FHSU Athletics
GOLDEN, Colo. - Fort Hays State men's wrestling senior Cason Lindsey punched his ticket to the 2026 NCAA Division II Championships with a third place finish at the Super Region VI Championships Saturday (Feb. 28). The senior helped FHSU finish in 11th place as a team.
The No. 5 seed in the 165-pound bracket, Lindsey raced out to a 10-1 lead in the first round against Hugh Weeler of Simon Fraser before cruising to a 13-5 major decision. He then picked off Malachi Rider of Adams State with an 8-5 decision in the quarterfinals thanks to a takedown and escape in both the second and third periods.
Lindsey then gave up just one takedown to eventual regional champion and sixth-ranked Trenton Munoz of Nebraska-Kearney for the second time in two weeks, losing 4-0 after falling to Munoz 6-0 in a dual earlier this month.
The Derby, Kan. native faced familiar competition in the consolation bracket, racking up three takedowns and eight nearfall points in a 17-2 technical fall against Wheeler before facing off with Rider again in the third-place bout.
He secured a trip to Sioux Falls, S.D. with a 7-4 decision in the placement match, capitalizing on two first-period takedowns. It is his second time placing at regionals after finishing fifth as a true freshman in 2022.
Both Houston Frank (184) and Ryan Patterson (197) won bouts in the championship bracket before falling in the quarterfinals. Frank went 2-2 on the day, winning 6-5 in the first round before adding an 11-3 major decision on the backside. Patterson opened the day with a pin just before the end of the first period in his opening bout before dropping the next two.
Cash Thomas (157) and Hunter Harris (174) both went 1-2 on the day with bonus-point wins in the consolation bracket, with Thomas capturing a 15-0 technical fall and Harris claiming a 12-0 major decision.
Lindsey will head to South Dakota for the national championships March 13-14.