FHSU Athletics
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 14th-ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team went 1-2 on the first day of the NWCA National Duals on Friday (Jan. 6). Fort Hays State fell 34-9 to fifth-ranked Lander University in the first round before claiming a comeback victory over No. 16 Colorado Mesa 20-19. The Tigers ended the day falling just short against ninth-ranked Upper Iowa by a score of 24-18.
Sixth-ranked Cade Lindsey (174) and third-ranked Tereus Henry (197) both finished the day 3-0 for the Tigers, each claiming wins over ranked wrestlers at their respective weight classes.
In the opening round Lander took an early lead winning the first four matches with three ranked individuals, including three bonus-point wins to build a 20-0 lead. Clint Herrick got the Tigers on the board at 157 pounds with a 2-1 decision over Bryson Ethington, but Lander put the dual out of reach claiming three of the next five matches. Two of their three wins in that stretch were by their other two ranked individuals. Lindsey and Henry each won their matches by decision to give the Tigers nine points.
In the next round, FHSU continued to struggle early as Colorado Mesa won the first three matches with two bonus point wins. Drew Burgoon scored the first points for FHSU claiming a 9-7 decision at 149 pounds, but CMU answered with a decision at 157 pounds to take a 16-3 lead at the midway point of the dual. From the Tigers stormed back winning four of the final five matches. Blaise Ronnau secured a fall at 165 pounds and Lindsey defeated seventh-ranked Alexander Holguin by 5-2 decision to bring the Tigers within four points. Colorado Mesa broke up the Fort Hays State run with a 7-6 decision at 184 pounds, but a pair of major decisions from Henry and Tony Caldwell completed the comeback and earned the Tigers their first dual victory of the season by a point.
In the final dual of the day, the Tigers struck first with Kevin Honas claiming a 7-2 decision at 125 pounds. The Peacocks went on to win the next five matches including a fall and three technical falls building a 24-3 lead. FHSU won the final four matches including a third-period fall from Lindsey and a 6-4 decision by Henry over ninth-ranked Dalton Hahn, but the Tigers were unable to close the gap and fell short.
The Tigers will open day two of competition Saturday (Jan. 7) at 10 a.m. CT against Newberry for a chance to compete for ninth-place. Pending the result, the Tigers will face either McKendree or Gannon in their final match of the tournament at 2 p.m. CT.
Match #1 Champ. Round 1
#5 Lander defeated #14 Fort Hays State 34-9
125 - James Joplin (Lander) over Kevin Honas Fall 4:21
133 - Elijah Lusk (Lander) over Corbin White Fall 2:32
141 - Zeth Brower (Lander) over Jacob Mitchell TF 16-1
149 - Randy Meyers (Lander) over Drew Burgoon Dec 3-0
157 - Clint Herrick over Bryson Ethington (Lander) Dec 2-1
165 - David Hunsberger (Lander) over Blaise Ronnau TF 18-3
174 - Cade Lindsey over Jack Bond (Lander) Dec 5-0
184 - Logan Hall (Lander) over Bryce Westmoreland Dec 8-7
197 - Tereus Henry over Anthony Yacovetti (Lander) SV-1 5-3
285 - Juan Edmond-Holmes (Lander) over Anthony Caldwell Fall 1:05
Match #2 Cons. Round 1
#14 Fort Hays State defeated #16 Colorado Mesa 20-19
125 - Dawson Collins (Colorado Mesa) over Kevin Honas Fall 4:43
133 - Collin Metzgar (Colorado Mesa) over Corbin White Maj 13-4
141 - Andrew Silva (Colorado Mesa) over Jacob Mitchell SV-1 7-5
149 - Drew Burgoon over Unknown (Unattached) Dec 9-7
157 - Ryan Wheeler (Colorado Mesa) over Clint Herrick Dec 5-2
165 - Blaise Ronnau over Tanner Baumgartner (Colorado Mesa) Fall 6:37
174 - Cade Lindsey over Alexander Holguin (Colorado Mesa) Dec 5-2
184 - Jason Bynarowicz (Colorado Mesa) over Bryce Westmoreland Dec 7-6
197 - Tereus Henry over Kash Anderson (Colorado Mesa) Maj 14-6
285 - Anthony Caldwell over Ruben Samuelson (Colorado Mesa) Maj 14-4
Match #3 Cons. Round 2
#9 Upper Iowa defeated #14 Fort Hays State 24-18
125 - Kevin Honas over Colby Lopez (Upper Iowa) Dec 7-2
133 - Kaden Anderlik (Upper Iowa) over Corbin White TF 18-1
141 - Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) over Jacob Mitchell TF 16-0
149 - Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) over Drew Burgoon TF 16-0
157 - Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) over Clint Herrick Dec 9-2
165 - Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) over Blaise Ronnau Fall 6:10
174 - Cade Lindsey over Scott Kellenberger (Upper Iowa) Fall 5:32
184 - Bryce Westmoreland over Colter Bye (Upper Iowa) Dec 8-3
197 - Tereus Henry over Dalton Hahn (Upper Iowa) Dec 6-4
285 - Anthony Caldwell over Jordan Baumler (Upper Iowa) Dec 4-3