INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 9-ranked University of Indianapolis showed out on their home turf as they hosted eight teams in the ARC for this year's edition of Greyhound duals. The Hounds faced a tough trio of foes and sent all three packing.
 
The Hounds began their day with a 54-0 route of Kentucky Wesleyan, scoring extra point wins at nine of the ten matches. That lit the fire for the Hounds as they went to prove the NWCA Rankings true, beating a gritty No. 23-ranked Glenville State squad 22-20, and then dominating No. 11 Grand Valley State 29-6 to end their day. On the day, the Hounds scored 12 extra point victories across the thirty matches UIndy wrestled.
 
SENIOR DAY
Before the usual wrestling action, the Greyhounds had other festivities planned, honoring 13 seniors before their dual against Kentucky Wesleyan. Those seniors included Cade Campbell, Noah Cantu, Nathan Conley, Dawson Combest, Brayden Lowery, Jake Lone, Blake Mulkey, Phoenix Rodgers, Ray Rioux, David Tucker, Jay Thompson, Nick Varanelli, and Owen Zablocki.
 
INS & OUTS
Domination was the name of the game for the Hounds against the Wildcats. The No. 9-ranked Hounds started off hot with a 16-0 tech fall by Nathan Smith, starting the party. Lowery picked up a first period fall on his senior day, alongside Zablocki and Campbell. Two more techs were dished out, coming from Combest and Owen Butler at 165 and 184.
 

Hounds by 5??4?? has a ring to it! ?? pic.twitter.com/Unstg1KGAt

— UIndy Wrestling (@UIndyWrestling) February 3, 2024

 
#9 UINDY 54, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 0
125 - Nathan Smith over Bryson Rowley TF 16-0
133 - Noah Cantu over Unknown Forf
141 - Brayden Lowery over Gabe Fall 1:39
149 - Jackson Hoover over Dalen Kimble Dec 5-0
157 - Owen Zablocki over Cade Johnson Fall 4:42
165 - Dawson Combest over Will Keener TF 19-2
174 - Trey Sizemore over Shevan Griffith Fall 0:33
184 - Owen Butler over Drayden McKerrow TF 19-4
197 - Phoenix Rodgers over Unknown Forf
285 - Cade Campbell over Robert Ward Fall 3:24
 
 
The momentum from the KWC rout kept the dawgs hungry as they battled their first ranked opponent since NWCA National Duals on the first weekend of 2024. Smith got the ball rolling, snagging a 5-1 decision, a lead that quickly was erased with a fall at 133 for the visitors. That was the story of the match as the Hounds and Pioneers went blow for blow.
 
No. 6 Blake Mulkey proved his ranked, tying it back up at 6-6. A pair of majors at 149 and then 157, however, dug the Hounds back in a deficit, one that Combest was perfect to dig the Hounds out of, dominating at 165 with a 16-0 tech to make it 14-11.
 
Seeing Combest's success, Trey Sizemore kept his foot down as well, regifting the Hounds the lead at 16-14 with a 16-0 tech fall of his own.
 

HOUNDS BACK IN THE LEAD ??

174| Trey Sizemore wins by tech fall (16-0) over Zachary Holstion of Glenville State

Hounds: 16
Pioneers: 14#HoundsWrestling #AlphaDogs #OffTheChain pic.twitter.com/vK5QmBVbnK

— UIndy Wrestling (@UIndyWrestling) February 3, 2024

 
The Pioneers attempted a comeback, securing matches at 14 and 285, but a Derek Blubaugh masterclass at 197 calmed the chances at the upset.
 
#9 UINDY 22, #23 GLENVILLE STATE 20
125 - Nathan Smith over Hunter Ross Dec 5-1
133 - #3 Gavin Quiocho over Noah Cantu Fall 3:54
141 - Blake Mulkey over Kolbie Hamilton Dec 9-5
149 - Ethan Hardy over Jackson Hoover Maj 9-0
157 - #7 Guy Deleonardis over Owen Zablocki Maj 10-2
165 - Dawson Combest over Brady Ross TF 16-0
174 - Trey Sizemore over Zachary Holstion TF 16-0
184 - Isaiha Casto over Aidan Petersen Dec 9-7
197 - Derek Blubaugh over Nicholas Copley Fall 1:36
285 - Gavin Shamblin over Jay Thompson SV-1 2-1
 
Grand Valley State was the next ranked squad in front of the Greyhounds, and it started up hot as Nathan Smith faced No. 9 Aaron Lucio. The young smith was up to the task, securing a 12-5 decision to not only upset Lucio, but to give the Hounds the early lead. Win trades at 133 and 141 set up a ranked matchup between No. 7 Jackson Hoover and No. 4 Chris Donathan. In one of the most exciting matches seen all day, Donathan barley scrapped past the hungry Hoover, putting it at 6-6. The Cat-man Nathan Conley and Combest sparked a rally for the Hounds, with a decision and a major putting the Hounds up 13-6.
 
With a hefty Greyhound lead, Sizemore, coming in ranked No. 5, faced No. 2 Joshua Kenny at 174 for another classic match. After a quiet first period, Sizemore racked up four in the second, scoring a takedown with just 12 seconds remaining. After an early escape by Kenny in the third, the pair battled with Sizemore eventually taking Kenny down again, causing some sparks as the match ended 8-2 in Sizemore's favor.
 
Aidan Petersen and Thompson sandwiched a 197 forfeit with a pair of dubs to close out the tournament.
 
#9 UINDY 29, #11 GRAND VALLEY STATE 6
125 - Nathan Smith over #9 Aaron Lucio Dec 12-5
133 - Collin Twigg over Noah Cantu (Indianapolis) Dec 5-0
141 - Blake Mulkey over Jak Keller Dec 6-3
149 - #4 Chris Donathan over #7 Jackson Hoover Dec 6-3
157 - Nathan Conley over Caden Jacobs Dec 6-2
165 - Dawson Combest over Trammel Robinson Maj 11-2
174 - #5 Trey Sizemore over #2 Joshua Kenny Dec 8-2
184 - Aidan Petersen over Seth Konynenbelt Maj 14-3
197 - Phoenix Rodgers over Unknown Forf
285 - Jay Thompson over Owen Hawley Dec 9-3
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds are back in the ARC tomorrow for the Greyhound Open which features talent from all over the Midwest and across the three levels of the NCAA. Action is set to begin at 10 a.m.