Indiana is a basketball state correct? Taking a look at the Indiana Tech wrestling team, could've fooled me. What a lineup the Warriors have this season. We're talking 10 returning NAIA qualifiers. Two of which are national champions, with another NAIA All American & three who finished a match shy of placing. It's probably wishful thinking with Grand View, Life & Southeastern but at some level of probability I would think Indiana Tech contends for a team title this season. 8 of the 10 returnees are seniors this season & what a story that would make to see them end their careers as team champions. I only wish that Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) champ Vernon Willis had one more year of eligibility to be a part of it.
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| 125 lbs Nathan Orum |
Junior Nathan Orum took 3rd in the conference after winning a WHAC title in 2021. The Georgia native will look to win a second title this season.
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| 133 lbs Conner Gimson |
Conner Gimson made history last season when he became the first Warrior to win two NAIA titles. He looks to make history again this season & become the Warriors first three time NAIA champion. What a treat it would be for NAIA wrestling & the NAIA in general if he were to face brother Matt in the finals. That would hopefully get the press & coverage it deserves, because twin brothers meeting for a national title is something that in 1,000,000 years might only happen once.
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| 133 lbs Matt Gimson |
Speaking of possibly meeting brother Conner in the 2023 NAIA finals, it damn near happened last year. Matt lost in the QF to Jake Seto 3-1 SV & then Conner defeated Seto 3-1 in the NAIA finals. Gimson who was 8th in the nation as a freshman & 3rd as a sophomore had to bow out of the tournament in a medical forfeit. This is it. The final opportunity to make history happen & of all things I hope for in collegiate wrestling this season, an NAIA final of Gimson Vs Gimson is somewhere near the very top.
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| 141 lbs Kyle Kantola |
The Michigan native took 8th in the NAIA nationals last season. I found it entertaining that he named Daton Fix of Oklahoma State his favorite wrestler. A college wrestler with a favorite college wrestler. Pretty humbling really. A two time 3rd placer at the WHAC, he will look to earn a second All American honor & his first conference title this season.
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| 149 lbs Corey Cavanaugh |
Going 23-15 on the season last year, Corey Cavanaugh won the WHAC title. He will look to win a second title this season & earn his first NAIA All American honor.
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| 149 lbs Nick Gates |
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| 157 lbs Nate Wheeler |
What a bittersweet ending it was to the 21'-22' season it was for Nate Wheeler last year. Winning his second WHAC title, he was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament. He entered the NAIA's as the #1 seed. Unfortunately he would be upset twice & finish a match away from placing. The Kentucky native has now learned from that hard but valuable lesson & doesn't look to make the same error twice.
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| 174 lbs Hunter Gasper |
Winning a WHAC title last season, senior Hunter Gasper will look to earn another title this season.
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| 184 lbs Eric Vermillion |
Conner Gimson makes history by becoming the first two time NAIA champion in Indiana Tech history & in the same night, Eric Vermillion turns around and becomes the second. He took will be going for his third NAIA title this season. If once again invited to the Midlands championships, I could possibly see him having a decent showing among the mostly Division I competition. That if of course if we have a Midlands this season. In the Warrior's effort to perhaps have the best team finish in the history of the program, Vermillion will be a large part of it.
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| HWT Braydon Erb |
The lone underclassmen among the Warrior lineup, Braydon Erb went 23-12 on the season last year finishing 3rd at the WHAC tournament & qualifying for the NAIA championships.
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