BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Fort Hays State had four players named to the Don Hansen Football Committee All-America Team for the 2018 season. Dante Brown is the Special Teams Player of the Year for all of NCAA Division II, while earning first team honors as a kicker and an honorable mention nod as a punter. Linebacker Jose Delgado also earned a first-team selection, while Doyin Jibowu earned third-team honors and Wyatt Parker received an honorable mention selection.

Brown adds to his list of honors for the 2018 season. Already tabbed the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year and Don Hansen Football Committee Super Region 3 Special Teams Player of the Year, Brown adds Special Teams Player of the Year for all of Division II to his collection. Brown has already earned All-America status from the D2CCA and D2Football.com. Along with his kicking role, Brown was also one of the top punters nationally. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection at both kicker and punter this year. He led the nation in field goals made with 28 and averaged an NCAA-best 2.33 field goals per game, breaking the MIAA record for field goals in a season by three and coming just two shy of the NCAA Division II single-season record. He converted 84.8 percent of his field goal attempts, going 28-of-33 for the season, to rank fifth in NCAA Division II. Brown also shattered the Fort Hays State single-season record for points with 123. Brown had 67 punts for 2,772 yards, averaging 41.4 yards per attempt.

Delgado earns All-America status from a third organization after a tremendous senior season. He was the D2CCA Super Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. Like Brown, Delgado was an All-America selection by both the D2CCA and D2Football.com. He finished the year with 117 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. He reached double figures in tackles eight times in the 12 games played in 2018, reaching 14 twice. Delgado reached double figures in a game 20 times throughout his 44-game career with the Tigers, earning All-MIAA honors three times and first-team honors the last two years. With 402 career tackles, he became the all-time tackles leader in Fort Hays State’s NCAA Division II era.

Jibowu gives the Tigers three repeat All-America selections this year after receiving honorable mention status from the Don Hansen Football Committee last year. Brown and Delgado are also repeat All-America selections by the Don Hansen Football Committee. He finished the year with 57 tackles, including 6 for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, and 11 pass breakups. Jibowu wrapped his impressive four-year career at FHSU with 276 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 9 interceptions, and 26 pass breakups. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection at defensive back for the second straight year and three-time selection overall.

Parker earns the first All-America honor of his career. He finished fourth on the team in tackles with 71 from his defensive tackle position, while leading the Tigers in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (4). He also collected 11.5 tackles for loss and one interception for the season. Parker was a two-time All-MIAA selection for the Tigers.

Below is the Don Hansen All-America Team for 2018.

Offensive Player of the Year: Jayru Campbell, JR, QB, Ferris State
Defensive Player of the Year: Markus Jones, DE, Angelo State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Dante Brown, JR, PK/P, Fort Hays State
Freshman of the Year: Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Notre Dame (Ohio)
Co-Coaches of the Year: Kerwin Bell, Valdosta State & Mike Jacobs, Notre Dame (Ohio)

First Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Jayru Campbell 6-5 215 JR Ferris State Detroit, Mich.
FB Cole Chancey 5-10 200 SO Harding Commerce, Ga.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 5-9 173 FR Notre Dame (Ohio) Marshville, N.C.
RB Gabriel Watson 6-1 221 JR Sioux Falls (S.D.) Piedmont, Calif.
WR Chad Hovasse 6-1 215 SR Adams State Colorado Springs, Colo.
WR Brody Oliver 6-3 210 SR Colorado Mines Elizabeth, Colo.
WR Craig Rucker 5-7 165 JR Mars Hill Orlando, Fla.
TE DeAndre Washington 6-2 185 JR Arkansas-Monticello Shreveport, La.
AP Tabyus Taylor 6-0 250 SO Virginia Union Hopewell, Va.
C Bryce Bray 6-0 260 SR Harding Rogers, Ark.
OG Tyler Drob 6-2 297 GR West Chester Cherry Hill, N.J.
OG Nic Sawyer 6-5 300 SR Ferris State Ann Arbor, Mich.
OT Evan Heim 6-4 305 JR Minnesota State DePere, Wis.
OT Deon Sheppard 6-4 295 SR Tarleton State San Antonio, Texas
PK Dante Brown 5-10 185 JR Fort Hays State Mississauga, Ontario
First Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Markus Jones 6-3 260 SR Angelo State Fort Worth, Texas
DE Cardell Rawlings 6-2 240 SR Wingate Smithfield, N.C.
DT Heath Williams 6-2 291 JR Saginaw Valley State East Lansing, Mich.
DT Sha’Haun Williams 6-3 260 JR Notre Dame (Ohio) Youngstown, Ohio
LB Jose Delgado 5-11 205 SR Fort Hays State Derby, Kan.
LB J.T. Hassell 6-0 199 SR Florida Tech Titusville, Fla.
LB Alex Helmer 6-2 220 SR Minnesota Duluth Prescott, Wis.
S Lamont McPhatter 5-11 190 JR California (Pa.) New Castle, Pa.
S Daryus Skinner 5-11 175 JR Winston-Salem State Rockingham, N.C.
CB Corey Ballentine 6-0 204 SR Washburn Topeka, Kan.
CB Marcus Haskins 6-0 180 FR Concordia-St. Paul Cottage Grove, Minn.
RS Lyrics Klugh 5-10 170 SR Fairmont State Lyman, S.C.
P Cody Mills 5-7 190 SR Delta State Oxford, Miss.
Second Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Rogan Wells 6-3 220 SO Valdosta State Fort Mill, S.C.
FB Paul Terry 5-9 200 JR Eastern New Mexico Canyon, Texas
RB Walter Fletcher 5-10 192 JR Edinboro Columbia, Md.
RB Wes Hills 6-2 218 SR Slippery Rock Wildwood, N.J.
WR James Brania-Hopp 6-0 200 SR Washburn Montville, N.J.
WR Trey Brock 6-3 218 JR Hillsdale Missouri City, Texas
WR Juwan Johnson 5-10 175 SO Midwestern State Springfield, Mo.
TE Erik Henneman 6-3 228 SR Lindenwood Gretna, La.
AP Ashton Dulin 6-2 210 SR Malone Reynoldsburg, Ohio
C Jeremy King 6-1 315 SR Valdosta State Macon, Ga.
OG Jason Poe 6-2 250 SO Lenoir-Rhyne Fitzgerald, Ga.
OG Hunter Toppel 6-4 300 SO Minnesota State DeForest, Wis.
OT Devon Johnson 6-7 310 SR Ferris State Aurora, Ill.
OT Ben Walling 6-5 295 SR Grand Valley State Independence, Ky.
PK Kristov Martinez 5-6 135 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Edinburg, Texas
Second Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE James Prater, Jr. 6-0 244 SR Ashland Columbus, Ohio
DE T.J. Winslow 6-4 250 SR Harding Houston, Texas
DT Derek Dorr 6-3 297 SR Edinboro Blasdell, N.Y.
DT Simanu’a Thomas 6-0 278 JR Pittsburg State Independence, Mo.
LB Kailen Abrams 6-2 235 SO Central State (Ohio) Detroit, Mich.
LB Michael Alexander 6-0 235 SR Saginaw Valley State Midland, Mich.
LB Sam Heyboer 6-5 240 SO Ferris State Grand Rapids, Mich.
S Gunner Olszewski 5-10 180 SR Bemidji State Alvin, Texas
S Brian Williams 6-1 190 SR Davenport Detroit, Mich.
CB Antonio Clark 5-9 160 SR Colorado Mesa Denver, Colo.
CB Zuril Hendrick 6-1 188 SR Edinboro Rochester, N.Y.
RS Reggie Kincade 5-11 170 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Everman, Texas
P Josh Carlson 6-0 165 FR Dixie State Gilbert, Ariz.
Third Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Amir Hall 6-4 195 SR Bowie State Bowie, Md.
QB Chance Stewart 6-6 263 SR Hillsdale Sturgis, Mich.
FB Chris Eastburn 6-0 244 SR Arkansas Tech Pearcy, Ark.
RB Marcus Jones 5-11 225 SR Gannon Painesville, Ohio
RB Cameron Mayberry 5-11 215 JR Colorado Mines Stillwater, Okla.
WR Peter Anderson 5-10 155 JR Colorado Mesa Centennial, Colo.
WR Ardell Brown 5-11 180 JR Seton Hill Rochester, N.Y.
WR Daniel Davis 5-11 170 JR Southwest Minnesota Tarpon Springs, Fla.
TE Qua Boyd 6-5 245 SR West Alabama Lafayette, Ala.
AP Jake Wenzlick 5-9 183 JR Michigan Tech Meridian, Mich.
C A.J. Roland 6-1 280 SR Midwestern State Sachese, Texas
OG LaVonne Gauthney 6-3 315 SR Valdosta State Reynoldsburg, Ohio
OG Keith Pledger 6-1 270 SR Harding Lonoke, Ark.
OT Chris Coles 6-3 280 SR LIU-Post Hackensack, N.J.
OT Quentin Stanford 6-4 312 SR West Georgia Warner Robins, Ga.
PK Jefferson Souza 6-1 185 SO Virginia Union Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Third Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Austen Eskew 6-4 248 SR Northwest Missouri Lawson, Mo.
DE Chris Garrett 6-4 230 SO Concordia-St. Paul Milwaukee, Wis.
DT John Cominsky 6-5 275 SR Charleston (W.Va.) Barberton, Ohio
DT Tyrell Thompson 6-4 290 SR Tarleton State Copperas Cove, Texas
LB Chris Hoad 6-0 228 JR Texas-Permian Basin Leander, Texas
LB Austin Stephens 5-11 210 JR Miles Munford, Ala.
LB Tyler Thomsen 6-1 225 JR Wayne State (Neb.) Fremont, Neb.
S Doyin Jibowu 6-2 200 SR Fort Hays State Denver, Colo.
S Delon Stephenson 5-11 205 JR Ferris State Sayreville, N.J.
CB Roderick Chapman 5-9 175 SR Missouri S&T Los Angeles, Calif.
CB Aaron Watson 5-11 165 SO North Greenville (S.C.) Duncan, S.C.
RS LaPerion Perry 5-6 155 FR West Georgia LaGrange, Ga.
P Jacob Hall 6-2 195 SR Azusa Pacific Greenville, Ill.
Honorable Mention
ALPHABETICAL, BY SCHOOL — Adams State: Marquese Surrell, AP; Assumption: Deonte Harris, RS; Augustana: Joey Newman, DE; Azusa Pacific: Aaron Berry, LB; Benedict: Traviontae Brown, CB; Rickym Holmes, DT; Bentley: Pete Thorbahn, CB; Bowie State: Joshua Pryor, DT; Lansana Sesay, WR; California (Pa.): Nelson Brown, RB; Carson-Newman: Phil McDowell, OG; Antonio Wimbush, RB; Catawba: Jourdan Osinskie, TE; Quinzavious Sands, OG; Central Missouri: Kyrion Parker, WR; Derrick Puni, OT; Central Oklahoma: Noah Hammons, OG; O’Shay Harris, CB; Central State (Ohio): Kevin Greenhow, WR; Terraris Saffold, AP; Central Washington: Ryan Hennessey, QB; James Moore, OT; Chowan: Donald Boone, OT; Tyrell Freeman, RB; Clarion: Brandon Vocco, DT; Clark Atlanta: Kameron Rogers, DE; Colorado Mines: Grant Stewart, C; Colorado State-Pueblo: Mitchell Carter, PK; Preston Guerra, TE; Brayton Medina, OT; Darius Williams, CB: Michael Wristen, DE; Delta State: Darren Gardenhire, CB; Dixie State: Tevia Tolutau, OG; East Central (Okla.): Jack Preston, P; East Stroudsburg: Mike Fleming, OT; Edinboro: Brandon Anderson, S; Emporia State: Braxton Marstall, QB; Findlay: Brian Benson, RB; Fairmont State: Chandler Zavala, OG; Fayetteville State: Brandon Smith, RS; Florida Tech: Romell Guerrier, WR; Fort Hays State: Dante Brown, P; Wyatt Parker, DT; Harding: Sam Blankenship, LB; Hillsdale: Wyatt Batdorff, S; Drew Callahan, C; Indiana (Pa.): Jeff Arnold, C; Indianapolis: Dan McHale, C; Al McKeller, RB; Robert Williams, CB; Kentucky State: Marcus Campbell, Jr., OT; Kutztown: Craig Reynolds, AP; Lenoir-Rhyne: Kyle Dugger, RS; Dan Louba, DT; Limestone: Joshua Simmons, S; Lock Haven: Jalen Jackson, TE; LIU-Post: Jake Carlock, LB; Kevin Petit-Frere, DE; Nazir Streeter, CB; McKendree: Josh Larazo, PK; Mercyhurst: Theo Blackston, FB; Brendan Cole, P; Midwestern State: Kevin Fisher, Jr., OG; Sir’Vell Ford, S; Vincent Johnson, RB; Jayton Rabb, QB; Minnesota Duluth: Jason Anderson, C; Trapper Ward, OT; Minnesota State: Zach Dodge, DT; Minnesota State-Moorhead: Jake Richter, WR; Mississippi College: Tiberias Lampkin, FB; Detric Hawthorn, RB; Missouri S&T: Bo Brooks, LB; Braxton Graham, WR; Tershawn Wharton, DE; Missouri Western: Tyler Basch, PK; Brandin Dandridge, RS; Morehouse: Jean Cyriaque, OG; Newberry: Jamarcus Henderson, DE; Shea Rodgers, P; New Haven: Dan Iannone, OT; Ju’an Williams, WR; New Mexico Highlands: Israel Farfan, PK; North Carolina-Pembroke: Tyler Hinton, DE; Northern Michigan: Jake Mayon, RB; Northern State: Jacob Streit, TE; Northwest Missouri: Zach Flott, OT; Anthony Lane, S; Sam Roberts, DT; Notre Dame (Ohio): Jimmy Burchett, OG; Brandon Nicholson, OT; Marvelle Ross, WR; Ohio Dominican: Cory Contini, WR; Logen Neidhardt, P; Ouachita Baptist: Keandre Evans, CB; Kris Oliver, RB; Pittsburg State: Ryan Dodd, OT; Morgan Selemaea, S; Quincy: Cody Leonard, LB; Saginaw Valley State: Chad Gailliard, WR; St. Cloud State: Sam Hartman, TE; Shepherd (W.Va.): Jaime Colon, C; D.J. Cornish, TE; Shippensburg: Luke Durkin, FB; Josh Gontarek, WR; Dakota Thompson, DE; Sioux Falls (S.D.): Hakeem Johnson, CB; Slippery Rock: Jake Chapla, PK; Steve Gaviglia, OT; Colten Raabe, OG; Brad Zaffram, LB; South Dakota Mines: Isaiah Manley, AP; Jake Sullivan, QB; Southern Arkansas: KaRonce Higgins, WR; Davondrick Lison, DE; Barrett Renner, QB; Tarleton State: Jai Edwards, S; Devin Hafford, CB; Jovan Pruitt, OG; Xavier Turner, RB; Texas A&M-Commerce: Michael Onuoha, DE; Amon Simon, OT; Texas A&M-Kingsville: Brent Hertel, FB; Tiffin: Daijohn Isbell, S; Truman: Lawrence Woods, RS; Valdosta State: Jamar Thompkins, RB; Virginia State: Frank Ball, OT; Wayne State (Mich.): Tommy Richardson, OG; West Alabama: Brandon Anderson, OT; West Chester: Jerry Elder, S; Diquan Gilbert, DE; Tyler Morrissey, LB; West Florida: Marvin Conley, S; West Georgia: Omar Cervantes, PK; Devontae Jackson, RB; Montrell Pardue, S; West Liberty: Josh Ojo, CB; West Texas A&M: John Cummings, P; Wingate: Chris Birozes, P; Davion Washington, CB; Winona State: Isaiah Hall, RS.

Despite taking its first loss of the season, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team remains in the top 10 of both national polls this week, released Tuesday (Jan. 22). The Tigers currently sit in eighth in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll while ranking seventh in the D2SIDA National Media Poll.

Fort Hays State was listed atop a pair of ballots in the media poll. The Tigers picked up 435 points in the coaches poll, just two points back of seventh, and 291 points in the media rankings, five points behind sixth place.

This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked eighth in the coaches poll, but Thursday’s contest will be their first time playing as the eighth-ranked team in the country. FHSU was ranked eighth in the final coaches poll of the 2014-15 season after reaching the regional finals.

The Tigers are now 67-23 all-time while ranked in the coaches poll, including a 48-10 mark when ranked in the top 10.

Fort Hays State is the lone MIAA representative in the media poll, while two other league schools leapt into the coaches poll this week. Pittsburg State sits in 23rd while Central Missouri is ranked 25th.

After a pair of road contests, the Tigers return to Gross Memorial Coliseum for two more conference matchups this week. FHSU opens the week against Missouri Western Thursday (Jan. 24) at 5:30 p.m.

Below are the complete national polls for January 22, 2019.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Brett Meyer has been named MIAA Track Athlete of the Week following an impressive finish in the 800-meters at the Northwest Open this past weekend the conference announced Tuesday (Jan. 22).

Meyer captured first place in the event with his qualifying time of 1:52.17. This finish placed Meyer atop a field of 65 total runners, with 24 MIAA competitors. The pace was also the fastest MIAA time clocked so far this season. Meyer now ranks No. 7 in the nation in the 800-meters.

HAYS, Kan. – The No. 12 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team dropped the non-conference dual to the Colorado School of Mines on Thursday, 16-15, inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers dipped to 1-5 in duals this season, while the Orediggers improved to 9-1 in dual matches.

In a battle of many decisions, Broderick Green dropped the opening bout to Matt Lavengood in a tight-knit 5-3 match. Green moved to 8-15 on the year. Conrad Cole put the Tigers on the board in the 133-pound bout after securing a 3-2 decision over Jake Woods with a third period escape. Cole earned his eighth win of the season.

Things looked for the better for FHSU as No. 2 ranked Brandon Ball earned three more team points for the Tigers in the 141-pound match. Ball defeated Lukas Erickson with an easy 3-0 decision. With the win, Ball moves to 14-0 on the year and is now 4-0 in his Tiger career against Erickson. Ryne Cokeley fought until the end of his battle with Noah Ottum, when Ottum used a late third period escape to break the 5-5 tie and win in a decision, 7-5. Through four matches, Fort Hays State and Colorado School of Mines were even, 6-6.

No. 4 ranked Efe Osaghae stayed at his normal weight class (157 pounds) and gave the Tigers the 9-6 edge with a narrow 8-6 decision over Skyler Lykins. Osaghae earned his 16th victory in the process. Back and forth it was, as Jonathan Ball fell victim to a tough match against Keenan Willits. Willits won by another decision in the match, this time 11-4. FHSU and Mines were once again all square, 9-9, with four bouts to go.

At 174 pounds, No. 9 ranked Marty Verhaeghe couldn’t get anything going against Robert Gambrell and was shutout in an 8-0 major decision, giving the Orediggers the four-point, 13-9 team advantage on the scoreboard. Micquille Robinson pulled the Tigers back within one point with a nail-biting 4-2 decision over Connor Ventura in the 184-pound match. With two matches remaining in the dual, the Orediggers held the 13-12 edge over the Tigers.

True freshman Tyler Boone was called upon to wrestle two weight classes higher than normal and held his own until getting taken down in the final seconds of the third period to fall to Jake Feldman in a 6-4 decision of the 197-pound bout. The Tigers needed four points to tie the match and have a possible tie-breaking scenario when A.J. Cooper stepped onto the mat for the 285-pound battle with Weston Hunt. Cooper fell down early in the first period after Hunt picked up a takedown. Before too long Cooper earned an escape to close the gap to 2-1 after one frame. In the second round, Hunt escape Cooper’s grasp initially for one-point to lead 3-1, before Cooper earned his first takedown of the bout. Going into the third frame, the wrestlers were tied 3-3. Cooper eventually came out on top as he held off a late charge by Hunt in the final minute of the match. The 7-6 decision wasn’t enough point for the Tigers to overcome and the Orediggers earned their ninth dual victory of the season.

FHSU is back in action on Saturday (Jan. 19) when they travel north to Kearney, Neb. for the Midwest Duals. First up is a date with Colorado Mesa at 9 a.m. before taking on No. 7 ranked CSU-Pueblo at 10:30 a.m.

For the second time in program history, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team is ranked first in the country according to the latest D2SIDA Media Poll, released Tuesday (Jan. 15). The Tigers also slid up one spot in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll, climbing to third in the coaches rankings.

Fort Hays State was listed atop nine ballots in the media poll and two in the coaches poll. The Tigers were one of two programs to receive first-place votes in the coaches poll alongside top-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The Tigers were previously ranked first in the country in the media poll on December 15, 2015 season after a 9-0 start to the 2015-16 season, including a victory over top-ranked Emporia State. FHSU also spent two weeks atop the coaches poll during the same span.

The Black and Gold are ranked in the top three nationally in the coaches poll for the first time since January 19, 2016. This is the 15th weekly coaches poll in which the Tigers have been ranked in the top five in the nation. FHSU has spent two weeks ranked No. 1 in the country, one week at No. 2, five weeks at No. 3, three weeks at No. 4 and four weeks at No. 5. The Tigers are 7-1 all-time while ranked third in the coaches poll.

Tony Hobson’s squad is the lone MIAA program recognized in the latest media poll, while No. 24 Lindenwood is the only other conference school ranked according to the coaches association.

The Tigers will take their undefeated record on the road again this week, with trips to Emporia, Kan. and Topeka, Kan. on the horizon. FHSU opens the road trip against Emporia State Wednesday (Jan. 16) at 5:30 p.m. inside White Auditorium.

Below are the complete national polls for January 15, 2019.

Cleary won three NAIA national titles at Martin Methodist College

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke announced on Tuesday the hiring of Gerry Cleary as the new head men’s soccer coach at FHSU. Cleary becomes the second head coach in program history, taking over a program that claimed four of the last five NCAA Central Regional titles and made its first national semifinal appearance in 2018.

“I am excited, grateful and humble to have the opportunity to take the reins of such a great program at such a great school,” said Cleary. “I look forward to building on to such a successful team.”

Cleary has three NAIA national championships to his credit as a head coach, all at Martin Methodist College. He guided the Martin Methodist women’s program to national championships in 2005 and 2007. After coaching the women’s program at Martin Methodist for eight seasons, he took over the men’s program in 2011. Following a combined 21-13-1 in his first two seasons coaching the men’s program, Cleary guided the RedHawks to the national championship in 2013 with a record of 19-2-2. Cleary became the first coach ever in collegiate soccer to win national championships with both a women’s and men’s program at the same school.

As head coach of the women’s program at Martin Methodist, Cleary compiled a record of 137-27-11 (.814) over his eight seasons guiding the program. His teams won seven consecutive conference regular season and tournament titles from 2004 to 2010. As head coach of the men’s program for three seasons (2011-2013), Cleary compiled a record of 40-15-3 (.716) and guided the team to the Southern States Athletic Conference title in 2013. Overall, in 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Cleary has a record of 177-42-14 (.790) with 15 conference championships (regular season and tournament combined).

Cleary earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors three times, twice for women’s soccer (2005 and 2007) and once for men’s soccer (2013). He also earned NSCAA NAIA National Coach of the Year twice, NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year twice, and NAIA Region XI Coach of the Year twice. He was the TransSouth Athletic Conference Coach of the Year seven times in his tenure as the women’s coach at Martin Methodist.

Following his third national championship season at Martin Methodist, Cleary moved on to serve as an assistant coach for four years at the NCAA Division I level at California State University-Bakersfield, where he assisted Richie Grant. During his time in Bakersfield, he also served as Director of Coaching for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Club Central California Aztecs.

“Coach Cleary is highly respected among his soccer coaching peers and brings a great deal of experience and expertise to our men’s soccer program,” FHSU Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke said. “We’re excited about his leadership of our student-athletes moving forward.”

Cleary played for Richie Grant at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee from 1995-98, where he was a three-time All-America and four-time All Mid-South Conference selection. Cleary twice earned Mid-South Conference Player of the Year honors and helped his university to three conference championships.

Cleary received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Lambuth University in 1999. He then earned a master’s degree in Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision from Christian Brothers University in 2002, where he also served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. Working under head coach Gareth O’Sullivan at Christian Brothers, they won eight Gulf South Conference Championships with both programs combined, finishing with a Division II Women’s National Championship in 2002.

Cleary has also coached Rocket City United in the National Premier Soccer League, located in Huntsville, Alabama. Cleary’s coaching tips have been published multiple times in World Soccer Magazine and World Class Coaching – the world’s leading resource magazine for soccer coaches.

Ten Tigers place, two claim individual titles

HAYS, Kan. – The No. 12 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team captured their fifth Kansas Cup title in six years inside Gross Memorial Coliseum on Sunday (Jan. 13). The Tigers won the event with 137 team points. No. 4 ranked Efe Osaghae claimed his second individual title of the season in the 165-pound weight class. Sophomore A.J. Cooper (285 pounds) captured his first individual title this year.

Broderick Green (125 pounds), Ryne Cokeley (149 pounds), No. 9 ranked Marty Verhaeghe (174 pounds), Micquille Robinson (184 pounds) and Jordan Davis (197 pounds) all earned runner-up finishes. Reese Cokeley (141 pounds) and Jonathan Ball (157 pounds) claim third-place finishes and Conrad Cole (133 pounds) finishes in fourth-place.

Osaghae went 2-0 on the day with a 9-3 decision over Noah Perkins of Newman in the semifinals and a narrow 3-2 decision over Nick Lucas of Pratt CC to claim the individual title. Cooper topped off a 2-0 day with his first title this season and going 2-0 in the tournament. Cooper earned a fall over Lexington Plummer of Kansas Wesleyan in the semifinals before using a 9-2 major decision over Thor Balavage of Newman in the title match.

Green defeated Brayan Balderrama (Pratt CC) by fall in the first round before pinning Logan McDowell of Bethany in the semifinals. Green dropped the title match to Emmanuel Brown (Baker) by a 7-3 decision. Ryne Cokeley went 1-1 in the tournament with a fall over Cody Wuthnow (Cloud County CC) in the semifinals before falling to Kameron Frame (Newman) by a 9-6 decision in the title match.

Verhaeghe finished 1-1 on the day with a pin in the semifinals over Kobryn Mann (Cloud County CC) and dropping the title match to Lucas Lovvorn (Baker) by a 10-2 major decision. Robinson finished 2-1 in the tournament with a 9-7 sudden victory over Joshua Wilson (Bethany) in the first round. Robinson then defeated Matthew Cruickshank (Cloud County CC) with a 15-3 major decision, before falling to Jacob Smith (Baker) in a 3-2 decision in the title bout.

Davis picked up two wins on his way to the runner-up finish after picking up a major decision (10-2) over Sean Jackson (Colby CC) and a 6-5 decision over Chris Henderson (Pratt CC) in the semifinals. Davis dropped the title bout to David Dow (Baker) by major decision (17-3). Reese Cokeley saw his first action on the mat as a Tiger with a solid third-place finish. Cokeley went 1-1 on the day, including a 10-1 major decision over Caysen Smith (Bethany) in the consolation championship.

Jonathan Ball also earned a third-place finish after earning a pin in the first round over Luke Culbertson (Pratt CC) and earning another fall over Isaiah Frederick (Kansas Wesleyan) in the consolation semifinals. Ball defeated Victor Monarrez (Bethany) with a 10-0 major decision. Conrad Cole picked up two wins on the day with a fall over Brady Lowell (Cloud County CC) and a 4-2 decision over Joshua Crager (Kansas Wesleyan).

Fort Hays State won the team title with 137 team points. Baker finished second with 125 points, while Newman (121 points) earned a third place finish.

The Tigers are back in action Thursday (Jan. 17) when they host Colorado School of Mines for a non-conference dual. The Tigers and Orediggers will battle it out inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, beginning at 7 p.m.

After knocking off a ranked team on the road last week, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team continued its climb in Tuesday’s release of the national rankings (Jan. 8). The Tigers are now ranked fourth in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll while they sit second in the D2SIDA Media Poll. Fort Hays State was listed atop four total ballots, picking up three first-place votes in the media rankings while garnering one first-place selection in the coaches poll.

The Tigers are one of seven remaining undefeated programs in Division II, all of which are ranked in the top 12 in the coaches poll. FHSU is the only MIAA program represented in the media poll and is one of two conference schools listed in the latest coaches poll alongside No. 19 Central Missouri.

This is the 14th weekly coaches poll in which the Tigers have been ranked in the top five in the nation. FHSU has spent two weeks ranked No. 1 in the country, one week at No. 2, four weeks at No. 3, three weeks at No. 4 and four weeks at No. 5. The Tigers were last ranked fourth in the coaches poll over two consecutive weeks late in the 2014-15 season (2/24/15-3/3/15).

The Tigers are 4-1 while ranked No. 4 in the nation and 64-22 all-time while ranked, including a 60-21 mark under head coach Tony Hobson.

Below are the complete national polls for January 8, 2019.