The Fort Hays State wrestling team competed in their first tournament on the year at the Northern Colorado Open on Saturday (Nov. 11). The Tigers finished with eight placers. Brandon Ball and Christian Lance won their weight classes, while Dylan Wiesner finished second. Dy’Juan Carney (133 lb), Efe Osaghae (157 lb) and Rakim Dean (197 lb) all finished in fourth place. Jonathan Ball (149 lb) and Marty Verhaeghe (165 lb) each added a sixth place finish to their resumes.

Dy’Juan Carney started off the Northern Colorado Open on a good note as he pinned Fabian Guerrero of Northwest Kansas Technical College in 2:10 to advance to the quarterfinals of the 133-pound weight class. Carney dropped his second match of the day to Rico Montoya of Northern Colorado by way of a fall in 4:22. Carney defeated Otis Rollins of Colby CC in the second round of the consolation side by pinning him in 6:40. He advanced on to the consolation semifinals due to a medical forfeit. Carney then advanced to the third place match with by way of a forfeit. Carney finished in fourth place after suffering a 9-5 decision from Ronald Stevens of Wyoming.

Brandon Ball received a bye in the first round. Ball advanced to the quarterfinals after a 17-0 technical fall victory over Adrian George of New Mexico Highlands. Ball moved on to the semifinals in the 141-pound weight class after a 4-0 decision over Lyle Plummer of Air Force. He then defeated Garrett O’Shea of Air Force with a 4-2 decision to advance to the championship match. Second-ranked Brandon Ball won the Northern Colorado Open after an 11-3 tiebreaker victory over Joshua Giorgio of Air Force.

Jonathan Ball wrestled unattached in the Northern Colorado Open while receiving a bye in the first round. Ball defeated Ben Hornickle with a 4-3 decision. Ball then moved on to the semifinals of the 149-pound weight class by pinning Justin Davis (unattached-Colorado) in 1:57. Ball fell in the semifinal match to Sam Turner of Wyoming with a tiebreaker 4-3 loss. Ball ended his tournament with a tie for sixth place finish after a 7-1 decision loss to Benjamin Polkowske of Northern Colorado in the consolation semifinals.

Efe Osaghae defeated Kameron Frame with a 9-7 sudden victory to move on to the second round in the 157-pound weight class. Efe then used a 7-5 sudden victory over Reis Humphrey of New Mexico Highlands to advance to the quarterfinals. Osaghae defeated Terence Perkins of Air Force in an 11-5 decision. He dropped his semifinal match to Macoy Flanagan of Northern Colorado by way of a 3-0 decision. Osaghae defeated Humphrey once again in the consolation semis with an 8-5 decision victory. Efe Osaghae finished the Northern Colorado Open with a fourth place finish after falling to Tyler Kinn of Northern Colorado with a 6-0 decision.

Marty Verhaeghe dropped his first round match to Hayden Hastings (unattached-Wyoming) by way of a 6-1 decision. He pinned Kory Polley in the first round of the consolation round in 2:23. Verhaeghe then defeated Aaron Benton of Colorado State by technical fall (18-1). He advanced to the consolations semis after a 3-2 decision over Trace Carello of Air Force. Verhaeghe ended his tournament with a tie for sixth place finish after a 3-2 decision defeat from Jakob Discher.

Dylan Wiesner began his tournament by pinning Lance Killgore of New Mexico Highlands in 5:24. He picked up another pin in the second round after defeating Preston Lauterbach of Colorado State in 3:46. Wiesner moved on to the semifinals after a 13-11 decision victory over John Hagey from Air Force. Wiesner advanced to the championship match in the 174-pound weight class after a 9-1 major decision over Casey Randles. Wiesner dropped the title match after suffering a 16-6 major decision loss to Noah Irons of Air Force.

Rakim Dean received a bye in the first round of the 197-pound weight class. Dean was defeated via a 4-2 decision from Jacob Seeley of Northern Colorado. Dean advanced through the consolation side of the bracket via a medical forfeit, a 14-3 major decision over Antonio Navarrette of New Mexico Highlands, another medical forfeit and an 18-0 technical fall victory in the consolation semifinals. Dean walked away with a fourth place finish in the 197-pound weight class after suffering a 5-4 tiebreaker loss in the third place match.

Christian Lance began his tournament with a bye in the first round. Lance advanced to the quarterfinals after a 21-4 technical fall victory over Oscar Soto from Northeastern Junior College. He grabbed a 3-2 decision over Hunter Mullins from Wyoming to move on to the semifinals in the 285-pound weight class. Lance was not done as he picked up a 9-4 decision over Kayne Hutchison of Air Force Prep to advance to the championship match. Seventh-ranked Christian Lance defeated Cody Johnson of Colorado State-Pueblo with a 3-2 decision to walk away victorious in the 285-pound title bout.

The Tigers are back in action next weekend as they head up to Kearney, Neb. to compete in the Nebraska-Kearney Open on Saturday (Nov. 18). The tournament is set to kick off at 9 a.m.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team battled back to take the second set against Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11), but the upset bid came up short as the Bearcats came away victorious in four sets (11-25, 25-21, 16-25, 12-25). The Tigers wrap up the regular season 11-23 overall and 2-16 in the MIAA while the Bearcats move to 17-14 on the year and 11-7 in conference action.

Northwest Missouri State picked up 11 blocks in the win, limiting FHSU to its lowest attack percentage this season (.019) while countering with a .243 swing rate. Azlyn Cassaday picked up a team-high 11 kills, adding two blocks and five digs. Logan Wallick chipped in 10 kills while Callie Christensen posted four kills and four blocks (one solo).

The Bearcats took control early after winning the first set, 25-11, and jumping out in front to start the second set. The Tigers trailed by as many as six in the second frame, 18-12, before scoring six in a row to tie things up at 18. A NWMSU service error started the rally before Taylor White dropped in a service ace to cut the deficit to four. Wallick tied things up with a pair of kills off assists from Becca Page after two Bearcat errors put the Tigers within two.

Fort Hays State fell behind once again, 20-18, before the Tigers rallied to take the set thanks to a 7-1 run. Northwest Missouri made five errors down the stretch before a kill from Kylie Rollman secured the 25-21 FHSU victory. The Tigers were unable to maintain the momentum, however, with the Bearcats taking the match after winning the third set, 25-16, and the fourth set, 25-12.

The Fort Hays State Tigers shot over 60% in the first quarter on their way to a 26-6 lead after the ten minutes. The Tigers pushed their lead to 30 by have time at 45-15. Fort Hays State opened the game on a 23-2 run and then used a 11-0 run over the final minute of the first quarter and first four minutes of the second quarter to put any doubt of the outcome away.

Highlights

Fort Hays State was never threatened in the second half pulling away for an 84-42 victory. Five players scored in double figures led by the career high 16 of Taylor Rohlfs. Kacey Kennett added 15 for a second consecutive game. Carly Heim scored 13, Whitney Clampitt added 12 and Emma Stroyan 10.

Coach Tony Hobson

The Tigers are 2-0 on the season. Southwest Minnesota State fall to 0-2.

Fort Hays State used runs of 13-3 and 20-3 in the first half to take control of the season opening game at the MIAA-NSIC Challenge in Fayette, Iowa. The Tigers did allow the host Upper Iowa Peacocks to score for the first 6:30 building their lead to 8-0 and then took a 13-3 lead for their biggest lead of the first quarter.

Fort Hays State led 15-8 after the first quarter then exploded for a 20-3 run to open the second quarter. The run was started by seven straight points from Taylor Rolfs. At the end of the run the Tigers led 35-11 and took a 37-17 lead to half time.

Highlights

Fort Hays State continued to increase the lead through the second half pushing the lead to 50-24 after three quarters. The Tigers outscored the Peacocks 16-8 in the fourth quarter for the 66-32 win. The Tigers held Upper Iowa to single digit scoring in each of the four quarters.

Tatyana Legette and Kacey Kennett each scored 15 to lead the Tigers. 11 players in all scored during the game. Fort Hays State starts the season at 1-0. Upper Iowa falls to 0-1.

Coach Tony Hobson

Fort Hays State women vs. Upper Iowa
Tipoff: 8pm

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State shot 64-percent in the first half and 52-percent for the game and beat No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State 85-66 in the MIAA/NSIC Challenge at White Auditorium. The Tigers outrebounded the Mustangs by 14 and outscored them 50-22 in the paint.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

After trailing early by five, FHSU used a 6-0 run to go up five. A 7-0 run late in the first half pushed their lead to seven. They then scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and led by as many as 25.

Peyton Stephens came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points to lead the Tigers. Marcus Copper added 14, Brady Werth 12, Aaron Nicholson 11 and Hadley Gillum 10 along with nine rebounds. Kyler Kinnamon dished out eight assists and had three steals.

Fort Hays State vs. #15 Southwest Minnesota State
Tipoff: 5:30pm