The Fort Hays State wrestlers remained No. 15 in the latest poll released by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association today (Feb. 8). Mitchell Means moved up to No. 2 in the 149-pound class, while both Walker Clarke (184 pounds) and CJ Napier (141 pounds) remained at No. 1 and No. 7, respectively in their weight classes.

For the third straight poll, the Tiger wrestlers held on to the No. 15 spot. The Tigers finished third on the Kansas Cup in their only action since the last poll. Overall, FHSU is 3-2 on the season and 2-2 in the RMAC.

Clarke remained atop the 184-pound class with his No. 1 ranking. The junior from Stillwater, Okla. has held the top stop for three straight polls. Clarke most recently won his weight class at the Kansas Cup, going 3-0 at the tournament.

Napier held at the No. 7 spot in the 141-pound class after entering the polls last time around. A sophomore from Columbus, Kan. is 6-0 on the season, including a 3-0 day and an individual title at the Kansas Cup.

Means moved into the No. 2 spot in the 149-pound class. He was previously third in the class before this poll. A season ago Means was an All-American for the Tigers.

The Tigers return to the mat tomorrow (Feb. 9) in a home dual with Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m. in Gross Memorial Coliseum.


Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 160 1st
2. Newberry (S.C.) 151 2nd
3. Upper Iowa 139.5 3rd
4. Nebraska-Kearney 137 5th
5. Augustana (S.D.) 127.5 4th
6. Central Oklahoma 121 6th
7. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 108 7th
8. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 101 8th
9. Adams State (Colo.) 98 9th
10. Ashland (Ohio) 87 T12th
11. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 71 10th
12. Wisconsin-Parkside 64 11th
13. Limestone (S.C.) 53 T12th
14. Findlay (Ohio) 45 19th
15. Fort Hays State 43 15th
T16. West Liberty (W.Va.) 40 14th
T16. King (Tenn.) 40 16th
T18. Maryville (Mo.) 20 17th
T18. Western State (Colo.) 20 18th
20. Colorado Mesa 17 NR

Others receiving votes: Chadron State (Neb.), Gannon (Pa.), Indianapolis (Ind.), Kutztown (Pa.), Minnesota State, San Francisco State (Calif.).

141 Pounds
1. Dalton Jensen, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Trevor Johnson, Mary (N.D.)
3. Chism Fink, Augustana (S.D.)
4. B.J. Young, Newberry (S.C.)
5. Jack Bachman, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
6. Tywan Claxton, King (Tenn.)
7. C.J. Napier, Fort Hays State
8. James Martinez, Colorado Mesa

149 Pounds
1. Nate Herda, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Mitchell Means, Fort Hays State
3. Raufeon Stotts, Nebraska-Kearney
4. Ethan Swope, Gannon (Pa.)
5. Keenan Hagerty, Maryville (Mo.)
6. Ryan Maus, Truman State (Mo.)
7. Deral Brown, Newberry (S.C.)
8. Bobby Ward, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)

184 Pounds
1. Walker Clarke, Fort Hays State
2. Tanner Keck, Central Oklahoma
3. Derek Skala, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Mitch Schultz, Upper Iowa
5. Dallas Smith, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
6. Adam Walters, Findlay (Ohio)
7. Gary Lantz, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Nick Petersen, Colorado Mesa

Live Webcast FHSU vs. Colorado Mesa starting in a couple minutes

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tiger-wrestling

Tigers with the W.


125 Collin Hase (Fort Hays State) won by forfeit over Unknown (Unattached) . 6.00 0
133 Tyler Nelson (Colorado Mesa University) won by decision over Kyle Johnson (Fort Hays State) 7-3. 0 3.00
141 James Martinez (Colorado Mesa University) won by decision over Charles Napier (Fort Hays State) 7-3. 0 3.00
149 Mitchell Means (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Trevor Donarski (Colorado Mesa University) 7-2. 3.00 0
157 Jon Gappmaier (Colorado Mesa University) won by decision over Derek Koehn (Fort Hays State) 8-3. 0 3.00
165 Sam Thoman (Fort Hays State) won by pin over Chester Granard (Colorado Mesa University) 2:13. 6.00 0
174 Zak Slotten (Colorado Mesa University) won by decision over Benny Armstrong (Fort Hays State) 5-4. 0 3.00
184 Nick Peterson (Colorado Mesa University) won by major decision over Aaron Berscheidt (Fort Hays State) 14-0. 0 4.00
197 Tanner Kriss (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Korey Kennedy (Colorado Mesa University) 6-2. 3.00 0
285 Justin Glenn (Fort Hays State) won by decision over Francisco Retana (Colorado Mesa University) 6-4. 3.00 0
Dual Meet Score 21.0 16.0

Nice win

Kriss and Glenn Push Tigers to 21-16 Win over No. 20 Colorado Mesa

Trailing 16-15 going into the final two matches, Tanner Kriss and Justin Glenn won two decisions to give No. 15 Fort Hays State a 21-16 win over No. 20 Colorado Mesa on Thursday night (Feb. 9) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers are 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the RMAC with the victory.

Kriss started the late rally by the Tigers with a 6-2 decision win over Korey Kennedy at 197 pounds. After the Kriss win and the Tigers holding a slim 18-16 advantage, Justin Glenn closed out the match with a 6-4 win over Francisco Retana for the final 21-16 score.

FHSU started the match with a 6-0 lead after Collin Hase notched a forfeit win at 125 pounds. The Mavericks knotted the match at 6-6 with back-to-back wins at 133 and 141 pounds. Tyler Nelson defeated Kyle Johnson via a 7-3 decision at 133, while the 141-pound match saw a battle between two ranked wrestlers. No. 7 CJ Napier suffered his first loss of the season as No. 8 James Martinez of Colorado Mesa won via a 7-3 decision. Napier is now 6-1 this season.

All-American Mitchell Means won at 149 pounds over Trevor Donarski in a 7-2 decision, giving FHSU a 9-6 lead. After the Mavericks tied it back up at 9-9, Sam Thoman gained six points for the Tigers as Thoman pinned Chester Grandard in the first period at 2:13.

Benny Armstrong and Aaron Berscheidt dropped their bouts to allow the Mavericks to take their first lead at 16-15 before the final two wins for the Tigers by Kriss and Glenn. Armstrong fell in a close 5-4 decision to Zak Slotten at 174, while Berscheidt lost in a 14-0 major decision to Nick Peterson.

The Tigers, now 4-2 and 3-2 in the RMAC, welcome No. 18 Western State to Gross Memorial Coliseum tomorrow (Feb. 10) for a 7 p.m. match.