FHSU Athletics

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Fort Hays State had five players named to the Don Hansen All-America Team for the 2015 season on Tuesday (Feb. 16). The five selections marks a new school record in the program’s NCAA Division II era for number of All-America selections in one season. Brock Long earned third-team honors at linebacker, while quarterback Treveon Albert, running back Shaquille Cooper, offensive lineman Matt Erbert and safey Daniel Lindsey were all named honorable mention.

Fort Hays State went 8-4 in 2015, tying the school record for wins in a season, and earned a bid to the Mineral Water Bowl, the program’s first postseason game since 1996.

Long is the only one of the group with multiple All-America selections in 2015, including first-team honors from two organizations. Long had one of the greatest all-around seasons at linebacker for FHSU. He set a new school record for tackles in a season with 171. It passed the former mark of 164 set by Alex Whitehill in 2011. Aside from the tackles, he finished with 21.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

Albert was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the nation with both his arm and legs. He finished the season with 1,752 passing yards and 1,228 rushing yards. He finished with the most rushing yards by a quarterback for a single season in FHSU history and fifth most rushing yards in a season overall. He finished his career with 8,111 yards of total offense, setting a new school record. He also set the FHSU career passing touchdowns mark at 55. With 2,399 career rushing yards, he finished seventh on the all-time chart at FHSU. He finished third on the career passing chart with 5,712 yards.

Joining Albert in one of the best rushing combinations nationally was sophomore Shaquille Cooper. He finished the year with 1,441 rushing yards, the third-most in a single season at FHSU. Cooper averaged 120.1 rushing yards per game and he also hauled in a team-high 37 passes for 309 receiving yards. He finished the year with 1,753 all-purpose yards, averaging 146.1 per game.

Erbert adds the All-America honor to a pair of all-region selections this year. Erbert anchored the offensive line at left tackle, helping the Tigers average 251.1 rushing yards per game.

Lindsey finished the 2015 season with 85 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and four blocked kicks. He also was a huge asset on kick returns, setting a new single-season record for kick return touchdowns at FHSU with two. He averaged 27.9 yards per kick return with a total of 390 yards.

The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team dropped five spots to No. 10 in the latest USA Today/WBCA Division II rankings. It matches their lowest ranking of the season when they were ranked 10th in the preseason poll.

The Tigers are one of four teams from the MIAA in this week’s poll. Missouri Western moves up a spot to No. 7, Pittsburg State jumps four to 19th and Emporia State falls one spot to No. 22.

Two other teams from the NCAA II Central Region are ranked. Winona State (Minn.) of the NSIC is 8th and Arkansas Tech of the GAC sits at 14th.

Complete poll below…

Rank	Institution – First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
T1	Lubbock Christian University (Texas) – 12	2	22-0	580
T1	University of Alaska – Anchorage – 10	1	28-1	580
3	Limestone College (S.C.) – 2	3	23-0	551
4	California Baptist University	4	23-1	519
5	Ashland University (Ohio)	6	24-1	477
6	Lewis University (Ill.)	7	24-1	476
7	Missouri Western State	8	23-2	420
8	Winona State University (Minn.)	9	25-2	416
9	West Texas A&M University	10	22-2	396
10	Fort Hays State University (Kan.)	5	21-3	384
11	Union University (Tenn.)	11	23-2	362
12	Drury University (Mo.)	12	20-3	330
13	Virginia Union University	13	20-2	292
14	Arkansas Tech University	15	19-2	275
15	Benedict College (S.C.)	16	22-2	248
16	West Liberty University (W.Va.)	18	21-3	200
17	Nova Southeastern University (Fla.)	14	20-4	193
18	Azusa Pacific University (Calif.)	19	21-3	190
19	Pittsburg State University (Kan.)	23	21-4	158
20	University of California – San Diego	22	20-3	123
21	Anderson University (S.C.)	17	17-4	121
22	Emporia State University (Kan.)	21	19-5	109
23	Quincy University (Ill.)	20	20-4	94
24	Columbus State University (Ga.)	NR	19-4	58
25	Bellarmine University (Ky.)	NR	18-3	42

Dropped Out: University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.); Bentley University (Mass).

Others receiving votes: University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 40; Colorado State University – Pueblo 23; Kentucky State University 23; Clayton State University (Ga.) 20; Bentley University (Mass.) 19; California State University – Dominguez Hills 17; California State University – East Bay 11; Ursuline College (Ohio) 9; Lander University (S.C.) 7; Augusta University (Ga.) 6; Northern State University (S.D.) 5; Wheeling Jesuit University (W.Va.) 5.

FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State’s Joe Mapes was named MIAA/AstroTurf Co-Hitter of the Week on Tuesday (Feb. 16) for his efforts in a three-game series with Regis University this past weekend in Hays. Mapes shares the honor this week with Joe Paulino of Missouri Southern. Payton Walker of Missouri Southern was named the Pitcher of the Week.

Mapes batted .538 over a three-game series against Regis University at home. As the designated hitter, he went 7-of-13 at the plate with two home runs and a double to produce a slugging percentage of 1.077. He scored four runs and drove in four. Three of his four RBI came in FHSUs only win in the series, a 9-4 result in the series finale.

Paulino had quite the opening weekend for the Lions in helping Missouri Southern to a four-game sweep of Bemidji State. In the second game of a DH against the Beavers, Paulino went 3-5 with three RBIs, a run and two doubles. In the game on Saturday, Paulino went 3-4 with a run, a double and two RBI’s. In the series finale on Sunday, Paulino went 1-3 with a home run and two RBIs. For the week, Paulino hit .583, slugged 1.083, had seven hits, three doubles a home run and three runs scored.

Walker pitched a stellar game in the opener for the Lions against Bemidji State this weekend. He teamed up and earned a shutout, throwing eight innings in the process. He struck out five and walked just one, allowing just three hits in the game. He allowed just one batter past first base and retired 14 in a row at one point, including 18 of the final 20 he faced (one reached by way of error). The 5-11 senior left handed pitcher is a native of Carl Junction, Mo. where he competed at Carl Junction High School.

FHSU Athletics

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Fort Hays State wrestling took fourth place at the MIAA Championships in St. Charles, Mo., on Sunday (Feb. 14). The Tigers scored 39.0 points as a team.

At 184 pounds Jon Inman won his second straight MIAA title going 3-0 on the day. Inman’s path to repeat started with back-to-back pins. The first pin came against Lindenwood’s Kyle Summers at 4:22 and the second was a first period fall at 2:04 over Central Missouri’s Tyler Nelson. In the championship bout Inman rolled to a 9-5 decision over Nebraska-Kearney’s Zach Stodden.

Bradley Little was the only other Tiger to see the podium as he claimed second place at 149 pounds. Little cruised through his first two matches of the day on his way to the championship bout. First he scored a technical fall over Newman’s Forlanda Parker, 17-1, then followed up with a pin against Central Oklahoma’s Spencer Rutherford late in the third period at the 6:12 mark. Little was on the brink of his first MIAA Championship but was unable win a nail-biter, dropping the final match to Nebraska-Kearney’s Destin McCauley, 5-4.

Adam Ludwin (125), William Homalon (149), and Joey Dozier (157) were all fourth place finishers for the Tigers and they each went 1-2 on the day.

Dozier’s pin at 2:00 over Zane Heiter from Central Missouri also set a new career high for wins in a season. The senior is now 15-13 for the season.

Nebraska-Kearney won the team title for the fourth straight year scoring 110.5 points. Central Oklahoma was second at 71 points and Lindenwood placed third at 57.5.

The Tigers now have almost two weeks off before they head to Gunnison, Colo., for the NCAA Super Regional which will take place on Saturday, February 27.

MIAA Conference Tournament Results for Fort Hays State
125 – Lawson Ludwin’s place is 4th and has scored 3.50 team points.
Quarterfinal – Lawson Ludwin (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Dustin Reed (Newman) won by decision over Lawson Ludwin (Fort Hays State) (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Semi – Lawson Ludwin (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Derek Heil (Lindenwood (Mo.)) (Maj 11-1)
3rd Place Match – Connor Bolling (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Lawson Ludwin (Fort Hays State) (Dec 9-3)

133 – Anthony Calderon’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Aaron Hane (Central Oklahoma) won by fall over Anthony Calderon (Fort Hays State) (Fall 3:30)
Cons. Round 1 – Anthony Calderon (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – Blake Daupnin (Central Oklahoma) won by decision over Anthony Calderon (Fort Hays State) (Dec 3-2)

141 – Tyler Dryden’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Keith Surber (Nebraska-Kearney) won by major decision over Tyler Dryden (Fort Hays State) (Maj 13-1)
Cons. Round 1 -Tyler Dryden (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – Joshua Ailey (Central Oklahoma) won by fall over Tyler Dryden (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:00)

141 – Jacob Kay’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Joshua Ailey (Central Oklahoma) won by fall over Jacob Kay (Fort Hays State) (Fall 3:54)
Cons. Round 1 – Garrett Whitson (Newman) won by injury default over Jacob Kay (Fort Hays State) (Inj. 3:00)

149 – William Homalon’s place is 4th and has scored 5.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Destin McCauley (Nebraska-Kearney) won by fall over William Homalon (Fort Hays State) (Fall 0:24)
Cons. Round 1 – William Homalon (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – William Homalon (Fort Hays State) won by medical forfeit over Spencer Rutherford (Central Oklahoma) (MFF)
3rd Place Match – Colton Orlando (Lindenwood (Mo.)) won by decision over William Homalon (Fort Hays State) (Dec 16-9)

149 – Bradley Little’s place is 2nd and has scored 12.50 team points.
Quarterfinal – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Forlanda Parker (Newman) (TF 17-1)
Semifinal – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Spencer Rutherford (Central Oklahoma) (Fall 6:12)
1st Place Match – Destin McCauley (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) (Dec 5-4)

157 – Joey Dozier’s place is 4th and has scored 4.50 team points.
Quarterfinal – Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Jeromy Davenport (Central Oklahoma) won by decision over Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Semi – Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Zane Heiter (Central Missouri) (Fall 2:00)
3rd Place Match – Chase White (Nebraska-Kearney) won by major decision over Joey Dozier (Fort Hays State) (Maj 13-5)

165 – Kregg Clarke’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Devin Aguirre (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Kregg Clarke (Fort Hays State) (Dec 9-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Allan Person (Central Missouri) won by decision over Kregg Clarke (Fort Hays State) (Dec 2-1)

174 – Dylan Wiesner’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Calvin Ochs (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) (Dec 10-3)
Cons. Round 1 – Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – Batchuluun Zulkhuu (Lindenwood (Mo.)) won by decision over Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) (Dec 8-7)

184 – Jon Inman’s place is 1st and has scored 16.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Kyle Summers (Lindenwood (Mo.)) (Fall 4:22)
Semifinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Tyler Nelson (Central Missouri) (Fall 2:04)
1st Place Match – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Zach Stodden (Nebraska-Kearney) (Dec 9-5)

184 – Micquille Robinson’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Brock Warren (Central Oklahoma) won by decision over Micquille Robinson (Fort Hays State) (Dec 9-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Laurel Landals (Lindenwood (Mo.)) won by decision over Micquille Robinson (Fort Hays State) (Dec 8-5)

197 – Cash Drylie’s place is unknown and has scored 2.50 team points.
Quarterfinal – Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Robert Schneider (Central Missouri) (TF 18-0)
Semifinal – Dillon Archer (Lindenwood (Mo.)) won by injury default over Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) (Inj. 3:30)
Cons. Semi – Grant Sparks (Central Missouri) won by medical forfeit over Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) (MFF)

285 – Dakota Gulley’s place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Luke Petersen (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Dakota Gulley (Fort Hays State) (Dec 8-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Borgmeyer (Lindenwood (Mo.)) won by fall over Dakota Gulley (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:30)

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State split a pair of games on Sunday (Feb. 14) against Regis University. Regis won the first game 11-6 before FHSU was able to salvage the final game of the three-game weekend series. FHSU moved to 3-3 overall on the season, while Regis starts its year at 2-1.

Regis 11, Fort Hays State 6
Regis put four runs on the board in a hurry in the first game, opening with two singles, a hit batter, and then a grand slam. FHSU starter Kyhle Vogt shook off the rough start and held Regis scoreless over the next two innings. He ran into more trouble in the mid-innings as Regis scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth, and was responsible for the first run scored in the sixth.

FHSU could not put up much resistance against Regis starter Chris Quackenbush in the early going. The Tigers took advantage of a Regis error in the fourth to plate two runs, but Quackenbush went 6.0 strong innings not allowing an earned run. He handed the ball over to the bullpen before the start of the seventh with a 10-2 lead.

The Tigers touched up Regis’ first reliever Jake Griffith for four runs in just two-thirds of an inning, bringing the margin to 10-6, but that was the last of the run scoring for FHSU. Relievers Casey Kennedy and Nick DiPaola combined to throw the final 2.1 innings with just three hits allowed. Regis added an insurance run in the ninth.

Austin Unrein had three RBI in the game with his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the four-run seventh for FHSU. Clayton Basgall had a two-RBI single in the fourth, and Caleb Cherryholmes tallied an RBI single in the seventh.

Fort Hays State 9, Regis 4
Fort Hays State took an early advantage in the second game when Connor Ross drove home a run in the first inning. It was the start of a four-RBI game for Ross as he recorded three hits in the contest.

Regis came back with three runs in the third, all uneared, but the Tigers answered with two in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run home run by Joe Mapes, who also had three hits in the game.

Both teams scored runs in the fifth before FHSU broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh on a Ross RBI single. The floodgates came open in the eighth as Austin Unrein started a four-run rally with an RBI single. Mapes followed with an RBI double and Ross drove home two with another single.

Justin Hersch allowed only one earned run over 4.2 innings of work in his start. He gave up seven hits and two walks, but struck out four. Jackson Rolfs entered and worked 2.1 innings to move to 2-0 on the season. He allowed only two hits and struck out two. With FHSU leading 5-4, Giles Fox saved the win for Rolfs entering in the eighth to keep a runner stranded on the base paths. Fox went 2.0 innings and struck out four to earn his first save of the season.

Alex Weiss, like Ross and Mapes, recorded three hits in the game and had one RBI in the fifth to get the game tied at 4-4.

Fort Hays State has four games scheduled on the road next week. The Tigers head to Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Wednesday before traveling to Golden, Colo., to take on Colorado Mines over the weekend.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

JOPLIN, Mo. – Craig Nicholson nailed a 3-pointer with 1:35 to play to give Fort Hays State the lead for good as they score the final five points in an 85-82 win over Missouri Southern Saturday at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Tigers (16-8, 10-8 MIAA) led by 12 in the first half and were up nine with 5:28 to play before the Lions (14-11, 11-8 MIAA) put together a 10-2 run to take the lead 1:56 to play.

The win snapped the Tigers six-game road losing streak and was the 300th for head coach Mark Johnson.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

Rob Davis led five Tigers in double-figures with 24 points. Nicholson added 15, Jake Stoppel and Hadley Gillum 12 and Kenny Enoch 11.

Taevaunn Prince, who leads the country in scoring, led the Lions with 21 points, six below his season average.

The Tigers shot 53-percent from the floor including 8-of-19 from beyond the arc. They hit 23-of-25 free throws and outrebounded the Lions by nine.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State baseball dropped its home opener to Regis University on Saturday (Feb. 13) by the score of 9-2. With the loss the Tigers now sit even on the season with a 2-2 record. Regis claimed its first game of the season, going to 1-0.

Tiger starting pitcher DJ Carr suffered his first loss of the season going just four innings. He gave up eight runs (six earned) on nine hits with just one strikeout and one walk. Will Amen, Clayton Basgall and Connor Boyer did well in relief allowing just three hits and one run over the final four innings.

The Fort Hays State bats struggled during the chilly afternoon in Hays, collecting just two runs on five hits. A highlight of the offense was Joe Mapes’ second home run of the season, which he blasted down the right field line in the fourth inning. Ty Redington, Austin Unrein and Trevor Hughes also picked up singles, and Casey Sedbrook had a pinch hit double to lead off the ninth.

Brad Thoutt picked up the win for the Rangers going six strong innings, giving up just two runs on three hits while walking five and striking out three. Will Waterman recorded the three-inning save by allowing just two hits and striking out four.

This was the first of three games being played over two days. A doubleheader will be played on Sunday (Feb. 14) starting at noon to wrap up the series. Both games will be 9-inning contests.

By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

 

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State shot 64-percent in the first half and 57-percent for the game, handing Fort Hays State their sixth straight road loss, 101-92 Thursday night at John Lance Arena. The Gorillas (13-11, 8-10 MIAA) used an early 10-0 run following a Craig Nicholson 3-pointer and led for all but 46 seconds.

Fort Hays State (15-8, 9-8 MIAA) trailed by 14 at the half and by 16 early in the second half. They pulled within five on two different occasions, the last with 5:51 to play, but the Gorillas answered with a 7-1 run in handing the Tigers their sixth straight road loss.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

FHSU shot 52-percent from the floor including 9-of-18 from beyond the arc but allowed Pitt to shoot 57-percent and were outrebounded by 18.

Craig Nicholson scored a season-high 22 along with 11 assists and four steals. Jake Stoppel added 18, Rob Davis 16 and Hadley Gillum 12.

Trey Starks scored a career-high 28 to lead the Gorillas.

The game saw 53 combined fouls and 67 free throws, 36 of them by Pitt State.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

PITTSBURG, Kan. – No. 23 Pittsburg State hit their first eight shots in building an 11-point lead then held off every challenge by Fort Hays State for a 79-69 win over the fifth-ranked Tigers (20-3, 14-3 MIAA). The Gorillas (20-4, 14-4 MIAA) have now won nine straight and have won the last seven at home over the Tigers.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

The Gorillas, who never trailed in the game, went on an early 13-4 run to go up 11. The Tigers closed within two early in the second quarter and trailed by four at the half. The Gorillas used an 11-1 second half run to go up 16 early in the fourth quarter and never let the Tigers closer than six the rest of the way.

The Tigers, who shot 39-percent for the game including 4-of-18 from beyond the arc, were led by Chelsea Mason’s 15 points and nine rebounds. Beth Bohuslavsky added 14 and Jill Faxon 11.

Mikaela Burguss, who hit her first four 3-point attempts, led the Gorillas with 21 points. Hayden Herlocker and Paige Lungwitz both scored 14, Cathy Brugman 12 and Kylie Gafford 11.