Kansas Wrestling (all images via fhsuathletics.com)
Fort Hays State Men’s Wrestling (1-2)
vs. Colorado School of Mines (2-0)
Friday, January 5, 2024 • 5 p.m. (3 p.m. PT)
San Francisco, Calif. • Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza
at San Francisco State (2-4)
Friday, January 5, 2024 • 8 p.m. (6 p.m. PT)
San Francisco, Calif. • Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza
The Fort Hays State men’s wrestling team resumes action Friday (Jan. 4) with a pair of duals against Colorado School of Mines and San Francisco State. After taking on the Orediggers and Gators each of the last two seasons in Golden, Colo., FHSU will travel to California for this year’s dual triangular.
The Tigers will open the day against Mines beginning at 5 p.m. (3 p.m. PT) before taking on the hosts in the final dual of the evening at 8 p.m. (6 p.m. PT). In-between, the Orediggers and Gators will face off in an RMAC battle. Free live video will be available on the RMAC Network.
This is Fort Hays State’s first trip to California since February 2011 when two Tigers (Aldon Isenberg and Mitchell Means) punched their ticket to the NCAA Championships at the Super Region 4 Championships, also held in San Francisco.
Both Fort Hays State and Colorado School of Mines are receiving votes in the latest NWCA Division II coaches rankings, with each institution earning nine points in the voting process. FHSU has one individual ranked in Tereus Henry, now sixth at 197 pounds, while Mines has three ranked wrestlers in Grayston DiBlasi (No. 8 at 141 pounds), Cody Thompson (No. 12 at 149 pounds) and Wyatt Reisz (No. 11 at 174 pounds).
Henry leads the Tigers with 18 wins this season, including a team-high six technical falls and eight bonus-point wins. D’Andre Brown, the probable starter at 125 pounds, leads the team with four major decisions. Drew Bell, one of two probables at 141 pounds, has a team-high six pins on the year, including the fastest pin of the year at 32 seconds. Bell is also tied with Henry with a team-leading eight bonus-point wins.
San Francisco State is 2-4 in duals this season, including wins in each of its last two matchups. Sean Yamasaki, the Gators’ probable starter at 141 pounds, placed sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions in SFSU’s most recent competition.
The Tigers are 4-3 all-time against the Gators, including a narrow 19-16 victory in FHSU’s lone road dual in San Francisco during the 1997-98 season. San Francisco State defeated the Tigers last year in Colorado, 25-19.
Colorado School of Mines is 2-0 in duals so far this season, including a 56-0 shutout against Otero and a 31-13 conference win over New Mexico Highlands. The Orediggers placed 19th at the Midwest Classic in their most recent outing, with Reisz placing fifth at 174 pounds and DiBlasi finishing seventh at 141 pounds.
Fort Hays State holds a 22-15 lead in the all-time series against Mines, including five-consecutive victories for the Orediggers. FHSU’s last win over Mines came at home in the 2016-17 season. Mines leads in neutral site meetings, 3-1. The Orediggers won last year’s dual, 32-11.
Fort Hays State Probable Lineup
125 – D’Andre Brown (8-11)
133 – Kevin Honas (6-10)
141 – Drew Bell (12-9) OR Jacob Mitchell (5-9)
149 – Marcell Dely (6-6)
157 – Cason Lindsey (1-0) OR Hunter Harris (2-7)
165 – Cody Hicks (9-8)
174 – Juan Urbina (7-10)
184 – Matthew Rodriguez (10-8)
197 – #6 Tereus Henry (18-6) OR Ryan Patterson (2-4)
285 – Tony Caldwell (12-8)
Colorado School of Mines Probable Lineup
125 – Christian Lopez (5-3) OR Xander Sweeney (0-0)
133 – Trebor Moreno (7-1)
141 – #8 Grayston DiBlasi (11-4)
149 – #12 Cody Thompson (10-2)
157 – Jaron Mahler (8-3)
165 – Tristin David (7-4) OR Jakob Smith (3-2)
174 – #11 Wyatt Reisz (11-4)
184 – Mason Diel (6-4) OR Levi Farris (1-2)
197 – Nico Gagliardi (0-0)
285 – Laith Ibrahim (6-3) OR Cade Whish (13-5)
San Francisco State Probable Lineup
125 – Hayden Ancheta
133 – Brayden Concepcion
141 – Michael McGruder OR Sean Yamasaki
149 – Zane Stoddard
157 – Basil Othman
165 – Kyle Botelho OR Conrado Trevino-Oceguera
174 – Gage Mettler
184 – Kweli Hernandez-Maitre
197 – Laith Gilmore
285 – Emilio Franco Sandoval
