By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
GUNNISON, Colo. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team finished 1-2 at Saturday’s 30th annual Tracy Borah Duals, hosted by Western Colorado University. The Tigers are now 2-2 in dual competition this season.
Fort Hays State opened the day with a high-scoring affair against 22nd-ranked Colorado Mesa, 30-22. Seven of the 10 bouts ended early with a pin, with two others ending as a major decision. The Tigers once again won five of the 10 bouts against No. 23 Western Colorado, but the Mountaineers managed a 25-18 victory. Fort Hays State wrapped up the afternoon with a 28-18 win over New Mexico Highlands.
Four Tigers won all three of their matches Saturday, including Anthony Scantlin, A.J. Cooper, Aryus Jones and Brandon Ball. Scantlin earned a team-high 13 team points, picking up one win via pin, one major decision and one decision. Cooper recorded 12 team points after one pin and two decisions, while Jones also added 12 points thanks to a dominant 15-0 tech fall, one major decision and one decision. Ball opened the day with a major decision before winning his next to contests via decision.
The Tigers quickly fell behind 12-0 against Colorado Mesa after a pair of pins before Ball got the Tigers on the board with an 11-0 major decision. Scantlin closed the gap to 12-10 with a first period pin before Mesa picked up two more pins. The Tigers clawed back within striking distance thanks to a pin from Marty Verhaeghe and a major decision win for Jones, but the Mavericks secured the win with a fifth pin at 197 pounds. Cooper wrapped up the morning session with a 4-0 decision.
Fort Hays State grabbed its first lead of the day three bouts in against Western Colorado thanks to a Mason Turner pin of Cody Fatzinger, the 11th-ranked DII wrestler at 133 pounds, and a narrow 3-2 decision for Ball at 141 pounds. Scantlin doubled the Tiger lead with a 5-1 decision before the hosts rattled off 13-straight points to take control. Jones broke up the momentum with a 10-3 win against No. 12 Ruger Wyneken at 184 pounds before Cooper wrapped things up with an 8-6 win.
New Mexico Highlands opened the final dual of the day with a slim decision before the Tigers took the lead for good. Dy’Juan Carney put the Tigers in front 6-3 after a second-period pin at 133 pounds. Ball picked up his third win of the day with a 4-2 decision before Scantlin powered his way to an 11-2 major decision, stretching the Tiger advantage to 13-3. The Cowboys closed within one after wins at 157 and 165 pounds, but Verhaeghe helped the Tigers regain control with a 9-0 major decision. Jones followed with a dominating 15-0 tech fall victory at 184 pounds, giving Fort Hays State a 22-12 lead. NMHU gave itself a chance to win after a first-period pin at 197 pounds, but Cooper secured the Tiger victory with a pin late in the second period of the final bout of the day.
The Tigers will return to the mat on Wednesday (Jan. 15) when they travel to Warrensburg, Mo. for the first conference dual of the season against Central Missouri. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m. inside the UCM Recreation Center.
Full FHSU results from the 30th annual Tracy Borah Duals can be found below.
#22 Colorado Mesa defeated Fort Hays State, 30-22
125 – Collin Metzgar (Colorado Mesa) over Colin Cole (Fort Hays State) Fall 1:05
133 – Bracken Lovell (Colorado Mesa) over Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) Fall 3:26
141 – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) over Kyle Kintz (Colorado Mesa) Maj 11-0
149 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) over Erik Contreras (Colorado Mesa) Fall 2:14
157 – #3 Payton Tawater (Colorado Mesa) over Tristan Porsch (Fort Hays State) Fall 3:42
165 – Hayden Harris (Colorado Mesa) over Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) Fall 1:22
174 – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) over Seth Latham (Colorado Mesa) Fall 5:22
184 – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) over Nolan Krone (Colorado Mesa) Maj 13-4
197 – Aaron Trygstad (Colorado Mesa) over Tyler Boone (Fort Hays State) Fall 1:00
285 – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) over Hunter Mooring (Colorado Mesa) Dec 4-0
Fort Hays State’s team score was adjusted by -1.0 for unsportsmanlike conduct
#23 Western Colorado defeated Fort Hays State, 25-18
125 – #3 Patrick Allis (Western Colorado) over Colin Cole (Fort Hays State) Fall 1:14
133 – Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) over #11 Cody Fatzinger (Western Colorado) Fall 1:46
141 – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) over Jason Hanenberg (Western Colorado) Dec 3-2
149 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) over Giovanni Cassioppi (Western Colorado) Dec 5-1
157 – Cole Mortenson (Western Colorado) over Tristan Porsch (Fort Hays State) Inj 2:58
165 – Michael Thelen (Western Colorado) over Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) Maj 12-1
174 – #11 James Laconte (Western Colorado) over Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) Dec 6-1
184 – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) over #12 Ruger Wyneken (Western Colorado) Dec 10-3
197 – Espen Weber (Western Colorado) over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) Fall 4:32
285 – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) over Sammy Deseriere (Western Colorado) Dec 8-6
Fort Hays State defeated New Mexico Highlands, 28-18
125 – Marcus Santillanes (New Mexico Highlands) over Colin Cole (Fort Hays State) Dec 6-3
133 – Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) over Issac Garcia (New Mexico Highlands) Fall 4:04
141 – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) over Jonathon Trujillo (New Mexico Highlands) Dec 4-2
149 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) over Logan Pine (New Mexico Highlands) Maj 11-2
157 – Allen Michel (New Mexico Highlands) over Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) Fall 0:42
165 – Thomas Tolbert (New Mexico Highlands) over Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) Dec 8-2
174 – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) over Jacob Viera (New Mexico Highlands) Maj 9-0
184 – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) over Lance Kilgore (New Mexico Highlands) TF 15-0
197 – Denzell Morrow (New Mexico Highlands) over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) Fall 0:50
285 – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) over Julian Sanchez (New Mexico Highlands) Fall 4:42