WICHITA, Kan. — With the dual portion of its schedule in full swing, the Newman wrestling team is set to host a pair of matchups at home this week.
The Jets (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) begin with a match against MIAA foe Fort Hays State (3-4, 0-1 MIAA) Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium. Their back the next day for Senior Night festivities and a dual against Pratt CC (6-3). Wednesday's dual will be preceded by exhibitions from members of the Bishop Carroll, Maize, and Derby kids club teams, beginning at 5:30, while Thursday's Senior Night ceremony will take place immediately before the match.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets put together a solid showing last week, with promising effort in individual bouts despite a 29-19 loss to Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday. The followed by seeing four wrestlers crowned champions and a second-place team finish at the Kansas Cup Sunday.
Projected Lineup
125: No. 2 Dustin Reed (9-2)
133: Cole Sutterfield (1-12)
141: Open
149: No. 9 Tyler Mies (24-10)
157: Forlanda Parker (3-12)
165: Colton Duhr (16-8)
174: Kyle Ryan (10-7)
184: Noah Ornelas (4-14)
197: Dalton Weidl (6-5)
285: Thor Balavage (11-11)
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays hosted Sunday's Kansas Cup, matching Newman's four winners and placing all 10 wrestlers in the top five to win the team title. The Tigers' lone MIAA dual so far was a 25-18 loss to Lindenwood on Dec. 1.
Projected Lineup
125: Conrad Cole (11-16)
133: Matt Mejia (5-4)
141: No. 10 Brandon Ball (26-4)
149: Will Homalon (0-0) or Jacob Kay (16-15)
157: Greg Tooley (16-5)
165: Kyler Mick (1-5)
174: Micquille Robinson (22-15)
184: Rakim Dean (22-11)
197: No. 2 Jon Inman (17-2)
285: No. 9 Christian Lance (34-4)
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS
Pratt was also in attendance at the Kansas Cup, where they finished fourth in the team standings and pushed five wrestlers into the top four at their weight.
Projected Lineup
125: Kelvys Gonzalez (17-10)
133: Demone McClinton (15-12)
141: Dy'Juan Carney (15-16)
149: Corey Tyler (4-4)
157: Jayson Failer (10-16)
165: Laaiq Hedrick (15-13)
174: Jose Cortez (4-15)
184: James Ellis (11-16
197: Open
285: Brandon Huntley (9-16)
HISTORY LESSON
Fort Hays has held the edge since the Tigers and Jets have matched up as Division II foes, winning all six meetings. Newman has won five straight against Pratt, dating back to the 2010-11 season, and holds a 6-2 all-time advantage.
IN THE RANKINGS
Newman bumped up a spot to No. 22 in the latest D2wrestle.com national poll, while Dustin Reed and Tyler Mies also rose, going to second and ninth, respectively. Fort Hays is up to No. 16, while Brandon Ball at 141, Jon Inman at 197 and Christian Lance at 285 are all ranked individually.
In the latest Super Region 4 rankings, FHSU comes in eighth, with the Jets slotted 10th. Reed is 1st at 125, Mies is third at 149 and Dalton Weidl is fourth at 197. For the Tigers, Ball is third, Greg Tooley is fifth at 157, Inman is second and Lance third.
COVERAGE
Live video of both matches will be available at www.newmanjets.com.
