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Tiger wrestlers to scrimmage
10/31/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
For the first time in recent years, the Fort Hays State University wrestling team will not return any All-Americans. That didn't stop the Tigers from earning the preseason No. 18 ranking in the NCAA Division II Coaches' poll.
Tiger coach Cody Bickley knows it's a long season and without those returnees finds himself with a good problem. There are spots to fill and a deep well of talent to fill them.
Tiger fans will get their first look at the Tigers with Thursday's 7 p.m. Black & Gold Scrimmage at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Amongst each other, the Tigers will battle out nine of the 10 weight classes in preparation for next week's season opener in Topeka against NCAA Div. I Stanford University.
"There are a lot of new faces, but some familiar ones," Bickley said. "We've got a lot of younger guys that we are expecting big things out of and there are going to be some good matchups on the mat Thursday."
The Tigers are coming off a 7-6 dual record from a season ago and return three national qualifiers, including sophomores Tyler Gonzales and Danny Grater. Each will enter the season with preseason rankings. Gonzales is ranked No. 4 at 197 pounds, while Grater is ranked No. 6 at 157.
"We've got some spots that are up for grabs and we have some spots to fill," Bickley said. "This is the first year in a while where we don't return any All-Americans. But, we have some guys that we definitely think are going to be All-Americans."
The Tiger roster includes 31 wrestlers, including some familiar names to fans of the Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships. Among those names is Norton product Eric Johnson, a transfer from the University of Central Oklahoma, as well as Beloit freshman Bradley Esterl, last year's state champion at 130 pounds. The list also includes two-time 4A state champion Blake Fisher out of Andale, who will compete at 133 as a redshirt freshman for the Tigers.
"There are sure to be some spots battled for,"¬ Bickley said. "We had a big recruiting class this year, but we still have a long ways to go."
Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail at
nmcqueen@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
