Centerville, IA – Sophomore Gavyn Whitehead (New Castle, IN/New Castle) of the national champion Indian Hills Men's Wrestling squad has been named a finalist for the 2026 Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Male Student-Athlete of the Year award, announced Monday afternoon.

Whitehead is one of three finalists announced in the running for the coveted ICCAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year honor. The winner of this year's honor will be announced on Wednesday, May 20.

Whitehead starred for the Warriors during his sophomore campaign. The New Castle, IN native captured his second consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 141lb National Championship in March. The sophomore became the first two-time National Champion for the Warriors.

Whitehead, the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound wrestler throughout the duration of the year, capped an unprecedented career at Indian Hills by leading the Warriors to the program's second consecutive team National Championship.

Along with the national title, Whitehead took home the 2026 NJCAA North Central District Championship while earning 2026 The Open Mat National Wrestler of the Year honors.

For his efforts in the classroom, Whitehead was named a 2026 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American for the second consecutive season. Whitehead was also named to the ICCAC Academic All-Region First-Team during the fall term.

Indian Hills has previously earned the ICCAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year honor once before – Gaspar Glaudas of the men's golf team for the 2023-24 season.

In addition to Whitehead, Louis Krüger of Iowa Lakes Community College Men's Soccer, Tony Palmer of Iowa Western Community College football/wrestling, and George McIntyre of Iowa Central Community College Baseball were also named finalists.

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