http://fhsuathletics.com/news/article/1935/Tiger Wrestling Inks Nine Individuals For 2010-11
May 14, 2010
Fort Hays State wrestling coach Chas Thompson announced the signing of nine student-athletes for the 2010-11 year. The individuals signing with FHSU include Benny Armstrong, Travis Budke, CJ Collins, Joey Dozier, Sean Gaither, Collin Hase, Blake Nygren, Raufeon Stots, and Tyson Schmidtberger. Six of the individuals will be true freshmen next year and three are transfers.
Armstrong, a native of Andale, Kan., comes to the program from Andale High School. He is a four-time state placer and was ranked No. 3 at 171 pounds for all Kansas classes as a senior. He was the state-runner up at 160 pounds as a junior and at 171 pounds as a senior. He is projected at either the 165 or 174-pound weight classes in college.
Budke is a native of Hays, Kan., and comes to the program from Pratt Community College. He was a two-time national qualifier at PCC and earned NJCAA All-American honors in 2009 at 165 pounds. He will likely stay in that weight class at FHSU. Budke competed in high school at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.
Collins is a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., where he competed at Collins Hill High School. He committed during the early signing period. He was the state champion at 215 pounds in 2010, helping Collins Hill to its third consecutive team state championship. He entered 2009-10 as the preseason No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class in Georgia and No. 27 nationally at his weight by Wrestling USA Magazine. He is projected for the 197 or 285-pound weight class at FHSU.
Dozier, a native of Garden City, Kan., comes to the program from Garden City High School. He was the state champion at 145 pounds as a senior in Class 6A. He was a three-time state placer. He was ranked No. 2 at 145 pounds for all Kansas classes in 2010. He is projected for the 149-pound weight class at FHSU.
Gaither, a native of Wichita, Kan., comes to the program from Wichita Northwest High School. He is a three-time state placer in Class 6A, with a third-place finish in 2010 as his best. He entered 2009-10 ranked No. 3 at 152 pounds for all Kansas classes. Gaither committed during the early signing period. He is projected to wrestle at 157 pounds at FHSU.
Hase is native of Silver Lake, Kan., and comes to the program from Labette Community College. He was a two-time national qualifier at LCC and earned NJCAA All-American honors in 2010 at 125 pounds. He was a two-time state champion at Silver Lake High School during his prep career. He is projected for the 125-pound weight class at FHSU.
Nygren is a native of Johnstown, Colo., and comes to the program from Roosevelt High School. He was a state champion at 160 pounds as a senior in Colorado Class 4A. He is projected for the 165-pound weight class at FHSU.
Stots, a native of Houston, Texas, comes to the program from Labette Community College. He was a two-time national qualifier for LCC and earned NJCAA All-American honors in 2009 at 149 pounds. He is projected to wrestle anywhere from 141 pounds to 157 pounds.
Schmidtberger is a native of Russell, Kan., and comes to the program from Russell High School. He was a two-time state placer in Class 4A, with third place as his best showing in 2010. He is projected at 133 or 141 pounds at FHSU.