The Online Reflector

At the end of October, the Basford Division II Preseason Rankings released statistics, placing the University of Indianapolis wrestling team at No. 25.

Honorable mention went to junior Alex Johns and redshirted junior Bryce Givens for their weight classes of 125 and 157, respectively.

In preparation for the upcoming season, the Greyhounds have been setting both personal and team goals.

Some, like brothers senior David Lopez and junior George Lopez, have high expectations for this season.

“We have a great lineup,”  David Lopez said. “I think that an important part of a great team is having the intensity and a lot of heart to compete. We have got that in our boys.”

George Lopez, a redshirted sophomore, had similar predictions for the wrestling team.

“We have got a young team this season,” George Lopez said. “There is a lot of fresh talent, and they all have got a strong work ethic. So I can see us really excelling.”

According to George Lopez, when a wrestler is redshirted, he sits out a season to extend eligibility on the team.

Head Coach Jason Warthan is confident after last season’s success.

“We have a good team, and I think we are going to go far,” he said.

Warthan has set the bar high for his wrestlers and believes in the team as a whole.

“My goal for this season is to get as many of our men to the Nationals as possible and to have All-Americans this year. I see these boys working hard, and I think it is very doable for us.”

The team is looking forward to this season, thanks to last season’s success.

This past March, then-senior Nick Walpole brought home a national championship in the 149-pound bout of the NCAA Division II National Championships. He was the first UIndy wrestler to do so.

The 2011-2012 season was originally planned to start Nov. 8, with the Greyhounds hosting Trine at home.

However, the match was cancelled, and an additional home match will be added later in the season.

The Greyhounds will  now open their season on the road at the Michigan State Open Nov. 12.