By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LINDSBORG, Kan. – The No. 17 Fort Hays State wrestling team had five wrestlers take first place at the eighth annual Swede Open Saturday (Nov. 16), hosted by Bethany College. The Tigers had more first-place finishers than any other school (Nebraska-Kearney 4, Newman 1). Two of the other nine Tiger wrestlers to compete also finished in the top four in their respective weight class.
Jonathan Ball took the crown at 149 pounds after finishing 4-0 with four different types of wins. The sophomore opened the day with a 17-2 tech fall before pinning his opponent in the quarterfinals. Ball advanced to the finals with a 6-1 decision before winning the title with a 12-3 major decision.
A.J. Cooper had little trouble navigating through the bracket at 285 pounds, winning all five of his matches to secure the title. The junior won his first three bouts via tech fall, dominating Wyatt Wells (Labette CC) 18-3, defeating Dustin Mason (Bethany) 20-2 and crushing Nate Connelly (Hastings) 18-0. Cooper earned a spot in the title bout thanks to an 8-3 decision against Lee Herrington (Nebraska-Kearney) before recording a late pin in the championship bout against Korinthian Nabors (Lindenwood-Belleville).
Tereus Henry had quite the day, going 5-0 to win the 197-pound competition thanks to four pins. The freshman won his opening bout with a pin just seconds before the final horn sounded and added another pin in the first period of the second round. Henry moved on to the semifinals thanks to a sudden victory win over Jace Lacaille of Nebraska-Kearney before getting back to dominating his opponents. He advanced to the championship thanks to another first period fall before taking down another Loper, Andrew Demos, with one minute remaining in the championship bout.
Aryus Jones took home first place at the Swede Open for the second year in a row after dominating the 184-pound bracket. Jones pinned his first two opponents in less than 20 seconds before moving on to the finals with an 18-0 first period technical fall in the semis. The sophomore had to go the full seven minutes in the championship bout, but still did not drop a point in a 5-0 decision.
Marty Verhaeghe took home first place in the 174-pound division thanks to a 4-0 day. He recorded a pin in the first round before winning via decision in the next three rounds. He came away victorious in the championship bout thanks to a go-ahead takedown with 70 seconds left on the clock, earning a 6-4 decision.
Anthony Scantlin reached the championship bout at 157 pounds after three-consecutive wins before finishing in second place. The sophomore picked up a 10-0 major decision in his first match before recording back-to-back decisions in the quarters and semis. Scantlin finished the day 3-1 after dropping the first-place match via a 5-1 decision.
Conrad Cole reached the semifinals after three-straight victories, including an 11-0 major decision and a pin. The senior dropped a narrow 6-3 decision in the semis before recovering with a 15-0 technical fall in the consolation semis. He finished fourth after coming up short in the third-place match.
The Tigers will return to the mat next weekend when they travel north to Kearney, Neb. for the Younes Hospitality Open on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Mason Turner – 125 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Konner Alejandro (Hastings) (Fall 1:50)
Quarterfinal – Studd Morris (Unattached Central Oklahoma) won by decision over Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 4 – Blayne Harris (Cloud County Comm College) won by medical forfeit over Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) (MFF)
Dy’Juan Carney – 133 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Alec Segarra (Nebraska Kearney) (Fall 1:42)
Champ. Round 2 – Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Rhett Miner (Colby CC) (Fall 4:34)
Quarterfinal – Tyler Lawley (Newman) won by fall over Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:13)
Cons. Round 4 – Bobby Robinson (Ottawa) won by fall over Dy’Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) (Fall 1:38)
Conrad Cole – 133 pounds – 4th place
Champ. Round 1 – Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Andy Rojas (Colby CC) (Maj 11-0)
Champ. Round 2 – Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Blake Leiszler (Cloud County Comm College) (Dec 7-4)
Quarterfinal – Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Parker Hardy (Hastings) (Fall 2:14)
Semifinal – Austin Kolvek (Baker) won by decision over Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Semi – Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over De`Khyale McFarland (Neosho community college) (TF 15-0)
3rd Place Match – Edrich Nortje (Hastings) won by fall over Conrad Cole (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:58)
Kadin Heacock – 149 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Ethan Ewing (Neosho community college) won by decision over Kadin Heacock (Fort Hays State) (Dec 7-6)
Cons. Round 1 – Mouhammad Sangariev (Colby CC) won by decision over Kadin Heacock (Fort Hays State) (Dec 9-3)
Jonathan Ball – 149 pounds – 1st place
Champ. Round 1 – Jonathan Ball (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Jonathan Ball (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Cordell Hunt (Labette Community College) (TF 17-2)
Quarterfinal – Jonathan Ball (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Teontae Wilson (Nebraska Kearney) (Fall 5:00)
Semifinal – Jonathan Ball (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Kaleb Canoyer (Nebraska Kearney) (Dec 6-1)
1st Place Match – Jonathan Ball (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over John Fox (York) (Maj 12-3)
Anthony Scantlin – 157 pounds – 2nd place
Champ. Round 1 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Cole Denny (Neosho community college) (Maj 10-0)
Quarterfinal – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Cole Halouska (Dakota Wesleyan) (Dec 7-1)
Semifinal – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Taygen Smith (Hastings) (Dec 8-7)
1st Place Match – Tyler Cunningham (Nebraska Kearney) won by decision over Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) (Dec 5-1)
Josh Lenker – 157 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Dallas Boone (Neosho community college) won by tech fall over Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) (TF 21-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Brenner Vogan (Unattached) won by decision over Josh Lenker (Fort Hays State) (Dec 9-3)
Marty Verhaeghe – 174 pounds – 1st place
Champ. Round 1 – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Dailen Presgrove (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (Fall 4:36)
Quarterfinal – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Jensen McDermott (Benedictine) (Dec 8-3)
Semifinal – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Wyatt Hayes (Nebraska Kearney) (Dec 10-5)
1st Place Match – Marty Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Cameron Young-Leggett (Ottawa) (Dec 6-4)
Clint Herrick – 184 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Branden Cardwell (Neosho community college) won by decision over Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Matthew Ordonez (Bethany) (Fall 4:25)
Cons. Round 3 – Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Eli White (Benedictine) (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 4 – Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Ridge Smith (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (Maj 8-0)
Cons. Round 5 – Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Tyson Villalpando (Neosho community college) (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Semi – Joey Ewalt (Barton) won by tech fall over Clint Herrick (Fort Hays State) (TF 15-0)
Matt Hook – 184 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Matthew Ordonez (Bethany) (Dec 7-3)
Champ. Round 2 – Nate Panagakis (Newman) won by fall over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) (Fall 1:44)
Cons. Round 2 – Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Dakota McCaleb (Labette Community College) won by decision over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) (Dec 5-1)
Aryus Jones – 184 pounds – 1st place
Champ. Round 1 – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Tyson Villalpando (Neosho community college) (Fall 0:15)
Quarterfinal – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Chase Pywell (Bethany) (Fall 0:20)
Semifinal – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Joey Ewalt (Barton) (TF 18-0)
1st Place Match – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Nate Panagakis (Newman) (Dec 5-0)
Tereus Henry – 197 pounds – 1st place
Champ. Round 1 – Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Joshua Wilson (Bethany) (Fall 6:48)
Champ. Round 2 – Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Timothy Carter (Lindenwood-Bellville) (Fall 1:48)
Quarterfinal – Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State) won in sudden victory – 1 over Jace Lacaille (Nebraska Kearney) (SV-1 12-10)
Semifinal – Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Dylan Newton (Neosho community college) (Fall 2:53)
1st Place Match – Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Andrew Demos (Nebraska Kearney) (Fall 6:02)
LJ Flax – 285 pounds
Champ. Round 1 – LJ Flax (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Mateo Pena (Labette Community College) (Fall 6:12)
Champ. Round 2 – Elwin Trejo (Cloud County Comm College) won by fall over LJ Flax (Fort Hays State) (Fall 3:36)
Cons. Round 2 – LJ Flax (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Jacob Sabus (Central Christian College) (Fall 2:40)
Cons. Round 3 – Malique Trumbo (Unattached) won by fall over LJ Flax (Fort Hays State) (Fall 3:21)
A.J. Cooper – 285 pounds – 1st place
Champ. Round 1 – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Wyatt Wells (Labette Community College) (TF 18-3)
Champ. Round 2 – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Dustin Mason (Bethany) (TF 20-2)
Quarterfinal – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Nate Connelly (Hastings) (TF 18-0)
Semifinal – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Lee Herrington (Nebraska Kearney) (Dec 8-3)
1st Place Match – A.J. Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Korinthian Nabors (Lindenwood-Bellville) (Fall 7: 00)