FHSU Sports Information Department
The Fort Hays State wrestling team held its first home event of the 2015-16 season on Thursday (Nov. 5) with its annual Black and Gold Scrimmage.
The Gold team took started off with a big victory when transfer from Labette Community College, Derrick Gates, defeated Jace Nordyke by a major decision (13-2) in the 165-pound class.
The Black team came roaring back in the 285-pound weight class after Zach Kearney took advantage of a Dakota Gulley wrong turn and pinned him in 3:36.
Senior and two-year starter Adam Ludwin took on Cornell College transfer Vikash Hypio at 125 pounds. Ludwin won by decision, 7-3, having one take down per period, and gave the Gold an advantage once again at 7-6.
The 141-pound class was a battle between two experienced wrestlers, Tyler Dryden and Jacob Kay. Dryden fared better in the matchup pulling away by decision for the Gold team, 6-2, widening the lead to 10-6.
Noah Killip and Matt Ziegler battled at the 149 pounds. Killip, who was a national qualifier at 141 pounds last year, came out on top with a first period fall at the 2:47 mark. That extended the Gold lead to 16-6.
Joey Dozier and Bradley Little was the feature match of the night at 157 pounds. Both wrestlers are seniors and returning starters. After neither scored in the first period, Dozier earned two back points. Little was able to break free and get a reversal before the second period ended, tying the score at 2-2. After a Little take down in the third, Dozier was able to earn an escape to bring the score back to 4-3. Little was finally able to seal the deal with one more take down to earn the decision for Black, 6-4, as Dozier had a riding time point applied at the end.
Nathan Shipley and Ethan Dale battled it out in the 174 pound weight class. Like the match before it was scoreless after the first period. Shipley earned an escape in the second period, but Dale was able to get a reversal and a riding time bonus point to hold off Shipley for a 3-2 win for the Black team. That put the score at 16-12 in favor of Gold.
True freshman Jordan Davis showed he has plenty of upside as he took on one of the team’s top wrestlers, Jon Inman, in the 184-pound match. Davis held his own against the preseason No. 6 wrestler in the country, only down two points after the first period. Inman then hit the gas pedal by earning an escape to start the second period and three takedowns on the way to an 11-3 win. The win for Inman knotted the score at 16-16.
After defeating Nordyke earlier in the evening, Derrick Gates wrestled a second match against Kregg Clarke. It was a back and forth battle for the entire match but Gates proved victorious once more by 9-6 decision, putting Gold on top 19-16.
The final matchup of the evening was a heavyweight bout between Zach Kearney, who defeated Gulley earlier in the evening, and Justin Scott. Scott was in full control the entire match recording a take down and a two-point near fall in the first period and then an escape and take down in the second. Throw in a riding time point and he walked away with the major decision for the black team by the score of 8-0. The riding time point helped Black push over the top of Gold 20-19 and avoid a tie.
Results of exhibition matches:
Christian Lewis defeated Jake Schoenfeld by decision 9-4.
Rakim Dean defeated Christian Lance by decision 3-2.
Several Tiger wrestlers will be heading to Lindsborg, Kan., on Saturday (Nov. 7) to officially open the season at the Bethany College Open.