FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State University men’s cross country team has been picked fifth in the 2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league office Thursday morning (Aug. 25).

The Tigers picked up 51 points in the voting process, just three points behind third-place Northwest Missouri. Nebraska-Kearney tops the poll with 74 points after being listed atop six ballots. Pittsburg State was given three top selections, finishing just behind the Lopers with 71 points. After the two top squads, the next five teams are separated by just six points. Southwest Baptist picked up one more point than FHSU to finish fourth, while Missouri Southern and Central Missouri sit in a tie for sixth with 48 total points. Lindenwood has been picked to finish eighth with Emporia State and Washburn rounding out the top-10.

Head coach Jason McCullough returns three runners that finished in the top-five at the Central Region Championships last season, including seniors Troy Wineinger and Jacob Thomas and sophomore Israel Barco. Notable additions to the squad include junior transfer Oscar Carmona, a member of the 2015 NJCAA National Champion Iowa Central Tritons, and freshman Kaleb Crum, who broke Tiger great Cory Keehn’s freshman record at the team’s annual time trial.

The Tigers will to host the 30th Annual FHSU Alumni Run on Saturday, August 27 at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kan. The race will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Intercollegiate competition will begin on Friday, September 2 when FHSU sends runners to the Border Classic in Johnson City, Kan. and the Trojan Invitational in Colby, Kan. The gun will go off in both races at 6 p.m.

Fort Hays State will host a pair of meets in 2016 at the Sand Plum Nature Trail, beginning with the Sand Plum Invite on Thursday, September 15 at 6 p.m. The regular season comes to a close with the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday, October 8 beginning at 8:40 a.m. More information on the home meets is available HERE.

2016 MIAA Preseason Men’s Coaches Poll
1. Nebraska-Kearney (6)  –  74
2. Pittsburg State (3)  –  71
3. Northwest Missouri  –  54
4. Southwest Baptist  –  52
5. Fort Hays State  –  51
T6. Missouri Southern  –  48
T6. Central Missouri  –  48
8. Lindenwood  –  21
9. Emporia State  –  18
10. Washburn  –  13

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s cross country team has been ranked in the 2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Aug. 25) by the conference office.

The Tigers were listed atop four ballots, tied for the most first-place votes, earning 108 total points. Missouri Southern was picked to finish first in the league, also earning four first-place votes en route to 111 total points. Defending conference champion Southwest Baptist was picked to finish third, receiving three first-place selections, with Pittsburg State rounding out the top four and garnering the final top vote. The top four teams in the poll are separated by just 10 points.

After finishing fourth at the MIAA Championships in 2014, the Tigers earned a spot in the top-three in 2015, the highest finish in program history. Head coach Jason McCullough thinks this year’s team has a chance to climb in the standings once again, saying one of the team’s goals this season is to be one of the top two teams in the league.

This year’s team certainly has the credentials to attain that goal with four All-MIAA performers returning from a year ago. Included in that pack are junior Shea Bonine, senior Micki Krzesinski, junior Chelsea Jackson and sophomore Sophie Dalmasso, who all finished in the top-five for FHSU in each meet last season. Bonine added All-Region honors a year ago, finishing 25th at the Central Region Championships. Both Krzesinski and Jackson took home All-Conference honors for the second time after finishing in the top-20 at the league meet in 2014.

Also returning this season will be junior Amanda Morgan, sophomore Yessenia Gonzales and junior Keanu Bradley, who all finished in the top-seven for the Tigers at multiple meets last year.

The Tigers are set to host the 30th Annual FHSU Alumni Run on Saturday, August 27 at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kan. The race will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Intercollegiate competition will begin a week later when FHSU sends runners to the Border Classic in Johnson City, Kan. and the Trojan Invitational in Colby, Kan. on Friday, September 2. The gun will go off in both races at 6 p.m.

Fort Hays State will host a pair of meets in 2016 at the Sand Plum Nature Trail, beginning with the Sand Plum Invite on Thursday, September 15 at 6 p.m. The regular season comes to a close with the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday, October 8 beginning at 8:40 a.m. More information on the home meets is available HERE.

2016 MIAA Preseason Women’s Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern (4)  –  111
2. Fort Hays State (4)  –  108
3. Southwest Baptist (3)  –  104
4. Pittsburg State (1)  –  101
5. Nebraska-Kearney  –  89
6. Northwest Missouri  –  62
7. Central Oklahoma  –  59
8. Central Missouri  –  55
9. Lindenwood  –  46
10. Emporia State  –  32
11. Washburn  –  17
12. Lincoln  –  16

HAYS – The Fort Hays State football team closed out their preseason camp with their second and final controlled scrimmage Wednesday afternoon at Lewis Field. The defense shined, holding the No. 1 offense scoreless on their first six possessions which included in interception returned for a touchdown junior college transfer Kamon Clayton.

Shaquille Cooper led the offense with an 82-yard touchdown run and Jacob Mezera hit Andrew Jay of La Crosse on a 39-yard scoring strike.

Backup quarterback Brad Schencker connected with redshirt freshman Charles Tigner on an 81-yard TD pass.

Head coach Chris Brown

TE J.J. Lewis

DE Sie Doe, Jr.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – Former Fort Hays State basketball player Dom Samac has signed a contract to play professional basketball in his hometown of Zagreb, Croatia. He will join KK Cibona Zagreb, a professional club that competes in the Croatian League and Adriatic League.

Samac earned All-MIAA Third Team honors in both of his seasons at Fort Hays State (2014-15 and 2015-16). Over two years he averaged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the 3-point line. Last year as a senior, he averaged 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He finished with 721 points and 363 rebounds overall with the Tigers. Samac played at Denver University before transferring to FHSU.

One of Samac’s teammates on Cibona Zagreb also played collegiately in the state of Kansas. Elijah Johnson, a former standout player at the University of Kansas, is also on the squad.

Eurobasket News Release

Samac is the second player from the 2015-16 FHSU squad to sign a professional contract in Europe. Craig Nicholson signed with CS Cuza Sport Braila, a professional club in the city of Braila, Romania, back in July.

Samac joins a long list of players from Fort Hays State coached by Mark Johnson to go on and play professionally. Below is a list of former players under Johnson to play professionally. Years listed are years played at FHSU.

Dom Samac (2014-16)
Craig Nicholson (2014-16)
Tomislav Gabric (2012-15)
Ben Congiusta (2009-13)
KC Rodenburg (2011-12)
Moses Dayee (2010-12)
Karron McKenzie (2010-12)
Dominique Jones (2009-11)
Dijon Smith (2009-11)
Ken Bowman (2009-11)
Terry Jeffries (2007-09)
Rob Igbawua (2007-09)
Tyrone Shephard (2004-06)
Jonathan Raney (2001-03)
Melroy McKelvey (2001-03)