Tigers Celebrate Special Evening With 51-0 Shutout Victory Over Grand Canyon
Feb. 9, 2008
The Fort Hays State wrestling team was in action on Saturday evening and hosted Grand Canyon University. On a night in which head coach Cody Bickley was honored for becoming the new all-time duals winner in FHSU wrestling history, the Tigers would win all 10 matches and shut out the Antelopes by a final score of 51-0. FHSU would benefit from five GCU open weights.
The dual began at 125 pounds. Kyle Patton of Fort Hays State would get the Tigers on the board first as he would defeat Grand Canyon’s Tony Covert, by a 10-1 major decision. The win gave the Tigers a quick 4-0 lead.
Grand Canyon would then be open at the next three weights giving FHSU a commanding 22-0 lead. Those Tigers picking up victories were Kyle Cook at 133 pounds, Dylan Loyd at 141 pounds, and Josh Pfannenstiel at 149 pounds.
In the last match before intermission at 157 pounds, it was Fort Hays State’s Danny Grater winning by fall at 1:53 over Grand Canyon’s Stephen Towne. The win by Grater gave the Tigers a 28-0 lead at intermission.
Following intermission at 165 pounds, it was FHSU’s Troy Lussenhop defeating the Antelopes’ Dan Grayson by technical fall (16-0), to give the Tigers a 33-0 lead.
Next up in the 174 pound match, it was the Tigers’ Blake Malloy picking up his 20th win of the season defeating GCU’s Jack Porter by a 5-3 decision.
FHSU continued to add up points as Grand Canyon was open at both 184 pounds and 197 pounds. Picking up wins for the Tigers were Shawn Kuhlman at 184 pounds and Tyler Gonzales at 197 pounds. The two forfeit wins gave Fort Hays State a 48-0 lead heading into the final match of the dual.
In the last match at 285 pounds, it was FHSU’s Dustin Martin defeating GCU’s Jed Jobe by a 3-2 overtime decision, to preserve the shutout for the Tigers. The win gave FHSU a 51-0 victory.
With the victory, the Tigers are now 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Grand Canyon University fell to 0-23-1 and 0-4 in their first season as a member of the RMAC. FHSU will next be in action a week from Tuesday when the team hosts RMAC rival and current #4-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. The dual on February 19, begins at 7:00 p.m. from Gross Memorial Coliseum. Also honored in the dual against Grand Canyon was the late Dale Votapka, FHSU's first Wrestling All-American and serving as an honorary coach was another former Tiger All-American Vic Lyczak.
