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.