FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State University wrestling went 2-1 on the first day of the NWCA National Duals in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday.  The Tigers started the day with a 24-17 comeback victory over No. 8 Indianapolis in the opening round, and then fell to No. 4 Newberry, 22-12 in the quarterfinals.  The final match of the night pitted the Tigers against Colorado State-Pueblo in the consolation quarterfinals.  FHSU took that match, 28-15, and moved on to Day 2 of the tournament.

The Tigers will face Upper Iowa at 9 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 12).

A breakdown of Day 1 matches are below…

Fort Hays State 24, No. 8 Indianapolis 17
Down 10-0 in the early going, Fort Hays State wrestling picked up a 24-17 comeback win over No. 8 Indianapolis in the first round of the NWCA National Duals on Saturday.

Fort Hays State struggled through the first two matchups, as No. 6 Adam Ludwin (125 pounds) dropped a major decision, 12-1, to Alex Johns (ranked No. 2), and Symon Seaton (133 pounds) fell by pin to Joshua Kieffer in 2:03.

FHSU was right back into the match at 141 pounds as C.J. Napier pinned in 2:15 over Andrew Frey, putting the score at 10-6.

Indianapolis extended its lead during the 149 pound bout, as Cameryn Brady, ranked fourth nationally, won by major decision, 12-2, over Joey Dozier.

Mitchell Means provided a response from the Tigers at 157 pounds, picking up a 9-3 decision over Sheldon Struble pull the Tigers within six, 14-9.

FHSU continued to climb closer to Indianapolis in the team score at 165 pounds with Bradley Little’s decision over Jeff Weiss, 10-3.

With Indianapolis leading the team score, 14-12, Josh Rodriguez (174 pounds) took on Shelby Mappes.  Close throughout, Rodriguez scored a takedown in the waning seconds of the third period, but it wasn’t enough as Mappes won by decision, 7-5.

At 184 pounds, freshman Jon Inman picked up an important 9-6 decision over George Lopez, pulling the Tigers within one decision (three points) of taking the lead in team points.

Those team points came soon after, as Tanner Kriss’ first period pin (fall in 1:50) over Taylor Scott propelled the Tigers into their first lead of the day, up 21-17 with one match to go.

Trey Page, ranked fourth nationally, sealed the comeback for FHSU in his 285 pound match.  The junior clinched the comeback for FHSU with a 4-3 decision over Evan Wooding.

Dual Results
125 – Alex Johns (Indianapolis) over Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) Maj 12-1
133 – Joshua Kieffer (Indianapolis) over Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State) Fall 2:03
141 – C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) over Andrew Frey (Indianapolis) Fall 2:15
149 – Cameryn Brady (Indianapolis) over Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) Maj 12-2
157 – Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State) over Sheldon Struble (Indianapolis) Dec 9-3
165 – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) over Jeff Weiss (Indianapolis) Dec 10-3
174 – Shelby Mappes (Indianapolis) over Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State) Dec 7-5
184 – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) over George Lopez (Indianapolis) Dec 9-6
197 – Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) over Taylor Scott (Indianapolis) Fall 1:50
285 – Trey Page (Fort Hays State) over Evan Wooding (Indianapolis) Dec 4-3

No. 4 Newberry 22, Fort Hays State University 12
Fort Hays State’s second comeback effort of the day fell short as the team dropped a 22-12 decision to No. 4 Newberry in the NWCA National Dual Quarterfinals.

In the first four matches of the dual, Newberry jumped to a 12-0 lead with four close decisions.  Jeff Vesta (ranked third nationally) defeated No. 6 Adam Ludwin, 4-2, at 125 pounds, and Symon Seaton fell, 12-9, at 133 pounds to Trung Duong.  At 141 pounds, C.J. Napier held a lead until late in the third period, when B.J. Young, ranked fifth nationally, grabbed a 7-6 comeback decision.

The final victory in that stretch for Newberry was at 149 pounds, as Seiji Borja won by decision over Joey Dozier, 4-2.

Mitchell Means and Bradley Little stopped the run for Newberry at 157 and 165 pounds, pulling the Tigers within three at 12-9.  Means stuck Kayne Melko in a pin at 5:32, and Little won a close 7-6 decision over Taylor Knapp.

Just one decision from tying the match, Newberry regained control at 174 and 184 pounds.  Joe Pittman major decisioned Josh Rodriguez, 12-3 (174 pounds), and Jared Holliday topped Jon Inman, 7-2 (184 pounds), giving Newberry a 19-9 lead.

Needing at least a major decision to put a tie within reach for the teams, Tanner Kriss just missed the mark with an 8-1 victory over Joe Grisko – ranked eighth nationally and a returning All-American – at 197 pounds.

In the final match of the dual, No. 4 Trey Page lost by decision, 10-4, to No. 5 Matt Wade, sending the Tigers to a consolation quarterfinal matchup with Colorado State-Pueblo.

Dual Results
125 – Jeff Vesta (Newberry) over Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) Dec 4-2
133 – Trung Duong (Newberry) over Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State) Dec 12-9
141 – Bj Young (Newberry) over C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) Dec 7-6
149 – Seiji Borja (Newberry) over Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) Dec 4-2
157 – Mitchell Means(Fort Hays State) over Kayne Melko (Newberry) Fall 5:32
165 – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) over Taylor Knapp (Newberry) Dec 7-6
174 – Joe Pittman (Newberry) over Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State) Maj 12-3
184 – Jared Holliday (Newberry) over Jon Imnan (Fort Hays State) Dec 7-2
197 – Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) over Joe Grisko (Newberry) Dec 8-1
285 – Matt Wade (Newberry) over Trey Page (Fort Hays State) Dec 10-4

Fort Hays State 28, Colorado State-Pueblo 15
Adam Ludwin )125 and C.J. Napier (141) earned byes in two of the first three matches, giving the Tigers 12 free team points in the early going.  At 133 pounds, Symon Seaton lost by fall (2:10) to Tim Urenda.

At 12-6, FHSU dropped two straight decisions in the 149 pound and 157 pound matches. Joey Dozier (149 pounds) lost, 6-5, to Jimmy Chase, and Mitchell Means dropped a sudden victory overtime match, 3-1 to Ray Hall.

Bryce Lewis’ 6-1 decision at 165 pounds marked the first individual victory for the Tigers throughout the match, and put FHSU back on top in team scoring, 15-12.

CSU-Pueblo answered back at 174 pounds, tying the match at 15-all with Trevor Grant’s 8-2 decision over Josh Rodgriguez.

Jon Imnan gave FHSU its final advantage of the day with a major decision over Augustine Desantis, 12-2.

Tanner Kriss would extend that team lead to 10 (25-15) with his second pin of the day, sticking Riley Argyle in 1:07.

Third-ranked TreyPage closed out the first day of action for FHSU with an overtime 3-1 decision over No. 7 Niko Bogojevic , sending FHSU into the consolation semifinals against Upper Iowa.

Dual Results
125 – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
133 – Tim Urenda (Colorado State Pueblo) over Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State) Fall 2:10
141 – C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
149 – Jimmy Chase (Colorado State Pueblo) over Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) Dec 6-5
157 – Ray Hall (Colorado State Pueblo) over Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State) SV-1 3-1
165 – Bryce Lewis (Fort Hays State) over Larry Schmueser (Colorado State Pueblo) Dec 6-1
174 – Trevor Grant (Colorado State Pueblo) over Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State) Dec 8-2
184 – Jon Imnan (Fort Hays State) over Augustine Desantis (Colorado State Pueblo) Maj 12-2
197 – Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) over Riley Argyle (Colorado State Pueblo) Fall 1:07
285 – Trey Page (Fort Hays State) over Niko Bogojevic (Colorado State Pueblo) SV-1 3-1