Fort Hays State received votes in the NCAA Division II Preseason wrestling poll, released Monday by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.
FHSU, which finished 21st in last year’s NCAA Division II National Championships, was one of five MIAA squads recognized in the poll. No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney had 134 points, while Central Oklahoma (No. 9, 87 points) and Lindenwood (No. 10, 77 points) were both Top 10 selections. Central Missouri was picked 12th with 77 points.
Individually, the Tigers had two wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes.
Josh Rodriguez is No. 5 at 174 pounds after going 17-11 last season with an appearance at the NCAA Championships, earning a berth after a second place finish at the NCAA Central Super Regional.
Jon Inman is ranked fifth at 184 pounds after earning MIAA Freshman of the Year honors with a 27-8 overall record. Inman competed at the 2014 NCAA Championships after winning the NCAA Central Super Regional at 184 pounds.
The Tigers open the 2014-15 season with the Black and Gold Scrimmage on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Complete team and individual rankings are below
Rank Team Points
1 Maryville (Mo.) 151
2 Quachita Baptist (Ark.) 142
3 Nebraska-Kearney 134
4 Notre Dame (Ohio) 122
5 St. Cloud State (Minn.) 121
6 McKendree (Ill.) 116
7 Mercyhurst (Pa.) 114
8 Western State (Colo.) 94
9 Central Oklahoma 87
10 Lindenwood (Mo.) 77
11 North Carolina-Pembroke 54
12 Central Missouri 53
13 Kutztown (Pa.) 52
14 Lake Erie (Ohio) 51
15 Augustana (S.D.) 45
16 Upper Iowa 44
17 Ashland (Ohio) 34
18 California Baptist 30
19 Newberry (S.C.) 29
20 Colorado Mesa 23
Others receiving votes: Adams State (Colo.), Findlay (Ohio), Fort Hays State (Kan.), Gannon (Pa.), Indianapolis (Ind.), Southwest Minnesota, Tiffin (Ohio), Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
Individual Rankings
125 Pounds
1. T.J. North, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Matt Turek, Gannon (Pa.)
3. Gerald Huff, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Garrett Evans, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
5. Josh Kieffer, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6. Willie Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7. Tanner Johnshoy, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Blake Bosch, Minnesota State-Moorhead
133 Pounds
1. Daniel DeShazer, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Michael Labry, Ashland (Ohio)
3. Nate Rodriguez, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
4. Zak Hale, Anderson (S.C.)
5. Matt Paulus, Upper Iowa
6. Zac Shank, Western State (Colo.)
7. Ryan Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Martin Ramirez, Adams State (Colo.)
141 Pounds
1. Daniel Ownbey, North Carolina-Pembroke
2. Josh Myers, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
3. Darick Lapaglia, Maryville (Mo.)
4. Kyle Webb, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5. Maurice Miller, Notre Dame (Ohio)
6. Justin Keiffer, Indianapolis (Ind.)
7. Jordan Roths, Upper Iowa
8. Corbin Bennetts, Western State (Colo.)
149 Pounds
1. Frank Cagnina, Central Missouri
2. Jay Hildreth, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Keenan Hagerty, Maryville (Mo.)
4. Jeremy Landowski, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Andrew Bannister, Notre Dame (Ohio)
6. Brent Fickel, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Spencer Rutherford, Central Oklahoma
8. Colin Landowski, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
157 Pounds
1. Jonatan Rivera, Notre Dame (Ohio)
2. Clint Poster, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. James Martinez, Colorado Mesa
4. Derrick Weller, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5. Brady Bersano, California Baptist
6. John Crowley, Colorado School of Mines
7. Josh Ballard, McKendree (Ill.)
8. Chase White, Nebraska Kearney
165 Pounds
1. Chris Watson, Central Oklahoma
2. Nick Haferkamp, McKendree (Ill.)
3. Dimitri Willis, Maryville (Mo.)
4. Cody Quinn, Minnesota State-Mankato
5. Gabe Fogarty, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Ty Loethen, Central Missouri
7. Bo Candelaria, Kutztown (Pa.)
8. Matt Vandermeer, Lake Erie (Ohio)
174 Pounds
1. Elliot Copeland, Western State (Colo.)
2. Zeb Wahle, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Jacob Begin, Southwest Minnesota
4. August Mizia, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Josh Rodriguez, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6. Joe Pittman, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Luis Alba, McKendree (Ill.)
8. Clayton Jennissen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
184 Pounds
1. Dallas Smith, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
2. Nick Brughardt, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Kyle Piatt, Western State (Colo.)
4. Jared Holliday, Newberry (S.C.)
5. Jon Inman, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6. Jon Vogt, McKendree (Ill.)
7. Blake Sorenson, Upper Iowa
8. Zack Zelcs, Gannon (Pa.)
197 Pounds
1. Romero Cotton, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Julian Smith, McKendree (Ill.)
3. Evan Rosborough, Lake Erie (Ohio)
4. Kenny Breauz, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5. Sam Mangum, Western State (Colo.)
6. Paco Petana, Colorado Mesa
7. Jayd Docken, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Andrew Reggi, San Francisco State (Calif.)
285 Pounds
1. Ziad Haddad, Kutztown (Pa.)
2. Donnell Walker, Maryville (Mo.)
3. Austin Goergen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Cole Wilson, Southwest Minnesota
5. Logan Hopp, Upper Iowa
6. Chris Giddens, North Carolina-Pembroke
7. Peter Anguiano, Western State (Colo.)
8. Andy Welton, Mercyhurst (Pa.)