The University of Indianapolis wrestling team had mixed results at the Dr. Lombardi/Maryville Duals on Sunday, Feb. 16.
In the first dual, the Hounds came out with a narrow 23-22 victory against the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist University. Senior Evan Wooding had a crucial 2-0 win over freshman Nathan Jackson putting the Hounds up by one point to win the dual.
Senior Evan Wooding, representing the Greyhounds in the 285 lbs. weight class, wrestles against an opponent from the University of Findlay. UIndy won the dual 39-6.
(Photo by Zefeng Zhang)
In the second dual, UIndy lost, 23-13, to the Maryville University Saints. Seniors Cameryn Brady, Jeff Weiss, redshirt junior Taylor Scott and Wooding all had wins.
On Feb. 12, UIndy lost on the road to the McKendree University Bearcats 27-13. Both teams were ranked No. 13 at the time of the match, so the outcome was significant to rank positioning.
Junior Justin Kieffer had the first win for the Hounds with a 12-3 major decision. Freshman Sheldon Struble beat then No. 4 ranked Josh Ballard with a score of 6-4. At 165 lbs., Weiss scored a 9-7 victory for the Hounds. Wooding closed out the dual with a 3-1 victory. Wooding scored a two-point takedown in the last few seconds of the match to put him ahead. That victory, however, was still not enough to put the Hounds ahead for the win.
On Feb. 7, the Hounds defeated the University of Findlay Oilers on Senior Day 39-6. It was the first time the Hounds defeated Findlay since Head Wrestling Coach Jason Warthan joined the program.
Warthan said he was excited about the victory.
“I was absolutely thrilled with the dual. They’re actually a pretty tough team,” he said. “This is the first time that I’ve beat them as head coach. This was a good senior day, since they are one of our biggest rivals, if not our biggest rival. There is a lot of history between the two programs.”
The Oilers put up the first points on the board with a pin at 125 lbs, but UIndy swept the rest of the matches from that point on. Redshirt sophomore Josh Kieffer scored the Hound’s first points by a 14-6 major decision at 133 lbs. His brother, Justin Kieffer, scored a 15-0 tech fall at 141 lbs. to put the score at 9-6 for the Hounds. Brady, at 149 lbs., scored another tech fall at 20-4, while Struble edged out a win, 3-2, at 157 lbs.
After intermission, redshirt senior Shelby Mappes, at 174 lbs., took a forfeit for the Greyhounds. Redshirt senior George Lopez, at 184 lbs., won by major decision, with a score of 15-3. Scott won 3-1 in sudden death overtime. Wooding closed the day with UIndy’s ninth-straight win of the dual at 285 lbs., by a score of 6-0.
Wooding said, following the match, his victory had a special significance behind it.
“I was pretty happy with [the way I wrestled]. I would’ve rather got a quick pin to get off the mat quickly, but 6-0 wasn’t bad,” he said. “It was a good ending. I’ve never beat their past heavyweight who graduated last year, so this is my first win against Findlay.”
The Hounds will next see action at the NCAA Super Regional 2 Feb. 28-Mar. 1 in Tiffin, Ohio, with a start time yet to be determined.
