FHSU Sports Information Department
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A total of 160 collegiate wrestlers met on Friday (Mar. 11) for day one of the NCAA Division II National Championships. Fort Hays State saw three of its wrestlers compete on the day, two of which secured All-America status and moved on to day two of the tournament.
Jon Inman, the No. 6 ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, made his third consecutive appearance at the championships and advanced to day two to earn All-America status for the first time in his career. Inman went 2-0 on the day and will find himself just one match away from a shot at the national title. Standing in his way is the No. 2 ranked wrestler from Pitt-Johnstown, Travis McKillop, who is currently 33-1 on the year.
Bradley Little (149) is back at the championships for his second year in a row, and like Inman captured All-America status on day one. Little dropped his first match of the day to the top seeded wrestler Nic Goebel from Findlay University in a 9-4 decision, but bounced back by winning his following two. Little had an outstanding come-from-behind overtime victory against Central Oklahoma’s Spencer Rutherford by the way of a 3-1 decision.
Adam Ludwin finished the day 1-2 as he saw his excellent career at Fort Hays State come to an end. In his five years as a Tiger, Ludwin had 20+ wins each year and rounded out his career with his first trip to the NCAA Championships to go with 123 career wins.