Jan 08, 2020 4:00 PM

FHSU wrestling opens dual season against UNC Pembroke

Posted Jan 08, 2020 4:00 PM

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. - After bringing home seven championships and 31 placements during the Open portion of the season, the Fort Hays State wrestling team kicks off its dual season against UNC-Pembroke Wednesday evening in Hays. The first match is set to begin at 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

A.J. Cooper (285) leads the Tigers with 20 wins on the season, entering the week 20-7 on the year. Eight of his wins have come via pin. Anthony Scantlin (149) ranks second on the team with 17 victories on the year, including four pins and three tech falls. Marty Verhaeghe has captured 15 wins on the season thanks to four pins, one major decision, nine decisions and one win in sudden victory.

Three Tigers are slated to make their season debut Wednesday, including Brandon Ball (141), Tristan Porsch (157) and Conrad Vajnar (165). Ball was ranked No. 2 at 141 pounds for the first two NWCA ranking releases this season, but fell out in the latest poll since he has not wrestled a match yet this season. Ball finished fourth in the nation last year.

While the Tigers have yet to meet up with another team in a dual format, the Braves come into Hays with a 6-5 dual record on the season. UNC Pembroke is led by Nick Daggett, ranked No. 8 at 125 pounds, and Jon Miller, who was previously ranked at 141 pounds this season.

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Jan 08, 2020 4:00 PM
🎤 No. 13 FHSU women battle RiverHawks on Thursday
🎤 No. 13 FHSU women battle RiverHawks on Thursday

FHSU Sports Information

Courtesy FHSU Athletics / Allie Schweizer photo

The 13th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will take a five-game winning streak on the road this week when the Tigers take on Northeastern State Thursday evening in Tahlequah, Okla. Opening tip in the MIAA matchup is set for 5:30 p.m. from the NSU Event Center.

You can hear the game on KJLS (103.3-FM) LISTEN LIVE

The Tigers (11-2, 2-2 MIAA) are coming off a pair of conference victories last weekend, including a thrilling 75-74 win over Pittsburg State. The RiverHawks (4-8, 2-3 MIAA) opened the new year with a pair of road losses, falling to Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State.

Fort Hays State has dominated the all-time series with NSU, winning 13 of the 16 contests and each of the last 12. The Tigers are 5-2 all-time in Tahlequah, including wins in five consecutive road games. The last RiverHawk victory in the series came midway through the 2013-14 season, nearly six years ago (1/18/14, 49-48 in Tahlequah). FHSU is 13-2 overall and 5-2 on the road against the RiverHawks under head coach Tony Hobson.

The Tigers never trailed in their last trip to Tahlequah, leading wire-to-wire to win 90-66 (2/23/19). The victory gave the Tigers the 2018-19 regular season MIAA championship.

Kacey Kennett averages 11.2 ppg in six games against the RiverHawks, including a 23-point outburst in the last trip to Tahlequah, her highest scoring output against a DII opponent. Whitney Randall has scored 8.5 ppg in four matchups with NSU.

The Tigers have had success in road games in Oklahoma under Hobson, winning 10 of 15 games in the Sooner State since 2008.

Whitney Randall, Jaden Hobbs and Lauryn Reither are all returning to their home state for the upcoming road trip. Interestingly, the Tigers have just as many players on its roster as Northeastern State.

The RiverHawks sit just behind the Tigers in a tie for ninth in the conference standings. NSU ranks 14th in the MIAA in scoring, putting up 61.8 points per night while allowing 65.7 points each evening. They rank 19th in the country with a free-throw percentage of 77.5 percent. Cenia Hayes paces the team with 16.3 points per night, fourth-most in the MIAA. Hayes is also the team leader in rebounds, grabbing 6.6 boards per contest. Morgan Hellyer (2.2 apg) and Shae Sanchez (2.1 apg) lead the way in assists.

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