James Houchins

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Woodburn, Iowa
High School:
Interstate 35

2010-11: Houchins split time between 174 pounds and 184 pounds during his redshirt freshman season, and completed the campaign with a 10-6 record. He opened the year by going 4-2 at the Lindenwood Open, good for a fifth place finish. He won his first three matches of the tournament, all by decision, and after dropping two contests, finished in fifth following a win by medical forfeit. He defeated Darnell Bortz of Oklahoma State by a 3-0 decision at the UCM Open, and majored Minnesota's Steve Avalos at the Northern Iowa Open in December. He closed out the year by taking first place at 174 pounds at the MVC Open. He scored a 16-2 major decision over his first opponent, and then pinned Chris Chionuma of Lindenwood in 6:21. After scoring a 5-3 decision in the semifinals, teammate Todd Porter forfeited to Houchins in the championship, giving him the title.

2009-10: Houchins redshirted the 2009-10 season.

High School: Houchins finished as high as second at the Iowa State Championships, doing so his junior season (2007-08) while competing in the 145-pound weight class. A member of the Interstate 35 wrestling squad coached by Randy Calvert and Dean Downs, Houchins began his high school wrestling career in the 112-pound weight class and managed a 40-5 record and fourth place finish at state's. Houchins recorded at least 40 wins in each of his four years with the Roadrunner wrestling team, notching a personal-best 48 victories as a sophomore (2006-07), the same season the squad took third at the state championships. As a senior, wrestling at 160 pounds, Houchins finished the year with a third place showing at the State Championships and 42-1 record. Altogether, Houchins tallied a 171-9 record.

Personal: The son of Allen and Sara Houchins, James was born July 13, 1990, in Des Moines, Iowa. Houchins has one brother, Dallas (17).