FAYETTE, Iowa – The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its 2019-20 preseason rankings for NCAA Division II on Wednesday. Fort Hays State starts the year ranked No. 17, while Brandon Ball (141 pounds) and Efe Osaghae (165 pounds) rank individually.

Team Rankings
Individual Rankings

Ball will start the year ranked No. 2 at 141 pounds. He enjoyed a stint as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the nation last year from February 4 through the end of the season in March. He was champion of Super Region 4 and went on to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, finishing 2018-19 with a record of 28-2. Ball was 27-0 all the way up to the national semifinal match, where he lost to eventual national runner-up Isaiah Royal of Newberry. Royal begins this season as the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 141. Ball is a two-time All-America performer for FHSU, also claiming a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in his redshirt-freshman year of 2016-17. He has an impressive career collegiate record of 114-21 entering his senior season.

Osaghae will start the year ranked ninth at 165 pounds. Last year he was ranked at 157 pounds, moving all the way up to No. 2 in the nation by early February. However, the 2017-18 All-America performer fell short of qualifying for nationals last year by getting knocked out of the Super Region tournament in a pair of close matches. Osaghae finished last year with a 24-5 record and has an overall collegiate record of 70-23 entering his junior year.

Team rankings are based on the tournament-power index rating. As a team, FHSU generates 20 points in the preseason rankings. The 20 points ties FHSU with Adams State and Limestone for a ranking of 17th in the rankings. The tournament-power index rating is explained below.

This is a tournament-power index ranking. The poll is not based on a team’s dual strength. TPI Point Totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 1st=20pts, 2nd=16pts, 3rd=13pts, 4th=12pts, 5th=10pts, 6th=9pts, 7th=7pts, 8th=6pts, 9th=4pts, 10th=3pts, 11th=2pts, 12th=1pt.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball received votes in the NABC Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll, released on October 29, 2019. The Tigers are coming off an 18-11 season and were picked fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls.

The top four picks in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls are referenced in the preseason national poll, two inside the top 25 and two receiving votes. Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State will start the season No. 1 after a perfect 38-0 season in 2018-19, while Missouri Southern enters the season No. 10 in the nation. Washburn and Fort Hays State are also among the top 50 nationally in voting points. The Ichabods received 25 points and the Tigers received six.

This is the first appearance for FHSU in the receiving votes section of the NABC Poll since January of the 2015-16 season.

Fort Hays State opens the 2019-20 season on November 8 in Russellville, Arkansas. The Tigers will be taking on a pair of Great American Conference teams over that weekend, facing host Arkansas Tech on opening night before taking on Southwestern Oklahoma State on November 9.

Below is the NABC Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Rank	Team	2018-19 Record	Points	Prev.
1	Northwest Missouri State (16)	38-0	400	1
2	Nova Southeastern (Fla.)	29-4	375	5
3	Bellarmine (Ky.)	28-5	353	7
4	West Liberty (W.Va.)	28-5	305	9
5	UC-San Diego	26-8	294	NR
6	Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.)	20-9	278	NR
7	West Texas A&M	34-4	266	3
8	Queens (N.C.)	31-5	247	10
9	Southern Nazarene (Okla.)	29-6	239	13
10	Missouri Southern	25-8	220	NR
11	Indiana (Pa.)	30-3	213	2
12	Valdosta State (Ga.)	24-7	203	21
13	Augusta (Ga.)	28-6	162	16
14	Colorado School of Mines	25-6	144	14
15	Northern State (S.D.)	26-7	135	19
16	Alabama-Huntsville	24-8	127	NR
17	Findlay (Ohio)	28-5	120	8
18	Southern Indiana	26-9	109	NR
19	Ashland (Ohio)	23-7	102	NR
20	St. Edward’s (Texas)	30-4	83	4
21	Saint Anselm (N.H.)	26-6	68	20
22	Daemen (N.Y.)	24-6	63	22
23	Concordia (Calif.)	23-11	60	NR
24	Tarleton State (Texas)	21-10	46	NR
25	Morehouse (Ga.)	20-5	39	NR

Others Receiving Votes: Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 38, Cal Poly Pomona 38, Jefferson (Pa.) 38, Augustana (S.D.) 36, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 36, USC Aiken 31, Florida Southern 30, Bowie State (Md.) 28, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) 26, Bentley (Mass.) 25, Washburn (Kan.) 25, Davenport (Mich.) 22, Barry (Fla.) 19, St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) 18, New Haven (Conn.) 17, Catawba (N.C.) 15, Southeastern Oklahoma State 14, Minnesota State 13, UNC Pembroke 13, Lewis (Ill.) 12, Point Loma (Calif.) 9, Western Oregon 8, Cal State East Bay 6, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 6, Chaminade (Hawai’i) 5, Emmanuel (Ga.) 5, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 4, Bridgeport (Conn.) 3, Lynn (Fla.) 2, Western Washington 2, Belmont Abbey (N.C.) 1, Dixie State (Utah) 1, Indianapolis (Ind.) 1, Saint Martin’s (Wash.) 1, Slippery Rock (Pa.) 1.

Fort Hays State Tiger coach Chris Brown held his weekly press conference Tuesday after the Tigers held off a pesky Nebraska-Kearney Loper team 37-31.

The Tigers will travel to Jefferson City, Mo, Saturday for a meeting with the Lincoln Blue Tigers.

Chris Brown

Isaiah Creal-Musgray

Matt Wendelberger

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer moved up three spots in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday. The Tigers picked up wins over Harding and Ouachita Baptist last week to upgrade their status in the poll.

Fort Hays State is the only Great American Conference team referenced inside of the Top 25. Rogers State is just outside of the Top 25 as the first team listed among teams receiving votes.

Now 10-4-1 overall, the Tigers have one game this week at Newman on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 2). Just two weeks remain in the regular season as the Tigers are one win away from clinching the No. 1 seed for the GAC Tournament, which would give them home-field advantage for the tournament.

Below is the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 for October 29, 2019.

Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T
1	Azusa Pacific University	1	13-0-0
2	Adelphi University	2	13-0-1
3	Lynn University	3	11-0-1
4	California State University-Los Angeles	4	12-0-1
5	Lake Erie College	7	15-1-0
6	Gannon University	8	12-1-0
7	Francis Marion University	15	10-2-1
8	Wilmington University	11	14-1-1
9	Palm Beach Atlantic University	22	10-2-2
10	St. Mary’s University (Texas)	16	11-2-1
11	University Of Charleston	12	12-2-1
12	Bellarmine University	10	11-0-4
13	Midwestern State University	5	11-2-0
14	California State University-San Bernardino	9	9-2-2
15	Young Harris College	21	9-3-0
16	Florida Tech	6	9-1-1
17	McKendree University	19	12-1-2
18	Colorado School Of Mines	18	11-3-2
19	Wingate University	RV	8-2-2
20	Fort Hays State University	23	10-4-1
21	University Of West Florida	14	9-1-2
22	Franklin Pierce University	NR	10-3-1
23	Western Washington University	RV	9-3-1
24	Maryville University of St. Louis	24	12-2-2
25	Lander University	NR	8-3-2

Also receiving votes: Rogers State University, Millersville University, Mercy College, Texas A&M International University, Ohio Valley University

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released its first set of Division II Super Region Rankings for football on Monday (Oct. 28). With a record of 6-2, Fort Hays State holds a ranking of ninth in Super Region 3 entering Week 9 of the regular season.

Three weeks remain in the regular season as Fort Hays State continues its quest for a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. At the end of the regular season, the top seven teams in the Super Region are selected to compete in the playoffs. Right now the Tigers are on the outside looking in, but several of the teams within Super Region 3 still have key games in front of them that could shake up the rankings in the weeks ahead.

Four unbeaten teams remain from all four conferences that make up Super Region 3. Ferris State (GLIAC), Central Missouri (MIAA), Indianapolis (GLVC), and Ouachita Baptist (GAC) are the teams that have yet to take a loss this year. Harding, Northwest Missouri State, and Grand Valley State all have one loss, while Missouri Western and Fort Hays State each have two. Henderson State is 10th among the group, though it only has one loss.

The top seven in the initial set of Super Region 3 rankings nearly reflects all seven that made the playoff field last year. The only team within the top seven that did not make the playoffs last year is Central Missouri, which replaces Fort Hays State among that group for now. However, plenty can change in the final three weeks of the season.

Below are the Super Region 3 rankings for October 28, 2019.

Rank	Team	In-Region Record	Overall DII Record
1	Ferris State (Mich.)	7-0	8-0
2	Central Missouri	8-0	8-0
3	Indianapolis	7-0	7-0
4	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	8-0	8-0
5	Harding (Ark.)	7-1	7-1
6	Northwest Missouri State	7-1	7-1
7	Grand Valley State (Mich.)	5-1	7-1
8	Missouri Western	6-2	6-2
9	Fort Hays State (Kan.)	6-2	6-2
10	Henderson State (Ark.)	7-1	7-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA released its Mammoth Turf Football Athletes of the Week on Monday (Oct. 28). Sophomore quarterback Chance Fuller earned Offensive Athlete of the Week honors for the second straight week following his performance in a 37-31 win over Nebraska-Kearney.

Fuller threw for a career-high 435 yards in the 37-31 win over Nebraska-Kearney in Hays. He completed 28-of-38 pass attempts (73.7 percent), while throwing for three touchdowns. Fuller connected with Manny Ramsey for an 88-yard touchdown, the longest pass completion of his career so far, putting the Tigers up 30-17 just before the end of the third quarter. He had touchdown passes of 15 yards and 9 yards in the first half. Fuller spread the ball around well to seven receiving targets, led by Ramsey with 169 yards, Layne Bieberle with 127 yards, and Harley Hazlett with 81 yards.

Fuller joins Missouri Western linebacker Anthony Williams (Defensive Athlete of the Week) and Central Oklahoma kicker Alex Quevedo (Special Teams Athlete of the Week) as the weekly honorees from the conference office.

The latest release of the D2Football.com Top 25 on Monday has Fort Hays State back in its Top 25. After an 0-2 start to the 2019 season dropped the Tigers from both the D2Football.com and AFCA Top 25 Polls, the Tigers jump back into the D2Football.com poll this week at No. 25 following six straight wins.

The Tigers held a No. 8 ranking in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll to start the year and a loss to Central Missouri pushed the Tigers down to No. 22. A Week 2 loss to Missouri Western dropped the Tigers from the poll following two weeks of play. FHSU has won six straight since the tough start to earn its way back into the poll. Central Missouri (No. 13) and Northwest Missouri State (No. 16) give the MIAA three teams inside the Top 25.

Fort Hays State continues to receive votes in the AFCA Top 25 Poll for a second straight week. The Tigers are the sixth-highest listed team in the receiving votes section, sharing the spot with Missouri Western. Both the Tigers and Griffons are 6-2 on the year and both received six points in the poll this week. Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State remain in the Top 25, holding the No. 11 and No. 14 spots respectively. FHSU began the season No. 11 in the AFCA Poll, dropped to No. 25 after its Week 1 loss, then fell out of the poll entirely before jumping back into the receiving votes section last week after its win over Pittsburg State.

Fort Hays State heads on the road this week for a meeting with Lincoln University. Game time is set for 1 pm in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Below is the D2Football.com Top 25 for October 28, 2019.

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week
1	Valdosta State	8-0	1
2	Ferris State	8-0	2
3	Minnesota State	8-0	3
4	Ouachita Baptist	8-0	4
5	Tarleton State	8-0	5
6	Notre Dame	8-0	6
7	Indianapolis	7-0	7
8	Lenoir-Rhyne	8-0	8
9	Colorado School of Mines	8-0	9
10	Slippery Rock	8-0	10
11	CSU-Pueblo	7-1	11
12	Wingate	8-0	12
13	Central Missouri	8-0	13
14	Harding	7-1	14
15	Grand Valley	7-1	15
16	Northwest Missouri State	7-1	16
17	Bowie State	8-0	17
18	Kutztown	8-0	18
19	Angelo State	7-1	19
20	West Florida	6-1	20
21	Indiana (Pa.)	7-1	21
22	West Chester	7-1	22
23	Henderson State	7-1	23
24	Texas A&M-Commerce	6-2	24
25	Fort Hays State	6-2	NR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the AFCA Top 25 Poll for October 28, 2019.

Rank	School (1st votes)	Record	Pts.	Prev.	Week 8	Next Game
1.	Valdosta St. (Ga.) (29)	8-0	772	1	D. North Greenville (S.C.), 20-15	Nov. 9 vs. No. 20 West Florida
2.	Ferris St. (Mich.) (1)	8-0	737	2	D. Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 34-10	Nov. 2 at Michigan Tech
3.	Minnesota St.	8-0	706	3	D. Minnesota-Crookston, 81-0	Nov. 2 vs. Wayne St. (Neb.)
4.	Tarleton St. (Texas) (1)	8-0	689	4	D. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 45-33	Nov. 2 vs. Midwestern St. (Texas)
5.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	8-0	648	5	D. Southern Nazarene (Okla.), 27-13	Nov. 2 vs. Southern Arkansas
6.	Notre Dame (Ohio)	8-0	605	6	D. Findlay (Ohio), 24-19	Nov. 2 at Frostburg St. (Md.)
7.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	8-0	572	7	D. Limestone (S.C.), 28-20	Nov. 2 vs. No. 12 Wingate (N.C.)
8.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	7-0	552	8	D. Missouri S&T, 48-7	Nov. 2 at Lindenwood (Mo.)
9.	Colorado School of Mines	8-0	528	9t	D. Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 49-27	Nov. 2 at South Dakota Mines
10.	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	8-0	509	9t	D. Clarion (Pa.), 41-6	Nov. 2 vs. California (Pa.)
11.	Central Missouri	8-0	459	11	D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 36-28	Nov. 2 at Nebraska-Kearney
12.	Wingate (N.C.)	8-0	429	12	D. Virginia-Wise, 45-13	Nov. 2 at No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)
13.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	7-1	386	13	D. Adams St. (Colo.), 52-12	Nov. 2 at Fort Lewis (Colo.)
14.	Northwest Missouri St.	7-1	356	14	D. Lincoln (Mo.), 56-9	Nov. 2 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)
15.	Bowie St. (Md.)	8-0	336	15	D. No. 25 Virginia Union, 52-17	Nov. 2 vs. Lincoln (Pa.)
16.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	7-1	312	16	D. Davenport (Mich.), 27-7	Nov. 2 vs. William Jewell (Mo.)
17.	Kutztown (Pa.)	8-0	299	17	D. Shippensburg (Pa.), 55-5	Nov. 2 at No. 22 West Chester (Pa.)
18.	Harding (Ark.)	7-1	267	18	D. Northwestern Oklahoma St., 47-13	Nov. 2 vs. East Central (Okla.)
19.	Indiana (Pa.)	7-1	217	19	D. Gannon (Pa.), 35-0	Nov. 2 at Seton Hill (Pa.)
20.	West Florida	6-1	190	20	D. Florida Tech, 38-14	Nov. 2 vs. North Greenville (S.C.)
21.	Angelo St. (Texas)	7-1	140	22	D. Texas-Permian Basin, 65-7	Nov. 2 at Adams St. (Colo.)
22.	West Chester (Pa.)	7-1	136	21	D. East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 28-21	Nov. 2 vs. No. 17 Kutztown (Pa.)
23.	Henderson St. (Ark.)	7-1	89	23t	D. Southeastern Oklahoma St., 41-27	Nov. 2 at Arkansas-Monticello
24.	Texas A&M-Commerce	5-2	57	23t	D. Western New Mexico, 62-21	Nov. 2 at West Texas A&M
25.	Truman St. (Mo.)	7-1	16	NR	D. William Jewell (Mo.), 49-27	Nov. 2 vs. McKendree (Ill.)

Others Receiving Votes: Tiffin (Ohio), 12; Frostburg St. (Md.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 9; West Texas A&M, 9; Virginia Union, 7; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Missouri Western St., 6; Southern Arkansas, 4; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 3; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 3.