By CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University wrestling team will be in action at home for the first time this year, at the annual Bob Smith Open tournament. For the No. 25 Tigers, this will be another big test in their regular season.
“The Bob Smith is always a good tournament for us to compete for another tune-up for the Midwest Classic,” Head Coach Erik Wince said. “This year it’s a little bit of a meat grinder as we are welcoming over 40 division one guys to the tournament.”
The field includes DI teams Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Air Force. Perennial powers Adams State, Colorado State-Pueblo, and Nebraska Kearney will also be in the field.
Earlier this season, the Tigers competed against tough competition in duals against DI Northern Colorado, losing 47-4 and on the road against the No. 11 Northern State Wolves out of the NSIC, losing 35-6.
Fort Hays State has also competed in two opens at Dakota Wesleyan and Nebraska Kearney. During those tournaments, FHSU placed six wrestlers and one champion in Tony Caldwell. For Wince and company, this is the toughest start to the season they have seen in four years.
“We have done alright so far, I think this is the toughest early half of the season that we have ever done,” Wince said. “Northern Colorado has some guys ranked in the top 25 in DI, and wrestling Northern State right out of the gate as well who’s a physical team that tested us and gave us a better idea of what we needed to work on.”
Wince said he is happy with how his team is looking as he thinks this is the deepest team he has had at FHSU.
“The 184 weight class is tough because all three guys are having good seasons in that weight (Aidan Johnson, Bryce Westmoreland, and Matt Rodriguez),” Wince said. “We also have some other guys that are looking to try and make our 10-man roster to go to the Midwest Classic.”
In addition to the 184 weight class, there have been some other wrestlers that have caught his eye only one month into the season.
“Obviously, We have Tereus Henry, who is ranked and lost a couple of high-caliber match-ups this season. That’s what it is about, and we strive to get better,” Wince said. “Tony Caldwell also having a good season being a champion at Dakota Wesleyan, and avenging some losses from last season.”
Fort Hays will send 22 wrestlers to the mats on Saturday and will try and finalize the 10-man roster going into the Midwest Classic hosted in Indianapolis on December 16 and 17 to close out the first half of the schedule.
Before this weekend’s Bob Smith Open, Fort Hays State will host the wrestling program’s alumni for a dinner Friday night before recognizing their alumni before the tournament Saturday morning before matches start.
“We know that this is going to be tough competition, having some DI guys that are not starters for their programs but high-caliber guys that can go out there and compete and give us learning opportunities as we ramp up to the Midwest Classic and the second half of the season,” Wince said.
The Bob Smith Open will start at 9 a.m. Saturday in Gross Memorial Collesium with 300 wrestlers will be in attendance. The Bob Smith Women’s Open will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday inside GMC, where FHSU’s women’s wrestling team members will compete unattached.