By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – A pair of Fort Hays State wrestlers were highly ranked in the final tally of wins via pin and technical fall, released Tuesday (March 24) by the NCAA. A.J. Cooper finished the season with the second-most pins in Division II, while Aryus Jones wrapped up the season tied for sixth in tech falls.
Cooper pinned 14 DII opponents on the year, more than all but one other Division II competitor. The junior finished the year 36-11, leading the team in victories. He added four tech falls and two major decisions. Cooper captured first place at this year’s Swede Open and RWC-Jet Invite while placing fourth at the Super Region 4 Championships at 285 pounds. The Cimarron Kan. native earned All-MIAA status after being named runner-up in the dual meet championship
Jones racked up six technical fall victories against DII opponents this season, tied for the sixth-most in the country and second-most amongst MIAA competition. The Junction City, Kan. native also led the Tigers with eight major decisions, finishing the year 28-9 overall. The sophomore was a national qualifier after placing third at the Super Region 4 Championships and was the champion of the Swede Open, the Bob Smith Open and the RWC-Jet Invite at 174 pounds.
Only bouts against other Division II opponents count towards these totals. Overall, 16 of Cooper’s 36 wins came via a pin, while Jones tallied seven total tech falls on the year.