Fort Hays State faced three nationally ranked opponents at the NWCA National Duals in Springfield, Ill. on Saturday (Jan. 12) and won one match-up, now at 7-5 overall on the season. The Tigers fell to second-ranked Newberry in the opening round 28-9, but bounced back in the first consolation round to defeat 13th-ranked Augustana 22-10. The Tigers were knocked out of the tournament by eighth-ranked Findlay 26-13, coming one dual short of getting into the placing duals on Sunday.

No. 2 Newberry (S.C.) 28, No. 19 Fort Hays State 9
Newberry College (S.C.) (8-0 overall), ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II, won six of the first seven matches against FHSU (6-4 overall) to cruise to a 19-point win in the opening round of the NWCA National Duals. Fort Hays State took two of the last three matches by decision, but it was too late with Newberry already leading 22-3 heading into the 184-pound class.

No. 19 Fort Hays State 22, No. 13 Augustana (S.D.) 10
Fort Hays State (7-4 overall) survived the first elimination round of the tournament by knocking 13th-ranked Augustana (S.D.) (4-3 overall) from the tournament. The dual bounced back-and-forth early with Augustana taking three of the first five matches. The Tigers went on a run from that point, winning the final five matches to oust the Vikings.

No. 8 Findlay (Ohio) 26 , No. 19 Fort Hays State 13
Eighth-ranked Findlay jumped out to a 9-0 lead and the Tigers could never catch up as the Oilers knocked Fort Hays State (7-5 overall) from the tournament and a chance to wrestle in the placing duals on Sunday. Bonus points were a key to victory for Findlay (7-2 overall), which took six of the 10 matches.

Fort Hays State hosts Adams State in a non-conference dual on Thursday, January 17 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The dual is set to begin at 7 pm.

– FHSU Sports Information –