KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State junior Brandon Ball was named MIAA Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday (Dec. 4) for his efforts this past week at the Bob Smith Open. This is the second honor for Ball in his Tiger career.

Ranked No. 4 nationally at 141 pounds, Brandon Ball won the FHSU-Bob Smith Open with a 4-0 record for the weekend. He defeated David Hunter (University of Saint Mary) with a 15-0 technical fall in the first round. Ball advanced to the semifinals after pinning teammate Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) in 2:34. He then pinned Baylor Smith (Newman) in 4:19 to advance to the title bout. He capped off a perfect day with a 5-0 decision over Conner Ward (Arkansas-Little Rock). Ball earned his 12th individual tournament title as a Tiger in the process. He is 8-0 to start the 2018-19 season.

Ball and the rest of the Tiger wrestlers will be back in action this weekend as they get set for their first dual of the season on Friday (Dec. 7) when they face off with Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. The dual is set to commence at 7 p.m. FHSU will then square off in the Jet Invitational on Sunday (Dec. 9) in Wichita, Kan. at 9 a.m.

dominating 106-45 victory over Missouri Valley last weekend was enough to convince voters to slide the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team up in both national polls, released Tuesday (Dec. 4). The Tigers are now ranked ninth in the WBCA Coaches Poll and sixth in the D2SIDA Media Poll, up one spot in the coaches ranking and two slots in the media rendition from a week ago.

Additionally, the Tigers are in sole possession of first place in the weekly D2SIDA Central Region Rankings after being tied for first a week ago. FHSU received four of the five first place votes, with the final top selection going to 2nd-ranked Central Missouri.

The Tigers are one of four MIAA programs listed in the top 25 this week, joined in the coaches rankings by No. 7 Central Missouri, No. 23 Central Oklahoma and No. 24 Emporia State. The media poll lists Central Missouri eighth and Central Oklahoma 15th.

Fort Hays State is one of 19 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division II, including three in the MIAA (Central Oklahoma and Lincoln). The Tigers lead the nation in turnovers per game, giving the ball up just 10.2 times per night, while ranking second in turnover margin (plus-12.17) and assist/turnover ratio (1.52).

The Tigers are 1-1 all-time as the ninth-ranked team in the WBCA poll, with both games coming on the road. FHSU will play inside Gross Memorial Coliseum for the first time ever as the ninth-ranked team in the country Tuesday, December 4 against Nebraska-Kearney and Saturday, December 8 against No. 24 Emporia State.

Below are the complete national rankings for December 4, 2018.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches released its Region Coaching Staffs of the Year for the 2018 season. Fort Hays State is the recipient for men’s soccer in the Central Region. Head coach Brett Parker adds another honor to his collection this season after earning MIAA Coach of the Year, while assistants Jordan Melia and Luca Anelli earn recognition as assistant coaches on staff at FHSU.

In 2018, Parker and staff helped Fort Hays State to its most successful season in program history finishing 17-2-2 overall. The Tigers were national semifinalists for the first time in school history after defeating Northeastern State and Ohio Valley in the national tournament to advance to the semifinals. Fort Hays State became the first men’s team in history to post a perfect record in MIAA play, going 8-0 in their conference schedule. Parker now has an overall record of 100-40-17 in eight seasons guiding the Tigers, helping the team to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in the program’s young eight-year history.

Each of the staffs receiving Regional Staff of the Year honors will be recognized at the College Coaches Awards Reception on Jan. 10, 2019 at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago.

Regional Staffs of the Year – NCAA Division II Men
Region School Head Coach
Atlantic West Chester University Michael Benn
Central Fort Hays State University Brett Parker
East Adelphi University Gary Book
Midwest Tiffin University Rudy Brownell
South Barry University Steve McCrath
South Central West Texas A&M University Butch Lauffer
Southeast Young Harris College Mark McKeever
West Cal Poly Pomona Adam Reeves

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer had two players named to the All-Tournament Team for the NCAA Division II Championships following completion of the tournament this past weekend. Raul Fierro, senior defender, and Alonso Rodriguez, freshman forward, earned the honors.

Fierro had a great senior season as a defender with the Tigers. He earned All-MIAA First Team honors this year and was a two-time All-MIAA selection overall. He was also an All-Central Region Team selection by both the United Soccer Coaches Association and D2CCA this year. Fierro helped the Tigers play to a scoreless tie with Barry University (Fla.) in the national semifinal match before an eight-round penalty kick shootout eliminated the Tigers.

Rodriguez provided a late-season surge in offense for the Tigers after the national leader in scoring, Santiago Agudelo, went down with an injury in the Central Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament. Rodriguez was the spark that kept the Tigers alive in their quest to the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh as he scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 3-1 win over Northeastern State. In the national semifinal match against Barry, he led the team in shots on goal with three.

Fort Hays State finished its 2018 season at 17-2-2 overall, setting a new program record for wins in a season. The Tigers finished the season on a 16-match unbeaten streak, bookended by a pair of ties. FHSU entered the national semifinal match on a 14-match win streak.

Below is the All-Tournament Team for the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh.

2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team

Eduardo Faria, Cal Poly Pomona
Nadeer Ghantous, Cal Poly Pomona
Raul Fierro, Fort Hays State
Alonso Rodriguez, Fort Hays State
Kyle Hoops, West Chester
Jason Pixley, West Chester
Andrew Slater, West Chester
James Kirkham, Barry
Marco Sordi, Barry
Francisco Greco, Barry (Most Outstanding Player – Offense)
Stephen Kosmala, Barry (Most Outstanding Player – Defense)

The No. 16 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team completed the Bob Smith Open with eight placers and one individual champion. Brandon Ball (141 pounds) earned his 12th individual title as a Tiger.

Redshirt-freshman Jonathan Ball (149 pounds), sophomore Efe Osaghae (157 pounds), redshirt-freshman Aryus Jones (165 pounds) and senior Nick Meck (174 pounds) all earned runner-up finishes. Freshman Cole Zebley (133-unattached) and senior Micquille Robinson (184 pounds) finished third-place. Freshman Isaiah Luellen (165-unattached) captured a fourth-place finish.

No. 4 ranked Brandon Ball finished the Bob Smith Open with a 4-0 slate. Ball defeated David Hunter (St. Mary (Kan.)) with a 15-0 technical fall in the first round. Ball advanced to the semifinals after pinning Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) in 2:34. Ball then pinned Baylor Smith (Unattached-Newman) in 4:19 to advance to the title bout. The Great Bend, Kan. native capped off a perfect day with a 5-0 decision over Conner Ward (Unattached-Arkansas Little Rock).

Jonathan Ball completed his day with a 3-1 record. Ball defeated Kendel Fleming (St. Mary (Kan.)) by fall (1:08). In the second round, Ball defeated Logan Pine (New Mexico Highlands) by forfeit. Ball earned a spot in the title bout after picking up a 6-5 decision over Dusty Hone (Oklahoma State). The Great Bend, Kan. native fell to Dylan Martinez (Air Force Prep) by a 13-5 major decision in the 149-pound weight class title bout.

No. 4 ranked Efe Osaghae defeated Allen Michel of New Mexico Highlands with a 19-1 technical fall in the first round. In the quarterfinal round, Osaghae pinned Jerrod McKinstry (Unattached-Central Oklahoma) in 5:56. Osaghae then advanced to the title bout after defeating Wyatt Sheets of Oklahoma State with a 2-1 decision. The St. Louis, Mo. native fell to Jonce Blaylock of Oklahoma State by 5-3 decision in the 157-pound weight class championship.

Aryus Jones began his day with a bye in the first round. In the second round, Jones used an 18-0 technical fall to defeat Andrew DeArmond (Barton CC). Jones advanced to the semifinal round by using an 8-3 decision over Davonn Keyes (Northeastern JC). Jones then made his way to the title bout after pinning Billy Higgins (Unattached-Northern Colorado) in 7:00. The Junction City, Kan. native fell to Robert Denney (Unattached-Oklahoma State) by 8-7 decision in the 165-pound weight class championship.

Nick Meck received a bye in the first round. In the second round, Meck picked up a 6-4 decision over Logan Bowen (St. Mary (Kan.)). Meck then advanced to the semifinal round after defeating Christian Bahl (Oklahoma State) with a 7-3 decision. Meck earned a spot in the title bout after using a 3-2 decision over Jimmy LaConte (Western State). The Topeka, Kan. native was defeated by Travis Wittlake (Unattached-Oklahoma State) by injury default in the 174-pound weight class title match.

Cole Zebley received a bye in the first round of the 133-pound weight class. In the second round, Zebley was pinned by Tyler Lawley (Newman) in 5:47. He then received another bye, this time in the consolation second round. Zebley made his way to the consolation championship after picking up an 8-7 decision over Colby Duncan (Western State) and a forfeit over Quintel Fuchs (Northeastern JC). The Omaha, Neb. native earned a third-place finish after defeating Dakota Miller (Cloud County CC) with a 4-3 decision. Zebley wrestled unattached for Fort Hays State.

Micquille Robinson defeated Hayden Wempen (Northeastern JC) with an 11-1 major decision in the first round of the 184-pound weight class. Robinson then used a 7-0 decision to defeat Garret Niel (Air Force Prep). He was then defeated by Anthony Montalvo (Unattached-Oklahoma State) after being pinned in 1:14. Robinson defeated teammate Tyler Boone (Unattached-Fort Hays State) with a 10-0 major decision in the consolation semifinals. The Wichita, Kan. native earned a third-place finish after picking up a 3-1 decision over Barret Hughes (Oklahoma State).

Isaiah Luellen received a bye in the first round of the 165-pound weight class. He defeated Matthew Whitsitt (Kansas Wesleyan) with an 18-2 technical fall. Luellen advanced to the semifinals with an 8-6 sudden victory over Parker Benekas (Unattached-Northern Colorado). Luellen was then defeated by Robert Denney (Unattached-Oklahoma State) by 5-2 decision to fall to the consolation semifinals. Luellen then defeated Davonn Keyes (Northeastern JC) with a 12-3 major decision to advance to the consolation championship. Luellen captured a fourth-place finish after falling to Billy Higgins (Unattached-Northern Colorado) by 2-1 decision in the consolation championship bout.

The Tigers are back in action as they make their way to Edmond, Okla. for their first MIAA dual of the season. FHSU and Central Oklahoma are slated to square off on Friday (Dec. 7) at 7 p.m. The Tigers then head to Wichita, Kan. on Sunday (Dec. 9) to compete in the Jet Invitational starting at 9 a.m. one week from today.