Ten Tigers Place At FHSU-Bob Smith Open
Dec. 2, 2006

The Fort Hays State wrestling team hosted the annual FHSU-Bob Smith Open Saturday, December 2 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. FHSU had 21 of its wrestlers compete in the tournament. The Tigers had a great showing in the tournament having one champion, three second-place finishers, three third-place finishers and three fourth-place finishers.
Senior Mikel Delk proved his #1 ranking in the nation at 149 pounds as he won his weight class. He defeated Matt True of Nebraska-Kearney, a two-time champion at the FHSU-Bob Smith Open, with a 4-2 sudden victory in overtime. Delk won five matches in the bracket on his way to the title. Delk was named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the tournament as voted on by the coaches of the teams participating in the open.

Finishing second for the Tigers were freshman Danny Grater, junior Troy Medill and senior Andrew Ubben.

Grater took second in the 157-pound weight class, going 4-1 in the tournament. He defeated Jared Webster of Chadron State College in the semifinals by a score of 4-2. He faced Jason Leavitt of Central Oklahoma in the finals and lost a very tight match by a 3-2 decision.

Medill finished second at 174 pounds by going 3-1 in the tournament. He reached the finals by defeating Jon Montgomery of Northern Colorado in the semifinals by a 9-4 count. He also lost a tight battle in the championship, falling 3-2 to Jason Green of Neosho Community College in the finals. He recorded one fall in the tournament.

Ubben finished second in the 285-pound weight class. He is currently ranked #3 in NCAA Division II. He defeated Dustin Finn of Central Oklahoma in the semifinals 3-1 to meet another Central Oklahoma nemesis, Josh Leadingfox in the finals. Leadingfox won the championship in overtime by sudden victory 3-1. Ubben defeated Leadingfox earlier in the year, but came up on the short end in this battle.

Taking third place for FHSU in the tournament were junior Kyle Patton at 125 pounds, sophomore James Annon at 133 pounds and Tyler Gonzales at 197 pounds.

Patton reached the semifinals of the championship bracket before falling to eventual champion Michael Martinez of Wyoming by a 3-2 decision. He defeated Devlon Webb of Chadron State in the consolation semifinals 3-1 and then defeated Geoff Meng of Colorado Mines in the third-place match by fall in 58 seconds. Patton went 4-1 in the tournament.

Annon reached the semifinals of the championship bracket at 133 pounds before falling to Isaac Wall of Newman University 15-4. He came back to defeat Garrett Eller of Colorado Mines in the consolation semifinals 3-1 and then beat Jimmy Savala of Chadron State in the third-place match 1-0. Annon went 5-1 in the tournament.

Gonzales reached the championship bracket semifinals at 197 pounds and nearly upset Heath Jolley of Central Oklahoma, falling in a tight battle 4-3. He defeated Grant Reichert of Kansas State University in the consolation semifinals 3-2 and defeated teammate Dustin Trego by the same score in the third-place match. He went 4-1 in the tournament.

Also having a great tournament and finishing in fourth place for the Tigers were Phil Hart at 165 pounds, Dustin Trego at 197 pounds and Dustin Martin at 285 pounds. Martin is redshirting this season for the Tigers after qualifying for nationals last year at 197 pounds.

The Tigers will be in action next at Nebraska-Kearney next weekend before gearing up for their dual season after the holiday break.