October 17, 2012

For Immediate Release

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Indiana Tech wrestling team will enter their second season of competition ranked in the top-10 in the country, landing at the No. 9 spot in the 2012-13 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Top 20 Poll, announced by the national office on Wednesday.

Indiana Tech also had six individuals ranked in their respective weight classes, including sophomore Travis Barroquillo (Wolcottville, IN/Prairie Heights) ranked as the top wrestler in the nation at 133-lbs.

The Warriors had an impressive inaugural season under Head Coach Mike Ester, who led his first-year squad to a 16th place team finish at the NAIA National Championships and ended the year ranked 17th in the postseason Coaches’ Poll. Tech qualified 11 of a possible 12 wrestlers to the championships and placed two freshmen on the All-American podium, Barroquillo and Tanner Martin (Ft. Wayne, IN/Snider).

Barroquillo will enter the 2012-13 campaign as the No. 1 ranked grappler at 133-lbs. As a freshman, he compiled a 32-14 record (12 pins, 4 technical falls and 5 major decisions). He placed fourth at the national championships, and added runner-up finishes at the Eastern Michigan Open and the Indiana Little State Tournament. Additionally, he placed third at both the Michigan State University Open and the Midwest Classic Invitational.

Two other Warriors who finished the previous year ranked in their weight classes return as well in Tanner Martin and Adam Fahs (Portage, MI/Trine). Martin was ranked sixth at 174-lbs. at the end of last season, and has climbed up the polls to No. 3 to begin his sophomore year. He posted a 30-17 record on his way to an All-American season, placing sixth at the national championships. Martin became Tech’s first-ever tournament champion early in the season after winning the Indiana Little State Tournament.

Fahs was ranked 11th at 141-lbs. after just missing All-American status a season ago, but his efforts have garnered him a No. 5 ranking in the weight class entering his junior year. His best performance of the regular season came at the Storm Open where he ran through the competition earning four victories on his way to winning the tournament.

Joining them in the NAIA Preseason Top 16 Individuals rankings, were senior James Bennett (Bowden, GA/Darton) ranked 11th at 165, senior Dustin Boyd (Mishawaka, IN/Calumet) ranked 13th at 184, and freshman Logan Rimmer (Temperance, MI/Bedford) ranked 13th at 285.

The Warriors open their season Nov. 3 at the Eastern Michigan University Open in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

To see the complete NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Top 20 Poll click here

For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2492 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics