HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team dropped its last conference dual of the season Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17), losing to the number one ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos 47-0. The Tigers are now 4-6 overall and 3-2 in conference duals, while the Bronchos improve to 15-0 on the year and 5-0 in league action.
 
Fort Hays State celebrated senior day, including seniors Rhett Koppes, Jacob Mitchell, Bryce Westmoreland, Juan Urbina and Cody Hicks. Mitchell and Westmoreland competed in an extra match, with Westmoreland winning by major decision.

The Bronchos took the first match, but not without a fight from D'Andre Brown. Brown wasn't able to record a take down, but tallied a couple escapes to notch a close loss of 4-2. The Tigers lost the next four by falls until Cody Hicks, the senior from  Bennington, Okla., was able to last the whole three rounds. The Bronchos added a tech fall and a fall in the 174 pound and 184 pound weight classes, until Ryan Patterson was battled in a 10-5 decision against Emmanuel Skillings. UCO finished the night off with another technical fall at 285.
 
Fort Hays State will now get ready for the NCAA Regionals in Pueblo, Colo., scheduled for March 2. The top three finishers in each weight class at regionals will then advance to Wichita, Kan. for the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships March 15-16.
 
#1 Central Oklahoma 47, Fort Hays State 0
125 - Guy Clevenger over D'Andre Brown (Dec 4-2)
133 - Peter Rolle over Kevin Honas (TF 17-0 3:38)
141 - Dylan Lucas over Drew Bell (TF 18-3 4:47)
149 - Dylan Brown over Marcell Dely (Fall 6:08)
157 - Gabe Johnson over Hunter Harris (TF 16-1 3:21)
165 - Hunter Jump over Cody Hicks (MD 8-0)
174 - Anthony Des Vigne over Juan Urbina (TF 20-4 5:43)
184 - Garrett Wells over Matthew Rodriguez (Fall 5:59)
197 - Emmanuel Skillings over Ryan Patterson (Dec 10-5)
285 - Shawn Streck over Jaxson Thomas (TF 19-4 2:48)
149 - Extra: Bam West over Jacob Mitchell (TF 17-1 1:43)
184 - Extra: Bryce Westmoreland over Barrett Haemker (MD 13-5)