Men's Wrestling

PULLIAM PLACES 2ND, WARRIORS 8TH AT NATIONALS

PULLIAM PLACES 2ND, WARRIORS 8TH AT NATIONALS Play Video
Posted: Mar 05, 2022

Council Bluffs, IA – Sophomore Deron Pulliam (Columbus, OH/Dublin Scioto) brought home the best individual finish at a national championship in program history to lead the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling team to an eighth-place overall finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Men's Wrestling Championship at the Mid-America Center on Saturday.

Pulliam, the top-ranked wrestler at 184lbs, brought home a second-place finish, one year after placing third overall at the meet, to lead five individuals in collecting All-America honors at the national championship. Joining Pulliam on the All-American podium were Caleb Meekins (Livonia, MI/John Glenn), Destin Jones (Miami, FL/Palmetto), Khris Walton (Merrillville, IN/Merrillville), and Kawaun Deboe (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep).

In just its second year of existence, the Warriors matched its 2021 showing at the national championship with an eighth-place finish. The team's 88 total points topped last year's total of 81 points as Indian Hills claimed five top-seven finishes this year. Clackamas Community College (OR) claimed the overall team title for the fourth consecutive year.

Pulliam entered the weekend as the No. 1 overall seed. After being dealt a challenging opening round seed, Pulliam worked his way through the championship bracket to reach the title round Saturday night. Pulliam squared off with No. 3 seed Josh McFarland of Iowa Western Community College, an opponent Pulliam had defeated at this year's NJCAA North Central District Championship.

After a scoreless opening round between the two-high level competitors, McFarland scored an escape and a takedown in the second round before Pulliam earned an escape point to make it 3-1 heading into the final round. Pulliam scored another point on an escape in the third round, but McFarland was able to fend off top seed and secure the national championship as Pulliam earned silver medal honors.

Indian Hills earned a third-place finish from Meekins at the 133lb weight class. The top seed entering the weekend, Meekins was upended in the semifinal round by Clackamas' Justin Mejia with a fall. In the third-place bout, Meekins scored a fall in just 25 seconds over No. 3 Dalen Moore of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Meekins' second victory over Moore this season. The All-American finish was the second for Meekins after placing fourth overall last year.

At 157lbs, Jones earned his first-ever All-American honor. Jones dropped his opening round match on Friday, but battled through the consolation bracket to score four consecutive victories. Jones fell in the final four of the consolation round to place seventh overall.

Walton earned his second All-American honor as a Warrior at 197lbs. Walton earned a first-round upset before falling in the second round. Walton worked through the consolation bracket and scored three pins on the way to placing sixth overall after a seventh-place showing last year.

The Warriors' final All-American honor went to Deboe in the heavyweight division. The freshman earned a pair of opening day upsets to advance in the championship bracket. After dropping a match to the No. 2 seed, Deboe scored a victory in the consolation round to place seventh overall at the national championship.