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