By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Special to Hays Post
In a weird twist in the draw of the seedings, both the Fort Hays State University men’s and women’s teams ended up playing the University of Central Missouri in this year’s quarterfinals of the MIAA Basketball Championships.
Some Tiger fans glanced at each other and chuckled when it was announced that the UCM dancers would be performing during a break in the women’s game Thursday night.
“And here from Central Missouri are the Mule Kickers,” came the announcement over the PA system.
It was the Tigers who actually did the kicking on this day, assuring the teams and their large following they would be enjoying the sites of Kansas City until at least Saturday.
While the Tiger men and women have turned in several exciting doubleheaders this season, fans were treated to a doozy on Thursday in historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
In their first game, the FHSU men led by as many as 26 points in the first half but had to withstand a furious second-half comeback by the Mules to hold on for the win.
A long MIAA banner stretched down the length of the seats is the only thing separating fans from opposing teams sitting behind their teams’ benches.
As the Mules made basket after basket in their comeback and got to within three points late in the game, players from the UCM women’s team were part of the loud cheering section in the crowd.
The Jennies (the UCM women’s mascot) started jawing back and forth with a young man just a few seats away in the Tiger section.
In the end, it was the Tiger fan who got in the last jab as FHSU pulled out the 67-61 victory.
Tiger faithful wondered if the Jennies might have worn themselves out cheering for their men’s team. A few hours later, the UCM women fell to FHSU, 90-74.
Fort Hays State showed Central Missouri – and other MIAA teams – it’s here to stay as a conference stalwart after sophomore Telexa Weeter’s 35-point, 11-rebound performance in the women’s game.
FHSU student participation
It was uplifting to see how many Fort Hays State students get to take part in the MIAA Championships.
There was Garrett Wellbrock sitting courtside with Pittsburg State student Nick Butler, dressed in shirts, ties and suit jackets announcing the game alongside professional announcers.
Students from the video production programs at MIAA members FHSU, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State are streaming the tournament games for the MIAA Network this week.
Just a few seats down from Garrett was his dad, Gerard Wellbrock, longtime Voice of the Tigers for Eagle Radio in Hays.
Most fans who learned of the father-son connection surely were in unison while thinking, “How cool is that?”
Besides the players and their team managers, there was the pep band, the cheerleaders and the Tiger Debs dance team.
The university mascot, Victor E. Tiger, is always a crowd favorite.
And student workers from the Tigers’ athletic department were helping out FHSU Assistant Athletic Director Matt Cook, chair of the MIAA Basketball Tournament Committee.
“This is great for our students to have them around all our alumni and networking with other professionals as well,” said Curtis Hammeke, FHSU’s athletic director. “The tournament is a great platform that is beneficial for our students in a lot of ways.”
The 2025 tournament is a nostalgic one for Hammeke, who is retiring in June after 21 years as the Tiger athletic director. Hammeke, an FHSU graduate, also served as the Tigers’ baseball coach for several years.
Bill and Sandi Hubbard from Lawrence traveled east to Kansas City to watch their daughter, Sally, play in the Tiger pep band.
“That’s awesome that you’re from Lawrence (home of KU) and your daughter came out west to college Fort Hays,” a Tiger fan told the Hubbards as they stood in line for prime seats.
Yes, people stand in line in the hallway – some for as long as an hour – to nab their favorite seat behind the Tiger bench.
“We gave our kids the privilege to say they paid for their own college education,” Sandi said with a smile, mentioning the affordability and numerous scholarship opportunities at Fort Hays State.
“We’re here to cheer on the band and want the Tigers to keep winning,” Bill added. “The more they win, the more we get to watch our daughter in the band. ”
Rest assured, other FHSU supporters have the same wish.