FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State had one individual championship while finishing fourth as a team at the MIAA Wrestling Championships on Sunday in Hays, Kan. Fourth-ranked C.J. Napier took first-place honors at 141 pounds, the Tigers’ first-ever MIAA individual champion. Josh Rodriguez, Jon Inman, Tanner Kriss and Trey Page were second, while Adam Ludwin rounded out the Tigers place-winners in third place.
In team scoring, FHSU finished with 63 points, 4.5 points behind third-place Central Oklahoma, who had 67.5 points. Nebraska-Kearney (109 points) won the team title, while Lindenwood (84.5 points) took second.
All six place-winners were named All-MIAA, while Jon Inman was named MIAA Freshman of the Year for his efforts at 184 pounds.
Adam Ludwin placed third at 125 pounds after going 3-1 overall. Ludwin’s day started with a 3-1 decision over Josh Breece (UCO) before falling to eventual champion Marco Tamayo (LWU) by major decision, 11-1, in the semifinals. On the consolation side of the bracket, Ludwin defeated Jabez Zinabu (Truman), 6-1, before defeating Breece for the second time of the day, 9-6, in the consolation finals.
Napier’s title chase started with a 14-3 major decision over Mark Smith of Truman, followed up by a 7-5 decision against Dustin Reed (UCO) in the semifinals. In the championship bout, Napier used a reversal with less than 15 seconds to go in the third period to take a 5-4 lead against Brock Coutu of Nebraska-Kearney. Napier eventually took the title with a score of 6-4.
Josh Rodriguez finished 2-1 on the day to finish second at 174 pounds. Rodriguez earned a bye into the semifinals, and then won by major decision over Josh Thomsen of Central Missouri, 8-0. In the title match, Rodriguez was tied 1-1 inside the final minute, but was called for a stalling point against UNK’s Patrick Martinez to fall by decision, 2-1.
Inman’s 184 pound championship efforts fell just short, as he went 2-1 on the day to finish second. Inman started the day with a first-round bye. In the semifinals, Inman won by decision over UCO’s Znick Ferrell, 4-2 to set up a title contest with No. 3 John McArdle (LWU). Inman led, 14-9 inside the final 45 seconds, but a late third-period toss from McArdle set up a pin in 6:35.
No. 7 Tanner Kriss reached the championship in 197 pounds, but injury defaulted in the final to UNK’s Romero Cotton (No. 1). Kriss won his first round match by fall in 1:43 over Steven Cooksley of Newman. In the semifinals, Kriss led late into the match, but with 10 seconds remaining, Kenny Breaux (LWU) injury defaulted out of the contest.
Trey Page started his 285 pound tournament with a 10-0 major decision over Todd Brier (UCM), followed by a 5-2 decision against Kelsey Empting (UNK) in the semifinals. Page squared off with No. 7 Steven Butler (LWU) for the second time in a week in the finals, falling by decision, 5-2.
Fort Hays State will now compete in the NCAA Central Super Regional on Feb. 28 through March 1 in Edmond, Okla.
Complete results are below…
Team Scores
1. Nebraska-Kearney 109.0
2. Lindenwood 84.5
3. Central Oklahoma 67.5
4. Fort Hays State 63.0
5. Central Missouri 43.5
6. Newman 4.0
7. Truman 0.5
125 – Adam Ludwin finished third, 3-1
Quarterfinal – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Josh Breece (Central Oklahoma), Dec 3-1
Semifinal – Marco Tamayo (Lindenwood) won by major decision over Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State), MD 11-1
Cons. Semi – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Jabez Zinabu (Truman), Dec 6-1
3rd Place Match – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Josh Breece (Central Oklahoma), Dec 9-6
133 – Symon Seaton, 1-2
Quarterfinal – Hunter Neighbors (Central Missouri) won by fall over Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State), Fall 4:59
Cons. Round 1 – Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Rafael Lopez (Truman), Fall 4:08
Cons. Semi – Matt Katusin (Lindenwood) won by fall over Symon Seaton (Fort Hays State), Fall 1:58
141 – C.J. Napier finished first, 3-0
Quarterfinal – C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Mark Smith (Truman), MD 14-3
Semifinal – C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Dustin Reed (Central Oklahoma), Dec 7-5
1st Place Match – C.J. Napier (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Brock Coutu (Nebraska-Kearney), Dec 6-4
157 – Mitchell Means, 1-2
Quarterfinal – Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State) received a bye
Semifinal – Chase White (Nebraska-Kearney) won in tie breaker-2 over Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State), TB-2 5-3
Cons. Semi – Derrick Weller (Lindenwood) 19-13 won by injury default over Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State), Inj. 0:00
165 – Bradley Little, 1-2
Quarterfinal – Luke Roth (Lindenwood) won by fall over Bradley Little (Fort Hays State), Fall 6:00
Cons. Round 1 – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) received a bye
Cons. Semi – Tyler Loethen (Central Missouri) won by decision over Bradley Little (Fort Hays State), Dec 8-4
174 – Josh Rodriguez finished second, 1-1
Quarterfinal – Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State) received a bye
Semifinal – Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Josh Thomson (Central Missouri), MD 8-0
1st Place Match – Patrick Martinez (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Josh Rodriguez (Fort Hays State), Dec 2-1
184 – Jon Inman finished second, 2-1
Quarterfinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) received a bye
Semifinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Znick Ferrell (Central Oklahoma), Dec 4-2
1st Place Match – John McArdle (Lindenwood) won by fall over Jon Inman (Fort Hays State), Fall 6:35
197 – Tanner Kriss finished second, 2-1
Quarterfinal – Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Steven Cooksley (Newman), Fall 1:43
Semifinal – Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) won by injury default over Kenny Breaux (Lindenwood), Inj. 6:50
1st Place Match – Romero Cotton (Nebraska-Kearney) won by injury default over Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State), Inj. 0:00
285 – Trey Page finished second, 2-1
Quarterfinal – Trey Page (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Todd Brier (Central Missouri), MD 10-0
Semifinal – Trey Page (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Kelsey Empting (Nebraska-Kearney), Dec 5-2
1st Place Match – Steven Butler (Lindenwood) won by decision over Trey Page (Fort Hays State), Dec 5-2