FHSU Sports Information Department
Fort Hays State wrestling coach Chas Thompson announced 11 signings for the upcoming 2015-16 season. The Tigers add three transfers and eight freshmen to the roster. Transfers include Brogan Humphrey, Derrick Gates, and Rakim Dean, while freshmen include Brandon Ball, Greg Tooley, Christian Lance, James Buckhanan, Jordan Davis, Jacob Schoenfeld, Christian Lewis, and Gavin Burgess.
Humphrey transfers to FHSU after spending one year at Neosho (Kan.) Community College. He had his first collegiate season cut short due to injury, but posted a record of 3-2. Humphrey, a native of Fredonia, Kan., had a tremendous prep career at Fredonia High School where he was a four-time state champion. He won titles at 125 pounds, 132 pounds, and 138 pounds (twice). He was the Kansas Class 3-2-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year in 2014. He is projected to wrestle at 149 pounds at FHSU.
Gates is a transfer from Labette (Kan.) Community College, where he earned NJCAA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2014-15. He finished seventh nationally at 165 pounds to earn All-America status, finishing the year with a record of 24-17. He was a two-time national qualifier for the Cardinals and looks to make an immediate impact in the middle of the Tiger lineup. Gates was a state placer as a junior in high school at Andale High School in Andale, Kan.
Dean transfers from Colby (Kan.) Community College, where he wrestled for former FHSU wrestler and two-time All-American David Nordhues. Dean was a two-time national qualifier for Colby and he came on strong in the second half of the 2014-15 season, going 11-4 after the start of January when he dropped from 197 pounds to 184 pounds. A native of Wichita, Kan., he was a state placer his junior year at Wichita South High School. Dean is projected to wrestle at 184 pounds for FHSU.
Ball was a four-time state champion at Hoisington High School in Hoisington, Kan. He won state titles at 120, 126, 132, and 138 pounds with a career prep record of 163-3. He was the No. 2 ranked wrestler overall in the state of Kansas at 138 pounds as a senior by USA Kansas Wrestling. He was named the Kansas Class 3-2-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year in 2015. Ball was runner-up at Rocky Mountain Nationals this past year and he was the state champion in pole vault (15’0″) for track and field as a senior in 2015. He is expected to wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds at FHSU.
Tooley was a two-time state champion at St. Marys High School in St. Marys, Kan. He won the state title at 145 pounds as a junior and 152 pounds as a senior. He was the state runner-up as a sophomore at 138 pounds. He finished with a career record of 158-7 in high school. Tooley was the top ranked wrestler in the entire state of Kansas at 152 pounds by USA Kansas Wrestling. He also was a runner-up at Rocky Mountain Nationals this past year and took fourth at Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was also a solid track and field athlete, finishing as the state runner-up in the high jump. He is projected to wrestle at 157 pounds at FHSU.
Lance comes from Nixa High School in Nixa, Mo., where he was a two-time state placer. He was the state champion as a senior at 220 pounds and took fifth as a junior and 182 pounds. He finished his senior year with a record of 56-1. He took second at the Kansas City Stampede National Tournament, took seventh at Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and won the Southern Plains Freestyle tournament this summer in Dodge City. He is projected to wrestle at 197 pounds at FHSU.
Buckhanan comes to FHSU from Muskogee, Okla., where he was a two-time state qualifier at Muskogee High School. He was the state runner-up at 160 pounds in his senior year. He was also a standout football player at wide receiver, selected to compete in the OCA All-Star Football Game where he shared MVP honors. He is projected to wrestle at 165 or 174 pounds at FHSU.
Davis is a native of St. Louis, Mo., where he wrestled at Christian Brothers College High School. He was a two-time state qualifier and he finished third at 220 pounds in Class 4A as a senior with a record of 53-3. He is projected to wrestle at 184 pounds for FHSU.
Schoenfeld is a native of Salida, Colo., where he was a four-time state qualifier at Salida High School. He finished third at 138 pounds as a senior and fourth at 132 pounds as a junior. He had a career record of 158-21 in high school and is projected to wrestle at 141 pounds.
Lewis is from Oxford, Neb., where he wrestled at Southern Valley High School. He was a two-time state placer, taking third at 120 pounds and fourth at 113 pounds. He is projected to wrestle at 133 pounds at FHSU.
Burgess is from Fredonia, Kan., where he was a two-time state qualifier. He finished fifth at 113 pounds. He is projected to wrestle at 125 pounds for the Tigers.