By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior wrestler A.J. Cooper has been named the inaugural MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week for the 2020-21 season, announced Tuesday (Jan. 12) by the league office.
Cooper, the 10th-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, opened his senior season with a pair of first period pins in Saturday’s FHSU Dual Jamboree (Jan. 9). The heavyweight opened his day with a win via fall in just 1:33 against Nathan Ellis of Adams State. Cooper added another first period pin in the second dual of the day against Colorado Mesa, sticking Gabriel Carranza to the mat in just 2:08
Cooper recorded 12 of FHSU’s 42 team points on the day. He is one of just 10 Division II wrestlers with multiple wins via pin so far this season.
This is Cooper’s second-career MIAA Athlete of the Week honor, previously earning the distinction as a junior (11/26/19).
The 12th-ranked Tigers are scheduled to continue their season Thursday when they travel west to take on No. 16 Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. beginning at 6 p.m. CT (5 p.m. MT).