INDIANAPOLIS - Fort Hays State wrestling seniors Marty Verhaeghe (184) and A.J. Cooper (285) are both guaranteed to finish in the top six after reaching the semifinals in their respective weight classes after Saturday's (Dec. 18) day one of the 42nd Midwest Classic. The Tigers had a solid team performance overall, going 13-14 and compiling 31.5 team points to sit in 16th out of 42 Division II programs. Verhaeghe and Cooper will both compete on day two Sunday, with action set to begin at 8 a.m. (9 a.m. ET).
Verhaeghe, the 11th-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, started the day with an 8-1 decision before reaching the quarterfinals with an injury default in the second period. Verhaeghe would make the semifinals with a 8-0 major decision over 12th-ranked Luke Mcgonigal from Mercyhurst. Verhaeghe will face Alex Kaufman from Central Oklahoma in his semifinal.
Cooper, currently ranked 10th at 285 pounds, began his day with a pair of narrow decisions, 1-0 and 2-0. He wrapped up his day one performance with a comeback 9-6 decision over Gabriel Carranza from Colorado Mesa. Cooper will face fifth-ranked Jacob Robb from Mercyhurst in his semifinal match.
Tereus Henry also picked up three wins on day one, going 3-2 including two pins and one technical fall to rack up seven team points. Both of his losses were decisions against ranked opponents, including a 5-4 loss to the 12th-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds and a 7-0 decision in the third consolation round against the fourth-ranked wrestler.
Anthony Scantlin won a pair of matches at 157 pounds, including a 9-6 decision in the opening round and a 9-4 decision in the consolation bracket. His first loss was to the 12th-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds.
Broderick Green (125) and Cody Hicks (165) also won their first matches before dropping the next two to finish 1-2 overall. Hicks defeated the 11th-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds in the opening round, while Green hung around with the second-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds in the second round before suffering a 7-2 loss.
Tom VanValkenburg (133), Cason Lindsey (149) and Clint Herrick (174) all went 0-2 on the day.
Full FHSU Results from Day 1 of the 42nd Midwest Classic
125 - Broderick Green (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Broderick Green 13-10 won by decision over Zachary Collins (Findlay) 0-2 (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 - Nicholas Daggett (UNC-Pembroke) 2-1 won by decision over Broderick Green 13-10 (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Landen Fischer (Northern State) 3-1 won by major decision over Broderick Green 13-10 (MD 12-0)
133 - Tom VanValkenburg (0-2)
Prelim - Patrick Allis (Western Colorado) 3-1 won by fall over Tom VanValkenburg 8-11 (Fall 1:54)
Prelim - Jackson Collins (Tiffin) 1-2 won by fall over Tom VanValkenburg 8-11 (Fall 5:12)
149 - Cason Lindsey (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State) 3-0 won by decision over Cason Lindsey 13-9 (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Logan Mckoy (Seton Hill) 4-5 won by decision over Cason Lindsey 13-9 (Dec 12-7)
157 - Anthony Scantlin (2-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Scantlin 14-8 won by decision over Cliff Owens (UNC-Pembroke) 0-2 (Dec 9-6)
Champ. Round 2 - Dallas Boone (King) 9-5 won by decision over Anthony Scantlin 14-8 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Scantlin 14-8 won by decision over Nathan Conley (Indianapolis) 1-2 (Dec 9-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Ben Durocher (UW-Parkside) 3-1 won by decision over Anthony Scantlin 14-8 (Dec 4-3)
165 - Cody Hicks (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Cody Hicks 11-8 won by decision over Gage Bernall (Lander) 0-2 (Dec 6-2)
Champ. Round 2 - Corey Christe (Coker) 9-2 won by decision over Cody Hicks 11-8 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Connor Weeks (Belmont Abbey) 2-2 won by major decision over Cody Hicks 11-8 (MD 13-5)
174 - Clint Herrick (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Sams (Indianapolis) 3-0 won by major decision over Clint Herrick 4-10 (MD 14-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Austin Morgan (Central Missouri) 5-8 won by decision over Clint Herrick 4-10 (Dec 8-2)
184 - Marty Verhaeghe (3-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Marty Verhaeghe 25-4 won by decision over Zach Hazen (Central Missouri) 2-9 (Dec 8-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Marty Verhaeghe 25-4 won by injury default over Rozell Baker (McKendree) 1-2 (Inj. 4:16)
Quarterfinal - Marty Verhaeghe 25-4 won by major decision over Luke Mcgonigal (Mercyhurst) 2-1 (MD 8-0)
197 - Tereus Henry (3-2)
Prelim - Tereus Henry 16-5 won by fall over Jacob Charette (Findlay) 3-2 (Fall 6:31)
Champ. Round 1 - Tereus Henry 16-5 won by fall over Justin Osler (American International) 7-8 (Fall 2:37)
Champ. Round 2 - Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis) 3-0 won by decision over Tereus Henry 16-5 (Dec 5-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Tereus Henry 16-5 won by tech fall over Ian Lawson (William Jewell) 2-2 (TF-1.5 3:51 (16-0))
Cons. Round 3 - Donald Negus (Colorado Mesa) 9-1 won by decision over Tereus Henry 16-5 (Dec 7-0)
285 - A.J. Cooper (3-0)
Champ. Round 1 - A.J. Cooper 22-4 won by decision over Ty Petrey (Ashland) 3-12 (Dec 1-0)
Champ. Round 2 - A.J. Cooper 22-4 won by decision over Justin Wright (Belmont Abbey) 7-8 (Dec 2-0)
Quarterfinal - A.J. Cooper 22-4 won by decision over Gabriel Carranza (Colorado Mesa) 9-3 (Dec 9-6)
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