HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team defeated the Newman Jets in come-from-behind fashion Sunday (Jan. 26), winning 23-22 after trailing by as many as 11. The Tigers are now 5-3 overall and 2-0 in conference duals, while the Jets dip to 1-5 on the year and 1-2 in conference action.
 
A.B. Stokes opened the day with a 16-3 major decision, giving the Tigers an early 4-0 lead. The redshirt freshman picked up a takedown in each period and added a four count late in the bout to secure the major decision.
 
Newman answered back with wins in the next three bouts, including a pin at 141 pounds to jump in front 12-4. Marcell Dely helped the Tigers stop the bleeding with a narrow 7-6 decision at 157 pounds. With the score tied at six late in the third period, Dely was awarded a penalty point after multiple stalling calls on the Jets, giving the Tigers three much needed team points.
 
The Tigers were then open at 165 pounds, putting the Jets on top 18-7 with four matches to go. Connor Padgett started the comeback at 174 pounds with an 18-2 technical fall in just 3:12. The redshirt freshman managed four takedowns and six nearfall points to complete the dominant win.
 
Matthew Rodriguez followed with another technical fall at 184 pounds, defeating his opponent 15-0 in less than four minutes. The Salina, Kan. native led 7-0 after the first period thanks to a takedown and four nearfall points before Rodriguez finished things off early in the second period with a reversal and six more nearfall points.
 
Tereus Henry, the 11th-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds, put the Tigers back on top 23-18 with a second period pin. The former All-American picked up one takedown and a pair of four-counts in the first period before securing the pin at the 4:19 mark.
 
Down five and with the tiebreak criteria in hand, the Jets could manage only four points in the 285 bout with a 12-0 major decision, helping the Tigers hold on to beat the Jets for a fifth-straight dual and remain a perfect 10-0 at home against Newman.
 
Fort Hays State will conclude its home schedule next Saturday (Feb. 1) when the Tigers host No. 21 Central Missouri beginning at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
Fort Hays State 23, Newman 22
125 - A.B. Stokes over Dylan Sheler (MD 16-3)
133 - Jevin Foust over Andrew Honas (Dec 8-1)
141 - Trent Moses over Kevin Honas (Fall 2:47)
149 - Colby Schreiner over Drew Bell (Dec 9-8)
157 - Marcell Dely over Hunter Dietrich (Dec 7-6)
165 - #13 Jace Fisher over Unknown (For.)
174 - Connor Padgett over Chris Mapp (TF 18-2 3:12)
184 - Matthew Rodriguez over Dane Donigian (TF 15-0 3:54)
197 - #11 Tereus Henry over Erik Tomanek (Fall 4:20)
285 - Caleb Wunsch over Riah Ostrander (MD 12-0)