FHSU Sports Information
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State wrestling dropped its season-opening dual on Thursday (Dec. 1) by the score of 25-18 to Lindenwood.
Lindenwood’s Carlos Jacquez put the Lions up 3-0 right out of the gate in the 125 pound match with a 13-6 decision over Conrad Cole. In the ensuing 133-pound bout, Hunter Haralson extended the Lions lead to 8-0 with a technical fall, 16-0, in the second period over Josh Martinez.
At 141 pounds, Brandon Ball closed the lead to just two when he managed to pin Chase Kelley 3:52 into the match. Ball was in full control of the match leading 4-0 when he got Kelley on his back to earn the quick pin. With the victory, Ball improves to 12-2 on the season for the Tigers.
In the 149-pound bout, Fort Hays State’s Jacob Kay battled with Lindenwood’s Ronald Gentile. Gentile got the better of Kay and increased the Lions lead to 12-6 with an 18-6 major decision.
Greg Tooley cut the Lions lead to just one (12-11) in the 157 pound weight class with a 21-5 technical fall 5:47 into the match over Shea Spradley. Tooley started with a takedown but then surrendered a reversal immediately. Tooley then managed to get an escape but was taken down shortly afterwards, but then got a reversal of his own to take a 5-4 lead into the second period. After starting in the top position in the second, Tooley allowed a quick escape but then went to work. He proceeded to record a take down and then two, four-point near-falls to extend his lead to 15-5 in a hurry. In the third, Tooley one again recorded a takedown and finished with a four-point near-fall.
After the Tigers gave up a forfeit in the 165-pound bout they trailed 18-11 heading into the 174-pound bout between Micquile Robinson and Lindenwood’s Batchuluun Zulkhuu. Robinson struggled to get any momentum going as Zulkhuu was in control for the entire match and walked away with an 11-2 major decision.
With the Tigers trailing 22-11, David Hamil of Lindenwood defeated Rakim Dean 8-3 to clinch the win for the Lions.
At 197 pounds the Tigers sent the No. 4 wrestler in the nation, Jon Inman, to the mat to face off against the No. 8 wrestler from Lindenwood Dillon Archer. Archer got an early shot on Inman and had his leg elevated for a long time in the first period, but was unable to get him to the mat. Inman then took a turn at a shot of his own and succeeded. After an escape from Archer, Inman once again took him to the mat only to allow an escape before the period was up. In the second period Inman chose bottom and escaped immediately and turned in two more takedowns and a four point near-fall to blitz out to a 13-3. Toss in a stalling point and a riding time point in the third for Inman and he moved to 12-0 on the season with a 15-3 major decision.
Christian Lance took to the mat for the Tigers with something still to prove as he looked to remain unbeaten on the year at heavyweight. Standing in his way was Lindenwood’s Jacob Borgmeyer. It was a slow moving first period as the wrestlers looked to be feeling each other out with no points scored. In the second period Lance surrendered an escape to Borgmeyer and wound up trailing 1-0 heading to the final period. In the third Lance recorded an early escape of his own to even the score at 1-1. With neither wrestler recording a takedown in the final minute and a half, the two headed to a sudden death overtime period. With time running out in the one-minute period, Borgmeyer took a shot at Lance’s left leg that he was able to sprawl away from. Then with two seconds remaining in the period Lance was given a take down as he was able to gain position by twisting around Borgmeyer after the failed shot attempt to claim the 3-1 decision and move to 16-0 on the season.
Next up for the Tigers is the annual Bob Smith Open on Saturday (Dec. 3) that is hosted at Fort Hays State. The wrestling is set to begin at 9 am.