Centerville, IA – For the second consecutive year, Indian Hills Men's Wrestling Head Coach Cole Spree has been named The Open Mat National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Men's Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Spree led the Warriors to their second consecutive national championship in 2026, continuing to elevate Indian Hills as the premiere junior college wrestling program. The Warriors not only captured the 2026 national title, but did so in historic fashion, surpassing the NJCAA team points record at the national championship, breaking the previous mark set by the Warriors in 2025. Indian Hills became the first program in NJCAA history to eclipse 200 team points, finishing the tournament with 201.5 points.
In addition to Spree's honor, sophomore Gavyn Whitehead (New Castle, IN/New Castle) was named The Open Mat NJCAA Wrestler of the Year.
Read More: Whitehead Named NJCAA Wrestler of the Year
Spree, who was previously named the 2025-26 ICCAC Coach of the Year, guided the Warriors to another dominant season on the mat, posting an undefeated dual record with a 9-0 mark, including five wins over nationally ranked opponents and a perfect 7-0 record in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) action. The Warriors, who have now won 23 consecutive duals, outscored their opponents this year 353-63, setting a new program record for average points/dual at 39.2
Indian Hills produced another dominant postseason run as the Warriors captured the program's third NJCAA North Central District Championship, and second straight, after boasting four individual District champions. Along with the District title, the Warriors earned 10 automatic bids to the 2026 NJCAA National Championship in Council Bluffs.
At the national tournament, the Warriors put on a clinic, captured a program record three individual national titles while sending a total of five to the finals. In total, nine Warriors competing at the national championship secured All-American honors, the second consecutive season Indian Hills has claimed nine All-Americans.
Along with the success on the mat, 12 individuals were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American team. As a program, the Warriors were named a NWCA Scholar All-America team after posting the third-highest cumulative team GPA in the NJCAA with a 3.7 mark.
NEW YEAR - WHAT TO KNOW
Fans can keep up the Indian Hills Men's and Women's Wrestling squad all year long through a number of ways:
- X (formerly Twitter): @IHCCAthletics | @IHCCWrestling
- Facebook: Indian Hills Athletics | Indian Hills Wrestling
- Instagram: @IndianHills_CC_Wrestling | @IHCCAthletics
- Youtube: Indian Hills Athletics
- Website: www.indianhillsathletics.com
- Catch up with the history of Indian Hills Wrestling: Indian Hills Men's Wrestling Record Book
- Keep up with former Indian Hills Wrestling standouts and where they are now | Next Level Warriors - Indian Hills Men's Wrestling
- All home duals take place at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Indian Hills Centerville Campus
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