FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State wrestling team dropped six spots to No. 22 in the latest Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 Poll on Friday (Mar. 2). In the individual rankings, the Tigers have three wrestlers ranked. Efe Osaghae (149 pounds) sits at No. 4, Brandon Ball (141) slipped to No. 12 and Rakim Dean (197) entered the rankings at No. 12.

Efe Osaghae held steady as the fourth-ranked wrestler in the nation at 149 pounds. Osaghae earned a runner-up finish at the West Super Regional in Las Vegas, N.M. on Saturday (Feb. 24). The redshirt-freshman is making his first trip to the NCAA Division II Championships next weekend (Mar. 9-10).

Brandon Ball slipped to No. 12 in the latest individual rankings after dropping two matches at the Super Regional. Ball earned a fourth-place finish to earn a trip to his second-consecutive NCAA Championships. The sophomore currently holds a 34-5 overall record to lead the Tigers.

Rakim Dean enters the individual rankings for the first time as a Tiger at 197 pounds. Dean earned a hard-fought fourth-place finish at the super regional, qualifying for his first trip to the NCAA Championships. Dean enters nationals with a 32-10 overall record, including a 28-5 clip against Division II opponents.

FHSU is one of five MIAA schools in the Top 25 as Nebraska-Kearney (No. 7), Central Oklahoma (T-10), Lindenwood (T-19) and Newman (No. 25).

The Tigers are preparing for the NCAA Division II Championships next weekend (Mar. 9-10) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.