Fort Hays State Men's Wrestling (3-6, 1-0 MIAA)
at #17 Central Missouri (6-4, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, January 23, 2026 • 3 p.m.
Warrensburg, Mo. • Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center
 
The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team returns to conference dual action on Friday (Jan. 23) when the Tigers travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on 17th-ranked Central Missouri.

Due to the impending winter storm, the dual will begin at 3 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center, four hours earlier than originally planned.
 
The Tigers enter the contest 3-6 overall in duals and 1-0 in conference action, while the Mules are 6-4 overall. This is UCM's first matchup against an MIAA opponent this season.
 
This is the second time this week that the Tigers will make the drive across I-70 to Warrensburg after competing in UCM's Roger Denker Open on Sunday (Jan. 18). The Tigers placed three individuals at that tournament, including 165-pound runner-up Cason Lindsey, 165-pound third-place finisher Hunter Harris and 184-pound fifth-place finisher Houston Frank.
 
197-pounder Ryan Patterson leads the Tigers with 16 victories this season, including a team-high five technical falls. At 10-2, Lindsey owns the team's best winning percentage of 83.3 percent. 133-pound starter Jett Schwartz collected FHSU's quickest pin of the season in just 21 seconds. Ten of 157-pounder Cash Thomas' 12 victories this season have been bonus-point wins, tied for second-most on the squad.
 
The Tigers are 36-25-1 all-time against Central Missouri, including wins in 17 of the last 19 matchups. FHSU is 3-2 against the Mules during the Erik Wince era.
 
The Mules feature three nationally ranked wrestlers, including top-ranked Damon Ashworth at 184 pounds, ninth-ranked Gage Bernall at 165 pounds and 14th-ranked Garrett Lyons at 149 pounds.
 
Looking ahead, FHSU will compete at home for the first time since December on Saturday, February 7 when the Tigers host top-ranked Central Oklahoma beginning at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
FHSU Projected Lineup
125 – Aiden Shields (5-6)
133 – Jett Schwartz (7-15)
141 – Julien Kimling (11-5)
149 – Jarret Mader (7-11)
157 – Cash Thomas (12-6) OR Marcell Dely (4-4)
165 – Cason Lindsey (10-2) OR Hunter Harris (9-10)
174 – Ernesto Duenez (7-8)
184 – Matthew Rodriguez (3-4)
197 – Ryan Patterson (16-7)
285 – Jaxson Thomas (5-5)
 
UCM Projected Lineup
125 - Karim Allal
133 - Drew Stanfield
141 - James Wright
149 - Trey Dillow OR #14 Garrett Lyons
157 - Ayden Dolt
165 - #9 Gage Bernall
174 - Anthony Erickson
184 - #1 Damon Ashworth
197 - Ayden Flores
285 - Torin Forsyth