HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team welcomed 12th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney into Gross Memorial Coliseum on Friday evening (Jan. 19) for a conference clash. The Tigers dropped the match to the Lopers, 30-9. The Tigers move to 4-4 on the season in duals and fall to 0-2 in the conference matches.
The Tigers opened the match with sophomore Conrad Cole in the 125-pound bout. He competed against the ninth-ranked wrestler in Division II, Josh Portillo. Portillo grabbed a quick 6-3 lead after the first period. Portillo increased his lead to 8-4 after the second period and ended the match with a 12-4 major decision over Cole.
Dy’Juan Carney was set to take on 11th-ranked Bryce Shoemaker in the 133-pound weight class. Shoemaker took a commanding 12-1 lead after the first period and never looked back in the match as Carney fell to Shoemaker with a 17-1 technical fall. Carney dropped to 14-10 overall on the season.
In the 141-pound bout, eighth-ranked Brandon Ball took on Tevin Briscoe. Ball rebounded well from his third loss of the season in the Midwest Duals last weekend to defeat Briscoe without giving up a point in a 7-0 decision. Ball improved his overall record to 22-3 and 15-2 against Division II foes. The Tigers trailed the Lopers 9-3 in the match after three matches.
Efe Osaghae took the mat in the 149-pound weight class to take on the second-ranked wrestler in DII, Keith Surber. In the first two periods, the only point that was given up was an escape in favor of Surber. Osaghae used an escape, being awarded a stalling point and a tremendous takedown to take a 4-1 lead over Surber in the third period. Surber was able to get a reversal to cut Osaghae’s lead to 4-3, however couldn’t keep him in his grasp and Osaghae escaped as time expired to upset #2 Surber with a 5-3 decision. The crowd in GMC then erupted in a loud roar for the Tigers. FHSU cut the UNK lead to 9-6 after four bouts into the dual.
The Lopers three-point lead was short-lived as they extended their advantage to 14-6 in the match after a 16-1 technical fall victory for Matt Malcom over Brody Lewis in the 157-pound bout.
Marty Verhaeghe survived a 3-0 deficit halfway through the second period to defeat Brayden Wills with an 8-3 decision in the 165-pound weight class and pushing the Tigers closer to the Lopers. UNK lead 14-9 after six matches.
The Lopers never looked back after they won the next four bouts to win the dual 30-9. Robinson dropped the 174-pound bout to Zach Stodden by way of a 14-5 major decision. Jordan Davis was caught in the third period and fell to JJ Clark in the 184-pound weight class. Seniors Rakim Dean and Dakota Gulley were not able to get ahead in their bouts and the 12th-ranked Lopers left Hays with their first MIAA dual victory of the season to improve their dual record to 17-1 on the year.
The Tigers are back in action on Sunday (Jan. 21) as they travel to Wichita, Kan. to compete in the Kansas Cup and defend their title for the fifth-straight year. The event is set to commence at 9 a.m.