Asked to reflect on another successful season of Wabash wrestling, senior Reece Lefever didn't talk about the hours of conditioning, workouts, and practice time on the mats that set the foundation for a great wrestler.
 
He said it was fun.
 
As five Little Giant wrestlers – Lefever, along with bothers Conner and Riley, Ethan Farmer and Devin Broukal – prepare for the 2015 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships this weekend in Hershey, PA, they do so knowing the process was enjoyable.
 
"This is probably the most enjoyable season I've ever had wrestling," Reece said. "Each year here, it's gotten more fun. We've tried to have fun every day and enjoy what we are doing."
 
That enjoyment is evident on the mat as the team enters the NCAA Championships ranked third nationally in both the NCAA Coaches' and InterMat D-III Top-30 polls, posted a 12-2 dual meet record, finished as the Midwest Regional runner-up, and sent the quintet along to nationals.
 
Wabash, who has sent 11 wrestlers to the championship meet in the last two seasons, is one of 11 programs nationally to have five or more NCAA qualifiers this year.
 
"This group set high expectations in the fall," said head coach Brian Anderson. "The goal all season has been to win a national title, and if they do what all five are capable of doing, they have the potential to achieve just that."
 
The Lefever brothers lead the way for the Little Giants, who all enter the meet ranked one or two in their respective weight classes, and carry a combined record of 51-2. The trio will wrestle together at nationals for the second straight season, and for the final time as teammates.
 
"Not a lot of brothers get to compete together, at least all at the same time, and we all have the chance to go out and win a national title together," Reece said. "It's pretty sweet."
 
Riley, the defending national champion at 184 pounds, heads to Hershey with a spotless 16-0 mark after cruising to a weight class win with a pair of pins along the way. The sophomore was named the Midwest Regional's Most Outstanding Wrestler and now leads the NCAA's D-III Most Dominant Wrestler award – calculated by adding the total number of points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled – by nearly a half a point.
 
Coach Anderson says an improved mental approach this season has fueled those dominant results.
 
"Riley continues to mature physically, but more importantly, he's sharpened his mental approach, which has raised his level of aggressiveness this season and that has resulted in scoring more bonus points."
 
Conner, the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, has a 16-1 record after winning his second consecutive regional crown on Feb. 28. Two of his three regional victories came on major decisions.
 
If Wabash is to achieve the goals it set for itself back in the fall, Conner knows the high level of competition they will face at nationals requires the proper mindset.
 
"It's the best competition," he said. "Every match is going to be tough. I want to fight for every point and lead my team by example."
 
Reece sports a 19-1 overall record and is ranked second nationally at 157 pounds. The senior collected three major decisions on the way to the regional title, and will be one to watch this weekend. Reece has earned All-America honors in both previous appearances at nationals.
 
"This is an exciting time," Reece said. "I want to go out there and wrestle the best I can."
 
Broukal, the regional runner up at 133 pounds, has a 10-4 record this season and qualified for the NCAA Championships in his first collegiate season. While dropping a 4-3 decision in the finals left him just shy of a title, it has provided motivation for the Spencer, IN, product.
 
"I'm excited for this week," he said, "and to have the chance to compete for a title. I need to be especially prepared for this; I need to be a smart, confident wrestler, and give everything I have."
 
Farmer, who won 13 of 16 matches this season, also earned his first NCAA Championship appearance with a third-place regional finish at 165 pounds, coming out of the consolation bracket to do it with a one-point win over the top-seeded wrestler in the final.
 
The junior from Bloomington, IN, knows he needs to stick to his plan to find success this weekend.
 
"The key is to wrestle your match," Farmer said. "I've been focusing on doing what I need to do to win. If I'm able to do that, hopefully I'll come out victorious."
 
That key can sometimes be difficult under the spotlight of the finals. According to Riley, the youngest of the Ft. Wayne Lefevers, everyone gets nervous, but the successful wrestlers find a way to turn those nerves into a positive force.
 
"You always try to approach it like it's another wrestling tournament, but you always get that feeling that it's the last tournament of the year, so you want to go out with a bang and have some fun," said Riley. "There are always nerves, you have to use those nerves to your advantage."