FHSU Athletics
INDANAPOLIS - Fort Hays State's Tereus Henry closed his collegiate career as a national runner-up at 197 pounds on Saturday (Mar. 15) at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship. Henry closed his career with a record of 137-39, earning All-America status for the second time in his career.
Henry was the first Tiger to reach the national title bout since Jon Inman in 2017 and is just the eighth to do so during FHSU's NCAA Division II era. He faced Derek Blubaugh from the University of Indianapolis, the defending national champion. Blubaugh took the title match by a 5-1 decision, highlighted with a takedown in the first period. Both wrestlers notched escapes before Blubaugh added his final point with riding time. Blubaugh finished with back-to-back national titles and reached the finals for the fourth-straight year. He was one opponent Henry never could beat, finishing 0-5 in his collegiate career against the two-time champ.
Henry reached the championship bout thanks to a 4-2 decision against long-time rival Jackson Kinsella of Nebraska-Kearney. Both competitors were hit with early stall warnings in the first period, prompting more action from the duo over the final five minutes. Both managed quick escapes in the second and third periods, leaving the score tied at 1-1 down the stretch. The El Paso, Texas native took control of the match with a takedown after a single leg attack near the edge of the mat. Kinsella tried to force the action out of bounds, but Henry was able to secure the three points before going outside the circle.
The Loper quickly escaped after action resumed in the center of the mat, but Henry was able to fend off all late attacks to secure the 4-2 decision. It was Henry's ninth career bout against Kinsella, with Henry finishing with a 5-4 record against the Loper.
With Henry's 15 points generated for the tournament, FHSU finished 27th in the team standings. Nebraska-Kearney ran away with the team title by over 50 points.
Full FHSU Results
197 - Tereus Henry – National Runner-Up - 3-1 - 15.0 team points
Champ. Round 1 - Tereus Henry won by decision over John Parker-Wilson (Newberry) (Dec 3-2)
Quarterfinal - Tereus Henry won by decision over Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) (Dec 5-4)
Semifinal - Tereus Henry won by decision over Jackson Kinsella (Nebraska-Kearney) (Dec 4-2)
1st Place Match - Derek Blubaugh (UIndy) won by decision over Tereus Henry (Dec 5-1)
184 - Matthew Rodriguez - 0-2
Prelim - Kyler Pickard (Belmont Abbey) won by decision over Matthew Rodriguez (Dec 7-2)
Prelim - Jacari Deal (Nebraska-Kearney) won by major decision over Matthew Rodriguez (MD 14-4)