The University of Indianapolis wrestling team is approaching a new Great Valley Lakes Conference season on Nov. 3 as new and returning wrestlers aim to make their mark.
Head Coach Jason Warthan said the team consists of mostly upperclassmen with some returning from a red shirt year to compete and multiple graduate students on the roster. Warthan explained that the team has five All-Americans, one a recent transfer from Mercyhurst University, and all of the teams’ national qualifiers but one are returning this competition season. However, despite the team’s experience and qualifications, Warthan said what matters is what they can do with what they have despite the adversity facing the team.
“There’s injuries. There’s going to be times where some of these guys are going to be put into high stakes, high pressure situations,” Warthan said. “And so, yeah, there is certainly mentorship … And that in the guys they’re there [on the mat], they take responsibility for where they’re at, and they’re learning and they’re wrestling, and so they come in with questions.”
Warthan said that, while the team is fortunate to be successful, it can often be attributed to the culture and tradition within the program helps foster the environment that leads to winning. Not only is there the expectation of achieving success, but Warthan said there is a desire and want from the entire team that makes everything easier.
“And that tradition thing is real,” Warthan said. “I think it pulls the best out of kids. … So it just brings an extra fire to them, and they don’t want to give up for their team, or they want to fight as hard as they can, because every point counts for the team.”
Heavy-weight competitor and red-shirt junior Cale Gray said the culture within the team is what has kept him around for the past five years. Gray said he feels the team has always been light-hearted and accountable. As a grad student and a veteran, he hopes younger players can look to him for support and as a friend.
Additionally, Gray said that, although there are people on the team known and expected to flourish, he believes each and every member of the lineup has the same potential. As a team, he hopes they find success.
“We have a lot of returning guys at the national level, and the other guys we have on the team have just the same potential to be as successful with that,” Gray said. “With all that potential and with all those credentials coming back, I’m very confident that a team trophy is on our path. And I hope that with no injuries coming by, holding each other accountable and keeping everyone upbeat, we can achieve that.”
According to the UIndy wrestling schedule, the Hounds take on McKendree Dec. 6 at home, a team they hope to beat after losing to them last year, Warthan said. With four matches before then, Warthan said he hopes to work the roster and see where players land leading into January.
“Second semester is really when things start, where we’ll have duals every weekend,” Warthan said. “And so we’re just trying to prepare as much as we can and continue to grow and kind of evolve as wrestlers and people and stay humble and hungry.”Warthan also said that, this being a festival year for track and field, swimming and wrestling, the University of Indianapolis will be hosting Nationals on March 14 and 15. He hopes there will be a big home crowd to support the Hounds. To learn more about the team, its tournaments and matches and where they will be hosted, check out “The Reflector” sports schedule or the UIndy Athletics wrestling schedule.
