BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WICHITA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Wrestling competed at the Jet Invitational, hosted by Newman University, on Sunday (Jan. 19). The Tigers had five individuals reach the finals at their respective weight classes and came away with three individual champions. Brandon Ball (141), Aryus Jones (184), and A.J. Cooper (285) each earned titles.
Ball blitzed through the 141-pound bracket with a bye, a fall in 1:02, and a 7-0 decision before receiving an injury default win in the championship. Jones made efficient work of the 184-pound bracket with a 16-0 tech fall, a pin in 0:33, and an 8-3 decision over Nate Panagakis of Newman in the final. Cooper mirrored Jones’ win types with a 17-0 tech fall, a pin in 1:28, and then a 9-4 decision over Christian Arriola of Central Oklahoma in the final.
Marty Verhaeghe (174) and Anthony Scantlin (149) also reached the finals, but each lost by decision in their final match of the day. Verhaeghe picked up a couple of wins on his way to the final, an 18-1 tech fall and an 8-3 decision, before dropping a 6-2 decision to Tre’Vaughn Craig of Central Oklahoma. Scantlin had a pair of shutout wins, an 11-0 major and 2-0 decision, before dropping a 7-5 decision in the final to Kevin Kissane of Newman.
Conrad Vajnar also placed for the Tigers at 165 pounds. All three of his wins on the day were by fall. He posted a 3:51 pin in the first round before dropping his second match by major decision. He bounced back for a fall in 3:34 before posting a pin in 4:35 over Luke Slater of Neosho in the third-place match. Slater was also his first opponent of the day, so he picked up two pins over the same opponent.
The Tigers had four other wrestlers in action, two of which made the consolation semis just one match short of a chance at third place. Below are the full results of Tiger wrestlers in action Sunday.
RWC-Jet Invite Results for Fort Hays State
125
Colin Cole (1-7) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Parker Avendando (Newman University) won by fall over Colin Cole (Fort Hays State) (Fall 4:47)
- Cons. Round 1 – JC White (Labette) won by major decision over Colin Cole (Fort Hays State) (MD 13-4)
141
Brandon
Ball (7-0) placed 1st and scored 17.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Kaden Boyce (York College (Fall 1:02)
- Semifinal – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Von Gray (Central Oklahoma) (Dec 7-0)
- 1st Place Match – Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State) won by injury default over John Fox (York College) (Inj. 0:00)
141
Dy`Juan Carney (0-2) place is unknown.
- Champ. Round 1 – Dy`Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – John Fox (York College) won by tech fall over Dy`Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) (TF-1.5 3:10 (16-0))
- Cons. Round 2 – Dy`Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 – Dylan Priddy (Labette) won by fall over Dy`Juan Carney (Fort Hays State) (Fall 3:41)
149
Anthony
Scantlin (24-8) placed 2nd and scored 11.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) won by major decision over Austin Zaring (Labette) (MD 11-0)
- Semifinal – Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Brady Mattioda (Ouachita) (Dec 2-0)
- 1st Place Match – Kevin Kissane (Newman University) won by decision over Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) (Dec 7-5)
165
Conrad
Vajnar (4-5) placed 3rd and scored 11.5 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Luke Slater (Neosho) (Fall 3:51)
- Semifinal – Noah Perkins (Newman University) won by major decision over Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) (MD 13-3)
- Cons. Semi – Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Ben Parkhurst (Ouachita) (Fall 3:34)
- 3rd Place Match – Conrad Vajnar (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Luke Slater (Neosho) (Fall 4:35)
174
Martin Verhaeghe (21-10) placed 2nd and scored 11.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Dante Harper (Cloud) (TF-1.5 5:49 (18-1))
- Semifinal – Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) won by decision over JD Johnson (Newman University) (Dec 8-3)
- 1st Place Match – Tre`Vaughn Craig (Central Oklahoma) won by decision over Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State) (Dec 6-2)
174
Matt
Hook (2-2) place is unknown.
- Champ. Round 1 – Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Tre`Vaughn Craig (Central Oklahoma) won by tech fall over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) (TF-1.5 7:00 (16-1))
- Cons. Round 2 – Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Cameron Pelkey (Schreiner University) (Fall 2:25)
- Cons. Round 3 – Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Dakota Martin (Labette) (Fall 4:59)
- Cons. Semi – JD Johnson (Newman University) won by fall over Matt Hook (Fort Hays State) (Fall 1:36)
184
Aryus
Jones (19-6) placed 1st and scored 15.5 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Austin Weldon (Ouachita) (TF-1.5 6:04 (16-0))
- Semifinal – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Branden Cardwell (Neosho) (Fall 0:33)
- 1st Place Match – Aryus Jones (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Nate Panagakis (Newman University) (Dec 8-3)
197
Tyler
Boone (6-7) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Tyler Boone (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Doug Lazo (York College) (Fall 1:05)
- Quarterfinal – Tyler Boone (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Wyatt Wells (Labette) (Fall 1:20)
- Semifinal – Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma) won by fall over Tyler Boone (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:29)
- Cons. Semi – Marce Vasquez (York College) won by fall over Tyler Boone (Fort Hays State) (Fall 2:52)
285
AJ Cooper (28-7) placed 1st and scored 16.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – AJ Cooper (Fort Hays State) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – AJ Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by tech fall over Korbin McLaughlin (Central Oklahoma) (TF-1.5 1:33 (17-0))
- Semifinal – AJ Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by fall over Johnny Green (Ouachita) (Fall 1:28)
- 1st Place Match – AJ Cooper (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Christian Arriola (Central Oklahoma) (Dec 9-4)