)

The top-ranked wrestler in the 184lb class, Deron Pulliam placed third at last year's national championship and will enter this year as the NJCAA North Central District Champion. Pulliam will match up with Devin Winston, ranked No. 5 in the nation from North Idaho after Winston received a wild card bid and took third at districts.          

197: (7) Khris Walton vs. Sebastian Lakouchevitch, Union County (NJ)

One of five wrestlers to enter with All-American experience from last year's national championship, Walton received a wild card bid this year and will face Union County's Sebastian Lakouchevitch who placed second overall at this year's NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District Championship.

285: Kawaun Deboe vs. (9) Koby Johnson, Western Wyoming (WY)

Kawaun Deboe's impressive showing at the NJCAA North Central District Championship resulted in a third-place finish and an automatic bid to the national tournament. Deboe will match up with No. 9 nationally ranked Koby Johnson who helped lead Western Wyoming to the NJCAA Plains District Team Championship after winning the 285 district title.

HOW TO WATCH

Fans of Indian Hills Wrestling can follow GoHillsTV for in-match updates and interviews throughout the duration of the tournament. GoHillsTV will also host a special Coaches Show on Thursday at 7:00 PM at Barleys Bar & Grill in Council Bluffs. Fans can stop out to catch the action live or view it on GoHillsTV.

To watch the action live, fans can purchase access through FloWrestling

Heading to the championship? Purchase tickets in advance HERE.