By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The 22nd-ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team returns home for the first time in more than three weeks Friday (Jan. 31) when the Tigers host No. 6 Central Oklahoma. Action on the mat is slated to begin at 7 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers (4-4, 1-0 MIAA) will look to move to 2-0 at home against a tough Central Oklahoma squad, who enter the weekend 9-1 in duals and 1-0 in MIAA competition.
A.J. Cooper leads the team with 31 victories this season. 12 of those wins have been pins for the heavyweight, the second-most pins for any individual in Division II and the most at 285 pounds. No. 2 Brandon Ball looks to continue his undefeated season, entering the week 10-0 overall.
Central Oklahoma comes into Hays as the sixth-ranked team in the country thanks to five ranked wrestlers. Heath Gray, Jr. (23-1) leads the Bronchos as the top-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds in Division II.
The Tigers are 4-35 all-time against UCO, with three of those victories coming in the last 11 meetings. The teams have split their last four meetings in Hays dating back to the 2011-12 season.
Projected FHSU lineup against UCO, January 31, 2020
125 – Colin Cole, R-Fr. (1-10)
133 – Mason Turner, R-Fr. (10-5) OR Conrad Cole, Sr. (9-8)
141 – #2 Brandon Ball, Sr. (10-0)
149 – Anthony Scantlin, So. (26-9)
157 – Tristan Porsch, So. (2-3)
165 – Conrad Vajnar, So. (4-8)
174 – Marty Verhaeghe, Jr. (24-10)
184 – Aryus Jones, So. (22-6)
197 – Jordan Davis, Sr. (9-5) OR Tyler Boone, So. (6-8)
285 – A.J. Cooper, Jr. (31-7)