FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State opened the dual season with an impressive 29-16 win over No. 9 Central Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 5. Garrett Jones, Noah Killip, Josh Rodriguez, Jon Inman, Cash Drylie and Trey Page all picked up victories on the evening, helping the Tigers start 1-0 in conference duals as well.  As a team, the Tigers had three pins and two major decisions, giving the team much needed bonus points in the win.

In the first match of the night, Adam Ludwin (125) hung tough with UCO’s Zac D’Amico for much of the match, nearly pulling off a reversal in the final minute of action, but couldn’t circle behind to complete the move, dropping a 2-1 decision.

At 133 pounds, Jones trailed 5-1 in the third period against Dustin Reed (UCO) and looked to be on the verge of another decision loss for the Tigers. Around the 5:30 mark of the match, however, Jones tossed Reed to his back before picking up a come-from-behind victory with a pin in 6:10.  The fall gave FHSU a 6-3 lead in the team score.

Killip furthered that team score advantage (10-3) in his 149 pound bout, running over UCO’s Austin Quinton with a 10-0 major decision.  Killip nearly picked up the Tigers’ second straight pin in the second period, but was only awarded near fall points on his way to the victory.

FHSU found itself trailing soon after Killip’s match, however, as UCO strung together three straight wins at 149, 157 and 165 pounds.

At 149, eighth-ranked Spencer Rutherford (UCO) picked up an 11-3 major decision over FHSU’s Ky Biddle before Bradley Little dropped a narrow 3-2 decision against Jeromy Davenport.  Down 3-1 in the third, Little had an escape and pushed hard through the final two minutes but couldn’t come up with a takedown as the Bronchos tied the match, 10-all.

UCO took back the lead (16-10) at 165 pounds, as No. 1 Chris Watson won by fall over FHSU’s Bryce Lewis in 2:44.  Lewis started the match with an early takedown on Watson, but the top-ranked wrestler found his way into the top position with a reversal before pinning Lewis.

From there, it was all Fort Hays State to close the match, beginning with two wrestlers ranked fifth nationally in their respective weight classes.  At 174 pounds, Rodriguez’s 14-4 major decision came with several near fall points against Colton Gallo (UCO) before the Inman (184 pounds) took control early before sticking Dylan Harmon (UCO) in 4:11 – giving the Tigers back a 20-16 lead.

The Tigers sealed the win behind Drylie’s narrow 5-4 victory over Michael Conner (UCO) at 197 pounds.  Down 3-2 in the third period (though he had around two minutes of riding time built up), Drylie picked up a reversal as the riding clock wound down to a minute before holding on for the decision.  The Tigers led, 23-16, at that point.

Page, ranked eighth nationally, made quick work of his opponent in the final match of the evening, taking down John Finn (UCO) in the first period before turning and sticking the 285-pounder in 2:19.

The win was just FHSU’s fourth all-time against the Bronchos, though the Tigers had UCO on the ropes last year – dropping the match (16-22) because of an open weight class.

FHSU returns to the mats this Sunday (Dec. 7) for the Bob Smith Open at Gross Memorial Coliseum.  Action begins at 9 a.m.

Complete results from Friday’s contest are below…

125 – Zac D’Amico (UCO) wins by decision (2-1) over Adam Ludwin (FHSU)
133 – Garrett Jones (FHSU) wins by fall (6:10) over Dustin Reed (UCO)
141 – Noah Killip (FHSU) wins by major decision (10-0) over Austin Quinton (UCO)
149 – No. 8 Spencer Rutherford wins by major decision (11-3) over Ky Biddle (FHSU)
157 – Jeromy Davenport (UCO) wins by decision (3-2) over Bradley Little (FHSU)
165 – No. 1 Chris Watson (UCO) wins by fall (2:44) over Bryce Lewis (FHSU)
174 – No. 5 Josh Rodriguez (FHSU) wins by major decision (14-4) over Colton Gallo (UCO)
184 – No. 5 Jon Inman (FHSU) wins by fall (4:11) over Dylan Harmon (UCO)
197 – Cash Drylie wins by decision (5-4) over Michael Conner (UCO)
285 – No. 8 Trey Page (FHSU) wins by fall (2:19) over John Finn (UCO)

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Central Missouri outscored Fort Hays State 13-4 over the final 3:31 Thursday night as they erase a seven-point second half deficit and defeat the Tigers 80-71 in front of 2,473 at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers led by five at the half and pushed the lead to seven on several occasions early in the second half , but an 11-2 run by the Mules gave them a 50-48 lead with 11:48 to play.

The Tigers rallied from a five-point deficit with a 7-2 run and tied the game 67-67 on a Royce Williams 3-pointer, but the Mules score the next four and would never trail again.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

The sixth-ranked Mules shoot 65-percent for the game including 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Rakeem Dickerson led UCM with a game-high 20 points.

The Tigers shoot 47-percent including 12-of-22 from beyond the arc but were out-rebounded by seven. Craig Nicholson led FHSU with 19 points. Dom Samac and Royce Williams both add 12.

Game Highlights

The loss snaps the Tigers four-game win streak and drops them to 4-3. The Mules have won 14 straight dating back to last year’s national championship run and improve to 8-0.

FHSU hosts Missouri Western at 4pm Saturday afternoon.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Nicola Kacperska scored seven of her 13 points in overtime helping the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers to a 76-75 win over No. 21 Central Missouri Thursday at Gross Coliseum. Kacperska’s 3-pointer gave FHSU a 66-63 lead in the overtime, a lead they would never give up. Chelsea Mason hit six 3-pointers and led the Lady Tigers with 20 points. Kate Lehman added 19 along with 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

 

FHSU jumped out to an early four–point lead but the Jennies answered and went up five several times in the first half before settling for a 30-30 tie at the half. UCM pushed the lead back to five in the second half before the Tigers tied the game on a Kate Lehman free throw late in the second. FHSU had a chance to win it in regulation but Beth Bohuslavsky missed two free threws inside 10 seconds. Justina Prarie Chief missed a 3-pointer at the end of regulation that would have won it for the Jennies

Game Highlights

 

The Tigers built a five-point lead in the overtime then had to hold on down the stretch as they win their fifth straight to improve to 6-1. The Jennies see their five-game win streak snapped and are now 5-2.

 

FHSU Athletics

Tiger fans are encouraged to ‘Blackout the Coliseum’ on Thursday night (Dec. 4) as Fort Hays State hosts Central Missouri in the MIAA openers for both women’s and men’s basketball. Both Central Missouri teams are nationally ranked, the women at No. 21 and the men at No. 6, while your Tiger women and men are receiving votes in both top 25 polls. Central Missouri is the defending national champion in men’s basketball.

Prior to the games starting at 5 pm, 250 black FHSU Game Day shirts will be handed out to fans, who are encouraged to wear black as part of the night’s ‘Blackout the Coliseum’ promotion. Even if you do not get here early enough to get a shirt, please wear black as you help cheer on your Tigers.

Both the FHSU women and men own three-game win streaks over Central Missouri in Hays, with the 2009-10 season the last time both lost at home to UCM. The FHSU women won the last meeting in Hays in convincing fashion, 95-50 in 2012-13, when FHSU was ranked No. 17 and UCM was ranked No. 23. The FHSU men won the last meeting in Hays 77-72 in 2012-13. UCM was ranked in 2011-12 when the teams met in Hays, as FHSU won by one point on a tip-in with just a second remaining in the game.

Be at the coliseum on Thursday night as the FHSU and UCM renew a strong basketball rivalry.