Wabash crowned three individual champions on its way to the team title at the 2005 Midstates Wrestling League Championships Saturday.
Chris Healy (Jasper, IN/Jasper), Phu Hong (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central), and Garrett Pino (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence North) all won their individual weight classes. Healy finished 3-0 at 174 pounds, pinning all three of his opponenets. He opened with a pin at 4:46 against Rose-Hulman's Mark Tappendorf, then advanced to the finals after pinning Manchester's Chris Deutscher 5:12 into their match. Healy defeated teammate Ryan Pritchard (Britt, IA/Britt) in the finals, pinning him in 6:33. Pritchard earned a first round bye, then beat Illinois College's Jon Howard to earn the right to wrestle Healy in the finals.
Hong only had to wrestle one match, since only two 125-pounders were entered and made weight. He defeated Mount St. Joseph's Steve Austin 3-0 to win the match.
Pino was 2-0 at 133 pounds. The number-two seed going into the tournament, he started with victory over Rose's Danny Goodwin. Pino faced the top-seed in the finals, Jeremy Ryerson from MacMurray. Pino held on to take a 10-9 victory and the conference title.
Adam Miller (Pendleton, IN/Pendleton Heights) was second at 157 pounds. Miller was 2-0 before losing 6-2 to top-seed Danny Irwin from Manchester. Miller won a 15-5 major decision in his opening match, advancing to the finals with an 8-5 victory in the semis.
Kevin Meyer (Columbus, IN/Columbus North) was third at 165, as was Will Clarke (Indianapolis, IN/North Central) at 184.
Wabash scored 134 points in the team portion of the competition, outdistancing second place Olivet (129.5). Manchester (92) and Mount St. Joseph (92) tied for third. Host Rose-Hulman (74.5), MacMurray (46.5), and Illinois College (33) rounded out the team scoring.
The Little Giants will compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional Saturday, February 26 at Manchester College.