LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team is sending four Tigers’ to the NCAA Division II Championships on Friday and Saturday (Mar. 9-10) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the NCAA Midwest Super Regional on Saturday (Feb. 24), Efe Osaghae claimed a runner-up finish at 149 pounds, while Rakim Dean (197) earned a third-place finish and both No. 3 Brandon Ball (141) and Ryne Cokeley (157) captured fourth-place finishes to solidify spots at Nationals.

After going 3-0 on day one and sealing his birth at nationals, fourth-ranked Osaghae fell in the title bout in a 5-4 decision at the hands of fifth-ranked Daxton Gordon of California Baptist.

Senior Rakim Dean was the fourth Tiger to qualify for nationals after defeating Donavon Rincon of CSU-Pueblo with a 9-1 major decision and Garrett Strang of California Baptist in the consolation championship with a 6-1 decision to claim a third-place finish. Dean will make his first appearance at the DII National Championships.

For the second-straight season, third-ranked Ball earned a trip to the NCAA DII Championships. This time around, the sophomore took home a fourth-place finish at regionals. In his first match of the day, Ball returned the favor to Clay Archer of CSU-Pueblo as he claimed a 10-0 major decision victory this go-around. Ball dropped the consolation championship to Dylan Udero of Adams State in overtime, 6-4.

Junior Ryne Cokeley qualified for nationals in his first season as a Tiger. Cokeley claimed a fourth-place finish after defeating Bryan Dutton of Central Oklahoma in the consolation semifinals with a 6-2 decision before falling to Matt Malcom of Nebraska-Kearney for the second time this weekend in a 10-2 major decision.

Fort Hays State finished sixth in the team standings. California Baptist won the super regional with 114.5 points, followed by Nebraska-Kearney with 111 and Adams State with 90.

Team Scores
1. California Baptist 114.5
2. Nebraska-Kearney 111.0
3 Adams State 90.0
4 CSU-Pueblo 84.5
5 Western State 73.5
6 Fort Hays State 72.0
7 Central Oklahoma 59.5
8 Simon Fraser 44.0
9 San Francisco State 42.5
T10 Colorado Mesa 38.5
T10 Newman 38.5
12 Ouachita Baptist 28.0
13 Colorado School of Mines 27.5
14 Chadron State College 24.0
15 New Mexico Highlands 15.0