FINDLAY, Ohio – The UIndy wrestling team dropped its second non-conference dual of the 2025-26 season on Friday night against Findlay, 22-18. 

Before tonight, the Oilers have lost eight straight to the Greyhounds, including a 29-13 win just last season. UIndy threw out a different lineup than usual, with four wrestlers making their official 2025-26 debuts in the 10-man lineup tonight.

INS & OUTS
Tonight was a tight, back-and-forth, contested dual, with the Oilers taking the first two match ups. Jadon Gyan (125), who made an appearance for UIndy in the team's dual earlier this season against Ashland, fell in the opening match to No. 9 Billy Smith via an 11-4 decision. While the freshman Brody Lybarger (133), fell via tech fall to Nate Knowlton.

After the Hounds' first two matches, they went on to win five of the next six matches. Both Michael Ortega (157) and Shane Bates (174), needed overtime to take down Wil Pask and Donavyn Watts, respectively.

Ortega had a successful beginning to his freshman season, with a top-six finish at the Bob Del Rosa Open, while Bates has been dominant all season, and was rewarded with a Top-20 ranking in the latest The Open mat rankings.

No.10 Gavin Garcia (149), continued his hot streak this season, with another dual victory via tech fall in the second period, 18-3. Garcia earned a comeback decision win last week against Drury.

Zach Haughton (141) and Christian Chavez (184) rounded out the Greyhound individual victories tonight, with Haughton taking down Sawyer Smith via a 12-3 major decision, while Chavez grinded his way to an 8-3 decision win over Chase Stein. These two earned seven points in total to give UIndy an 18-12 lead heading into the final two bouts of the night. 

Both Noah Clouser (197) and Elijah Hinshaw (285) dropped the final two matches of the night, Clouser via major decision against Ronnie Thomas, and Hinshaw via a pin to the No. 10-ranked Giulian Bodiu. Thomas and Bodiu's victories gave the Oilers the 10 points they needed to overtake the Hounds, and capture the 22-18 win.

#20 UINDY 18, FINDLAY 22
125: No. 9 Billy Smith over Jadon Gyan (Dec 11-4)
133: Nate Knowlton over Brody Lybrager (TF 21-5)
141: Zach Haughton over Sawyer Smith (MD 12-3)
149: No. 10 Gavin Garcia over Wil Pask (TF 18-3 3:48)
157: Michael Ortega over Micah Cotrell (SV-1 4-1)
165: Gary Nilson over Mason Cantu (MD 11-3)
174: Shane Bates over Donavyn Watts (SV-1 6-3)
184: Christian Chavez over Chase Stein (Dec 8-3)
197: Ronnie Thomas over Noah Clouser (MD 19-7)
285: No. 10 Giulian Bodiu over Elijah Hinshaw (Fall 0:24)

UP NEXT
UIndy will return home to the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center for the first of two GLVC duals at home next week, with the first against Quincy on Thursday Jan 22 at 5 p.m.