BY CAYDEN SANDERS
VIDEO BY DYLAN SWIHART
The Fort Hays State Tigers wrestling team competed in their first home dual of the season on Saturday. FHSU had a tall task as No. 1 Central Oklahoma University came into town. Coming into the dual, UCO had 7 out of 10 wrestlers ranked in the top 11 in the nation in their respective weight classes. The Bronchos took the win as they shut the Tigers out 34-0. FHSU Head Coach Erik Wince commented on the tough loss to the nation’s best in Central Oklahoma.
“They are just so good at holding positions, hand fighting, and getting the inside position, our effort tonight was great, but we just need to clean up the effort, and find offensive scores,” Wince said. “I think that we only have one or two offensive scores, they compete at a high level and we just need to get to that level ourselves.”
In the 125-pound match, Paxton Rosen controlled the entire match as he had three takedowns in the first period and earned stall points as Brodrick Green laid on the mat the entire period. Rosen earned the Broncos four points.
The 133-pound weight class wasn’t much better for the Tigers as Spudd Morris got a near fall in the second period and continued to win the match. Bronchos lead the Tigers 8-0. Zebley kept a closer match with Kiem but ultimately allowed UCO to pick up three more team points.
The Bronchos kept pushing the pace as Brick Fillipo, Ty Lucus, Hunter Jump, all collected wins on the night racking up 20 team points before the 174 weight class. Tre’Vaughn Craig, Heath Gray, Dalton Abney, and Shawn Streck all get wins to finish out the night.
“We definitely fed off the energy in the matches that were tight, especially in the 149 class when a freshman had the fourth-best wrestler in the 149 weight class on the ropes. It is great to have the fans see that type of effort,” Wince said. “I told the guys before the match that the final score doesn’t matter, the rankings don’t matter, just go out there and just go out and compete tonight and that’s what they did.”
The Tigers are back in action on February 11th as they host Nebraska Kearney in their final home dual of the season.
