By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 14 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team comes back home after a month-long absence from Hays to host the No. 8 ranked Lindenwood Lions on Friday (Jan. 11) in the first home dual for the Tigers. The black & gold are 1-3 overall in duals this season, while beginning the conference portion of the dual season 0-1 after falling to Central Oklahoma (Dec. 9). The battle against the Lions is slated to commence at 7 p.m. from inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Fort Hays State’s projected lineup consists of two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, two redshirt-freshmen and two true freshmen while the Lions will have six individually ranked wrestlers on their side. Brandon Ball (No. 2 at 141 pounds) and Efe Osaghae (No. 4 at 157 pounds) are two Tigers in the individual rankings.
The first matchup will feature true freshman Broderick Green and undefeated junior Carlos Jacquez. Jacquez enters as the No. 3 ranked wrestler in the 125-pound weight class. Green holds a 6-12 overall record in his first year with the Tigers. Among his six victories, Green has one technical fall and one major decision to his credit. Jacquez carries a 15-0 overall record with him into the dual.
In the 133-pound bout, both the Tigers and Lions will have two options. True freshman Riley Tubbs or junior Conrad Cole will face off with either freshman Tanner Hitchcock or No. 3 ranked Danny Swan. Tubbs enters the dual with a 6-4 record, including four decisions and one major decision. Cole is tied for second on the squad in pins (four). Hitchcock is 9-6 on the season, while Swan sits at 11-3 so far this year.
No. 2 ranked Brandon Ball will battle Tyler Wicken in the 141-pound matchup. Ball carries a 12-0 overall record with him, while winning both the Swede Open and the Bob Smith Open. Among Ball’s 12 wins, he has seven decisions, two falls, two major decisions and one technical falls. Wicken sits at 6-4 on the year.
The 149-pound bout will feature one of three options for the Tigers and Gavin Londoff for the Lions. Jonathan Ball, Anthony Scantlin or Ryne Cokeley will take to the mat for FHSU. Ball (R-Fr.) sits at 11-5 on the year with six decisions, two technical falls, one pin and one major decision. Scantlin (R-Fr.) is currently 3-4 overall with two pins and one major decision in limited action. Senior Ryne Cokeley enters the weekend falling in his only match of the season at the National Duals (Jan. 4) against top-ranked Chris Eddins Jr (Pitt-Johnstown).
No. 4 ranked Efe Osaghae will battle with Nate Trepanier in the 157-pound class. Osaghae carries a 15-2 overall record with him, while an individual title at the Swede Open, a runner-up finish at the Bob Smith Open and a third-place finish at the UNK Holiday Inn Open. Osaghae leads the squad in technical falls (five), ranks third in total wins (15) and has also picking up six decisions, two sudden victories, one pin and one major decision. Trepanier has compiled an 18-3 overall slate this season.
In the 165-pound match, redshirt-freshman Aryus Jones will face off with Kyle Jolas. Jones is 13-5 on the year with five decision, four pins and two technical falls. Jones earned an individual title at the Swede Open earlier this year. Jolas carries a 14-8 overall record into the dual.
At 174 pounds, sophomore Marty Verhaeghe battles against Kyle Summers. Verhaeghe sits at 14-6 on year while Summers brings with him a 9-6 slate.
Senior Micquille Robinson gets the call for the Tigers in the 184-pound weight class. He is projected to face off with No. 10 ranked Colton Clingenpeel. Robinson is 23-4 on year and leads the team in wins (23) and major decisions (six). Robinson has added 12 decisions, two falls and one sudden victory. Clingenpeel sits at 10-6 overall on the season.
In penultimate pairing, junior Jordan Davis takes on No. 11 ranked Jared McKindley in the 197-pound bout. Davis carries a 7-9 overall record with four decisions, two major decisions and one pin. McKindley enters the matchup with an 8-8 record.
At 285 pounds, sophomore A.J. Cooper takes on No. 11 ranked Courvoisier Morrow. Cooper sits at 12-7 overall with five decisions, three major decisions, three falls and one technical fall. Morrow is 9-5 on the year.