Warrensburg, MO – Three members of the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling team placed in the top-six at the Roger Denker Open on Sunday. In total, 10 different individuals took the mat for the Warriors in Warrensburg.

Sophomore All-American Kawaun Deboe (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep), ranked No. 3 in the latest heavyweight national rankings placed third overall on Sunday. In a bracket featuring three Warriors – Deboe, Joshua Gaye (Des Moines, IA/Mooseheart Academy), and Treyshawn White (Portage, IN/Portage), Deboe was the top finisher for Indian Hills after going 5-1 on the day. Gaye went 4-3 on the day to place sixth overall while White went 2-2.

Deboe opened the day with three consecutive victories after scoring an 8-1 decision, a 6-2 decision, and a fall in 35 seconds in the quarterfinal round to advance to the semis. Deboe suffered a disqualification in the semis, but advanced through the consolation bracket to place third overall.

Gaye scored an opening 6-2 decision before suffering a fall in the quarterfinal round. The freshman heavyweight responded with two victories in the consolation bracket – a 10-7 decision and 5-3 decision before a medical forfeit ended Gaye's afternoon in the sixth place.

Freshman Riley Bettich (Stevensville, MI/Crown Point) was the third Warrior to place after another strong showing in the 125lb bracket. Ranked No. 3 in the latest national individual rankings, Bettich opened the day with a fall in the opening round in 2:36. Bettich then squared of with Jakason Burks, the No. 1 nationally ranked wrestler in the 125lb weight class from Iowa Western. Burks scored a 4-1 decision to push Bettich to the consolation bracket.

The freshman responded with three consecutive victories over four-year opponents, including a 12-0 major decision over Oklahoma's Christian Forbes. Bettich also added a first round pin and a 9-5 decision before suffering a loss in the third-place match to Nebraska's Jacob Van Dee.

In two matches this year against Burks, the 2022 national runner-up, Bettich has lost by two narrow decisions – Sunday's 4-1 bout and a 3-1 sudden victory battle on November 5.

Blake Swearingen (Broomfield, CO/Legacy), Colbi Giroux (Orlando, FL/Boone), and Israel Foston (Columbus, OH/Olentangy Berlin) each won a pair of matches on the day for the Warriors.

The Warriors return to Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) action on January 18 against No. 2 nationally ranked Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, IA.