Fort Hays State continued to receive votes in the first regular season version of the NCAA Division II wrestling poll, released Wednesday (Dec. 3) by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association. FHSU was in the receiving votes section of the preseason rankings, released Oct. 27.
FHSU has competed in three open tournaments this season, compiling a 180-111 combined record and grabbing seven individual titles. Noah Killip (141 pounds), Jon Inman (184 pounds) and Trey Page (285 pounds) have each won two titles, while Adam Ludwin (125 pounds) won a title at the Bethany Swede Open. The Tigers are joined in the national rankings by MIAA teams Nebraska-Kearney (No. 2), Central Oklahoma (No. 9), Lindenwood (No. 17) and Central Missouri (RV).
Individually, Inman, Page and Josh Rodriguez (174 pounds) are ranked in their respective classes. Inman is ranked fifth after starting the year 10-1 with titles at the Bethany Swede and Northern Colorado Open, suffering his only loss to No. 4 Kyle Piatt of Western State by decision (5-3). Page, eighth at 285 pounds, is 12-1 for the year with Bethany Swede Open and UNK Holiday Inn Open championships, dropping a sudden victory match to Division I opponent Brian Maccione (Northern Colorado) at the UNC Open. Rodriguez has competed in just one tournament this season, going 2-3 with a forfeit at the UNK Open. He is fifth at 174 pounds.
The Tigers host UCO this Friday (Dec. 5) in the first MIAA dual of the season, beginning at 7 p.m., and close out the weekend with the Bob Smith Open at Gross Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 7. UCO has two individually ranked wrestlers – Spencer Rutherford (No. 8 at 149 pounds) and Chris Watson (No. 1 at 165 pounds).
The complete team and individual rankings are below…
| Rank | School (State) | Points | Pre-season Ranking |
| 1 | Maryville (Mo.) | 157 | 1st |
| 2 | Nebraska-Kearney | 147 | 3rd |
| 3 | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 143 | 2nd |
| 4 | Mercyhurst (Pa.) | 130 | 7nd |
| 5 | St. Cloud State (Minn.) | 125 | 5th |
| 6 | Notre Dame (Ohio) | 119 | 4th |
| 7 | Lake Erie (Ohio) | 105 | 14th |
| 8 | McKendree (Ill.) | 98 | 6th |
| 9 | Central Oklahoma | 97 | 9th |
| 10 | Newberry (S.C.) | 92 | 19th |
| 11 | Kutztown (Pa.) | 76 | 13th |
| 12 | California Baptist | 66 | 18th |
| T13. | Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) | 52 | NR |
| T13. | North Carolina-Pembroke | 52 | 11th |
| 15 | Western State (Colo.) | 49 | 8th |
| 16 | Augustana (S.D.) | 45 | 15th |
| 17 | Lindenwood (Mo.) | 43 | 10th |
| 18 | Colorado Mesa | 31 | 20th |
| 19 | Upper Iowa | 19 | 16th |
| 20 | Tiffin (Ohio) | 14 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Ashland (Ohio), Central Missouri, Findlay (Ohio), Fort Hays State (Kan.), Shorter (Ga.), West Liberty (W.Va.).
125 Pounds
1. T.J. North, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Matt Turek, Gannon (Pa.)
3. Gerald Huff, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Garrett Evans, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
5. Josh Kieffer, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6. Willie Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7. Connor Bolling, Nebraska-Kearney
8. Evan Link, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
133 Pounds
1. Daniel DeShazer, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Michael Labry, Ashland (Ohio)
3. Nate Rodriguez, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
4. Zak Hale, Anderson (S.C.)
5. Matt Paulus, Upper Iowa
6. Zach Shank, Western State (Colo.)
7. Nolan Whitely, Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.)
8. Ryan Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
141 Pounds
1. Daniel Ownbey, North Carolina-Pembroke
2. Josh Myers, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
3. Kyle Webb, Lindenwood (Mo.)
4. Maurice Miller, Notre Dame (Ohio)
5. Jordan Roths, Upper Iowa
6. Alex Annunciation, California Baptist
7. Sam Hanau, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Mike Screptock, Tiffin (Ohio)
149 Pounds
1. Jay Hildreth, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
2. Keenan Hagerty, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Frank Cagnina, Central Missouri
4. Nick Goebel, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Jeremy Landowski, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
6. Andrew Bannister, Notre Dame (Ohio)
7. Brent Fickel, Ashland (Ohio)
8. Spencer Rutherford, Central Oklahoma
157 Pounds
1. Jonatan Rivera, Notre Dame (Ohio)
2. Clint Poster, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. James Martinez, Colorado Mesa
4. Josh Ballard, McKendree (Ill.)
5. Chase White, Nebraska Kearney
6. Dennis Flores, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Francis Mizia, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Greg Hegerty, Maryville (Mo.
165 Pounds
1. Chris Watson, Central Oklahoma
2. Nick Haferkamp, McKendree (Ill.)
3. Dimitri Willis, Maryville (Mo.)
4. Cody Quinn, Minnesota State-Mankato
5. Gabe Fogarty, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Tyler Reinhart, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Bo Candelaria, Kutztown (Pa.)
8. Nick Fishback, Wisconsin-Parkside
174 Pounds
1. Elliot Copeland, Western State (Colo.)
2. Zeb Wahle, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Jacob Begin, Southwest Minnesota
4. August Mizia, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Josh Rodriguez, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6. Joe Pittman, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Clayton Jennissen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Payne Hatter, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
184 Pounds
1. Dallas Smith, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
2. Nick Brughardt, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Kyle Piatt, Western State (Colo.)
4. Jared Holliday, Newberry (S.C.)
5. Jon Inman, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6. Jon Vogt, McKendree (Ill.)
7. Blake Sorenson, Upper Iowa
8. Zack Zelcs, Gannon (Pa.)
197 Pounds
1. Romero Cotton, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Evan Rosborough, Lake Erie (Ohio)
3. Kenny Breaux, Lindenwood (Mo.)
4. Julian Smith, McKendree (Ill.)
5. Jayd Docken, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Sam Mangum, Western State (Colo.)
7. Andrew Reggi, San Francisco State (Calif.)
8. Jalal Paige, Shippensburg (Pa.)
285 Pounds
1. Ziad Haddad, Kutztown (Pa.)
2. Donnell Walker, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Austin Goergen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Cole Wilson, Southwest Minnesota
5. Logan Hopp, Upper Iowa
6. Andy Welton, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7. Garrett Gray, Tiffin (Ohio)
8. Trey Page, Fort Hays State (Kan.)