HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team took to the mat against rival Central Oklahoma on Friday (Dec. 1). The Tigers fell to the Bronchos in the first MIAA dual of the season for FHSU 22-14.

Conrad Cole made a statement in the first bout of the evening as he upset the fourth-ranked wrestler in the nation in the 125-pound weight class, Joshua Lindsey, with a 16-1 technical fall victory to put the Tigers up 5-0 early. In the second match, Blake Dauphin cut into the FHSU lead with a 6-2 decision over Dy’Juan Carney in the 133-pound class to make the match score 5-3 in favor of the Tigers.

At 141 pounds, second-ranked Brandon Ball increased the Tigers lead to 8-3 in the dual as he defeated Rio Zamora with a 7-0 decision extending his undefeated start to the season in check as he moves to 10-0 in his sophomore season.

In the 149-pound bout, true freshman Brody Lewis dropped his match to Will Steltzlen by a 9-1 major decision as the Bronchos inched a little bit closer to the Tigers as the lead fell to one, 8-7.

Efe Osaghae battled with the #7 ranked wrestler in Division II, Bryan Dutton, until giving up an escape in the fourth overtime period. Dutton won with a sudden victory to give the Bronchos their first lead of the night in the match, 10-8.

In the 165-pound bout, Marty Verhaeghe didn’t hold up against Mason Thompson for long as Thompson pinned Verhaeghe in 1:44 to give the Bronchos a bit of breathing room in the match as they doubled their lead over the Tigers 16-8.

Dylan Wiesner took to the mat in the 174-pound weight class against the eighth-ranked Miguel Barreras to fall short after picking up a few stalling points on Barreras in the third period. Wiesner dropped the bout 8-5 and UCO started to pull away from the Tigers as they now lead 19-8.

The Tigers were not quite done as Micah Felton competed against Ried Rodich in the 184-pound class. Felton held on to the end of the bout to claim a 3-0 decision over Rodich and make the match score 19-11.

Rakim Dean picked up where Felton left off and added a few more points for the Tigers in the 197-pound bout as he squeaked a 6-5 decision by Colton Looper.

In the last bout of the evening, Dakota Gulley took the mat in the 285-pound match. Gulley wasn’t able to overcome an early takedown from fourth-ranked Caleb Cotter as Gulley dropped the bout 6-3 and Central Oklahoma won the match with a final score of 22-14.

The Tigers will take tomorrow off and come back on Sunday (Dec. 3) as they host the annual Bob Smith Open here in Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Open is set to commence at 9 a.m.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Fort Hays State landed six players on the 2017 D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team, released on Friday (Dec. 1). FHSU had four first team selections, including running back Kenneth Iheme, offensive lineman Travis Talley, defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd, and safety Doyin Jibowu. Second team selections went to kicker Brandon Brown and linebacker Jose Delgado.

D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team

Fort Hays State had the most selections to the D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team with six, voted on by sports information directors throughout Super Region 3. Ferris State and Southern Arkansas each had five.

Iheme ranks second among Super Region 3 running backs in rushing yards, finishing the year with 1,380 on 230 carries. DeShawn Jones of Missouri S&T, who joins Iheme as a first-team selection, led the Super Region in rushing yards with 1,579. Iheme averaged 6.0 yards per carry for the season and 115 rushing yards per game. He produced seven 100-yard rushing games, with 189 as his season high against Pittsburg State. He was one of 34 candidates considered for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II Player of the Year), finishing the season with 1,690 all-purpose yards. With 2,569 rushing yards in his career, Iheme finished seventh on the all-time rushing list at FHSU. He is eighth on the all-time all-purpose yards list at FHSU with 3,458. Iheme adds this honor to a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection this season.

Talley anchored the Fort Hays State offensive line this year at right tackle, helping the team average 441.5 total yards of offense per game. The Tiger offense was balanced in 2017, averaging 257.3 passing yards per game and 184.2 rushing yards per game. Talley was also an All-MIAA First Team selection.

Shepherd, one of the nation’s top defensive linemen, earns a first-team nod after earning MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-MIAA First Team honors. Shepherd had a profound impact on opposing offenses this year, often double and triple teamed. He finished the year with 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Shepherd was a three-time All-MIAA selection at FHSU, finishing his career with 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He has an invite to participate in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Jibowu, a junior defensive back, earns a first team selection at safety. Playing the bandit back position (safety-linebacker hybrid), Jibowu finished the year with 62 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, nine pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles. Over three seasons, Jibowu now has 219 tackles and seven interceptions in his career at FHSU.

Brown earns a second-team nod at kicker after earning MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year honors for the 2017 season. Brown finished the year with 94 kicking points to set a new single-season record at FHSU. It broke his own mark of 88 set the previous year. He was a perfect 49-of-49 on PAT attempts and went 15-of-21 on field goal attempts for the season. Brown finished his two-year career at FHSU with 31 field goals and 89 PATs for a total of 182 kicking points, ranking fourth all-time in kick scoring at FHSU.

Delgado, a junior linebacker, earns a first-team selection at linebacker after leading the Tigers in tackles at the position. He finished with 107 tackles for the season, including 11 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Delgado now has 285 tackles in his career along with 6.5 sacks. He is already seventh on the career tackles list for the NCAA era at Fort Hays State and will enter his senior year 76 shy of the record.

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Senior midfielder Derick Gonzalez has been named to the D2CCA All-America Team for the 2017 season. Gonzalez earned a second team selection as a midfielder.

Gonzalez had a big year for the Tigers as he led the nation in assists per match (.74). He finished with 34 points on the year with ten goals and a program record 14 assists. He led the Tigers in goal scored, assists, total points, shots taken (48) and game-winning goals (three). He set a program record for consecutive matches tallying a point with 15 straight matches. FHSU made its sixth-consecutive appearance in the Super Region Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Northeastern State in the Central Region Final.

Gonzalez adds this honor to MIAA Player of the Year, unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and D2CCA & United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team honors for the year.

HAYS, Kan. – Hadley Gillum scored 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second half to lead Fort Hays State to a 76-69 comeback win over Missouri Southern in the conference opener for both at Gross Coliseum. Peyton Stephens added 11 points as the Tigers (5-2, 1-0 MIAA) win their fifth straight at home over the Lions (2-3, 0-1 MIAA).

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Hadley Gillum Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Gillum hit nine of his 13 shot attempts including 2-of-3 from 3-point range and hit 10 of 11 free throws. His two foul shots with 2:16 to play gave the Tigers the lead for good. Grant Holmes followed with a 3-pointer with 1:33 left to push the lead to 69-65 as the Tigers rally from seven down with 6:30 to play.

An early 15-0 run gave FHSU a 13-point lead but the Lions responded with a 31-10 run to go up eight late in the half.

HAYS, Kan. – Carly Heim led four Fort Hays State women in double figures with 19 points, Tatyana Legette and Taylor Rolfs both recorded double-doubles as the Tigers beat Missouri Southern 76-60 in the conference opener for both at Gross Coliseum.

Legette scored 17 points with 10 rebounds, Rolfs had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kacey Kennett added a career-high 18 points and Belle Barbieri pulled down nine rebounds.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Heim got the Tigers off to a good start, scoring 13 in the first half as FHSU built a 42-27 halftime lead. They pushed the lead to 20 late in the third quarter before the Lions put together a 12-2 run to pull within 10 early in the fourth quarter.

Legette hit her only 3-pointer of the game to push the lead back to 13 with 5:21 to play and the Tigers led by double figures the rest of the way.

FHSU shot 41-percent for the game and were 17 of 23 from the free throw line. They outrebounded the Lions by seven and had 16 offensive rebounds but only mustered seven second chance points.

FHSU outscored MSSU 34-12 in the paint and 26-6 off turnovers.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State men’s soccer had two Tigers honored with United Soccer Coach All-Central Region selections for the 2017 season. Midfielder Derick Gonzalez and defender Luis Torres each earned the distinction.

A senior midfielder, Gonzalez claims his fourth all-region honor as a Tiger after being selected as the Central Region Player of the Year and earning D2CCA All-Central Region First Team honors. Gonzalez was named the MIAA Player of the Year and earned a unanimous First Team All-MIAA selection. He led the team in total points (34), goals scored (10), assists (14), game-winning goals (3) and shots taken (48). Gonzalez ended the season leading Division II teams averaging .74 assists per match throughout the season. Gonzalez also set a team record for assists in a season and consecutive matches recording a point (15).

Torres, a junior defender, was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He ranked second on the team in minutes on the pitch this season (1,501). This is Torres’ second straight season being named to the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) All-Central Region First Team.

Nine of the 11 members of the United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region team represent the MIAA, with Lindenwood and Northeastern State each garnering three spots on the team.