FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team opened its 2024-25 conference schedule with a 26-16 win over Ouachita Baptist Saturday evening inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The FHSU Tigers are now 3-1 in duals this season and 1-0 in conference action, while the OBU Tigers dip to 3-4 overall and 0-4 in MIAA competition.
Fort Hays State took control early, winning its first of seven bouts at 125 when A.B. Stokes secured a 16-2 major decision. The redshirt freshman secured a pair of takedowns and three separate nearfall counts while surrendering just one reversal over seven minutes of action.
The visitors punched back with a pair of bonus-point wins at the next two weights, tying the score with a major decision at 133 pounds before going up 10-4 with a second-period pin at 141 pounds. Drew Bell needed just 77 seconds to help Fort Hays State battle back at 149 pounds, securing a pin in 1:17.Ouachita Baptist answered with a first-period pin of their own at 165 pounds, retaking a 16-10 lead, before the Black and Gold were able to take the final five matches and dominate down the stretch. Jacob Judd opened the comeback with an 8-4 decision at 165 pounds thanks to an early takedown and four nearfall points in the first period.
Connor Padgett then helped FHSU tie the score at 16 with a 2-1 decision at 174 pounds. After a scoreless first period, the redshirt freshman racked up more than one minute of ride time in the second period and then recorded a quick escape in the third period to maintain control of the ride time point.
A reversal and six nearfall points helped Matthew Rodriguez collect a 9-0 major decision at 184 pounds, putting Fort Hays State in front 20-16 with two matches to go. Eighth-ranked Tereus Henry locked down the dual win with a 7-4 decision at 197 pounds thanks to a pair of takedowns, one each in the first period and third period. Riah Ostrander finished things off with a 2-1 decision at 285 pounds after securing enough riding time in the third period to earn the ride time point.
Next up for both sets of Tigers is the FHSU Bob Smith Open, set to begin Sunday morning (Dec. 7) at 8:30 a.m.
Fort Hays State 26, Ouachita Baptist 16
125 - A.B. Stokes over Justin Shaw (OBU) (MD 16-2)
133 - James Anderson (OBU) over Andrew Honas (MD 15-1)
141 - Hudson Herring (OBU) over Kevin Honas (Fall 4:34)
149 - Drew Bell over Caleb Andrews (OBU) (Fall 1:17)
157 - Jaylon Otero (OBU) over Charlie Hutson (Fall 2:54)
165 - Jacob Judd over Jack Golowenski (OBU) (Dec 8-4)
174 - Connor Padgett over Luke Brooks (OBU) (Dec 2-1)
184 - Matthew Rodriguez over Henry Martin (OBU) (MD 9-0)
197 - Tereus Henry over Brooks Schrimsher (OBU) (Dec 7-4)
285 - Riah Ostrander over Brayden Seago (OBU) (Dec 2-1)