INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis redshirt-sophomore Derek Blubaugh was named the 2022-23 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Wrestler of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday. Additionally, William Jewell College grappler John Gholson earned GLVC Freshman of the Year honors, and Indianapolis mentor Jason Warthan was voted GLVC Coach of the Year by his peers.
A total of 30 wrestlers were named All-Conference honorees across three teams and eight student-athletes were recognized as their program's GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honoree in the sport. The All-Conference awards are nominated and voted on by league coaches.
Wrestler of the Year: Derek Blubaugh, Redshirt-sophomore, 197 lb., UIndy
- Wins second Wrestler of the Year award for UIndy after Dylan Faulkenberg (285) was the first honoree in 2019.
- Went 28-1 on the season overall and 7-0 in GLVC duals.
- Ranked No. 1 at 197 lb. by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
- Won the Maryville Open and Findlay Open.
- Named GLVC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 15 and Jan. 10.
- Helped Greyhounds win their first GLVC Championship title after a 6-1 league record.
- One of eight unanimous selections to the All-GLVC First Team, earning his third-straight All-Conference honor and second on the First Team.
Freshman of the Year: John Gholson, 184 lb., William Jewell
- Becomes Jewell's first-ever major award winner and All-Conference honoree in the sport.
- Went 16-8 overall and 6-1 in GLVC duals.
- Placed second in Maryville's Kaufman/Brand/Bayly Open.
- Named GLVC Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 17.
- Only true freshman named to All-GLVC Second Team.
Coach of the Year: Jason Warthan, UIndy
- Voted by his peers as Coach of the Year, marking the first Greyhounds' mentor to be honored in the sport.
- Led UIndy to 13-3 overall record and 6-1 GLVC record, as well as earning the program's first-ever GLVC Championship.
- Ranked No. 8 in most recent NWCA Poll
- In addition to guiding Blubaugh to his major award, Warthan mentored graduate student Breyden Bailey (133) – a unanimous choice – sophomore Logan Bailey (157), and graduate student Jack Eiteljorge (165) – a unanimous choice – to the All-GLVC First Team, as well as sophomore Jackson Hoover (149) to the Second Team and freshman Aidan Sprague (125), sophomore Ray Rioux (141), sophomore Owen Butler (174), and sophomore Cale Gray (285) to the Third Team.
Joining Blubaugh, B. Bailey, L. Bailey, and Eiteljorge on the First Team were five unanimous picks in senior Christian Mejia (125) and redshirt-freshman Zeke Waltz (174) from McKendree University, senior Peter Kuster (141) from Drury University, redshirt-senior Tyler Stegall (149) from Maryville University, and senior Johnny Green (285) from Ouachita Baptist University. Also recognized as first-team selections were Maryville redshirt-senior Joey Williams and McKendree senior Josh Jones, who tied at 184.
Ouachita Baptist University earned the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award, while eight student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior were also recognized. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
A complete list of the 2022-23 GLVC All-Conference teams and postseason honors follows.
2022-23 GLVC WRESTLING POSTSEASON HONORS
GLVC Wrestler of the Year: Derek Blubaugh, R-So., 197 lb., Indianapolis
GLVC Freshman of the Year: John Gholson, Fr., 184 lb., William Jewell
GLVC Coach of the Year: Jason Warthan, Indianapolis
All-GLVC FIRST TEAM
125: Christian Mejia, Sr., MCK #
133: Breyden Bailey, Gr., UINDY #
141: Peter Kuster, Sr., DU #
149: Tyler Stegall, R-Sr., MU #
157: Logan Bailey, So., UINDY
165: Jack Eiteljorge, Gr., UINDY #
174: Zeke Waltz, R-Fr., MCK #
t-184: Joey Williams, R-Sr., MU
t-184: Josh Jones, Sr., MCK
197: Derek Blubaugh, R-So., UINDY #
285: Johnny Green, Sr., OBU # |
ALL-GLVC SECOND TEAM
125: Caden Howard, So., DU
133: JP Homfeld, R-Fr., MU
141: Taylor Jokerst, Gr., MU
149: Jackson Hoover, So., UINDY
157: Noah Villarreal, So., MCK
165: Will Kuster, So., DU
174: Bret Heil, R-Sr., MU
184: John Gholson, Fr., WJC
197: Logan Kvien, Jr., MCK
285: Ryan Herman, R-So., MU |
ALL-GLVC THIRD TEAM
125: Aidan Sprague, Fr., UINDY
133: Ryan Ripplinger, Jr., MCK
141: Ray Rioux, So., UINDY
149: Trevor Christian, So., DU
157: Donavan Whitted, R-Fr., MU
165: Cole Ritter, R-Fr., MU
174: Owen Butler, So., UINDY
184: –
197: Chase Stegall, So., MU
285: Cale Gray, So., UINDY |
# Unanimous Selection
2022-23 GLVC WRESTLING JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD INDIVIDUAL HONOREES
Crue Cooper, DAV
BK Seago, DU
Derek Blubaugh, UINDY
Joey Williams, MU
Logan Kvien, MCK
Cole McCartney, OBU
Isaac Bourge, QU
Nate Wishne, WJC
2022-23 GLVC WRESTLING JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Ouachita Baptist