Scott City’s Hayes to wrestle at UNK

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–As gifted of an athlete as Wyatt Hayes is, he knew he had many options in different sports. Sure, he was an all-state player for Scott City, where he rushed for over 4,000 yards in his career. His efforts on the gridiron aided him in being selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl this June. And one can’t forget that he’s had a stellar track career, leading Scott City to two state track titles in three seasons. After reflecting on his options, it would be wrestling that he would take to the next level.

Monday morning, Wyatt Hayes made it official, signing his letter of intentent to wrestle at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, a Division II school in the Cornhusker state.

Hayes left his mark on the Scott City wrestling program, qualifying all four years in high school, placing third his sophomore year at 160 pounds in Class 4A, before becoming a two-time state champion at 170 pounds. His junior year was in Class 321A, and this past February was in Class 4A. The Beavers also won the Class 321A State title in 2018 and they finished third in 2019 in Class 4A as the smallest school in the classification.

For his decorated career, Hayes went 143-19, with 11 of the losses coming as a freshman at 152 pounds. He was a four-time GWAC Champion. This year, Hayes went 36-2, barely losing to the Nebraska Class B State Champion Damen Pape from Hastings, who went 47-0, and to the Class 5A State Champion Troy Fisher from Goddard at the Rocky Welton Invitational Tournament in Garden City. En route to his second straight individual title, Hayes defeated the state runner-up, third place and fourth place finisher at 170 pounds.

He chose UNK over Doane, Hastings, and Midland.

Hayes will major in pre-chiropractic.

UNK finished fifth at the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2019, with one national champion and four finalists. They wrestle in the MIAA conference, and are coached by Dalton Jensen, who won a national title for Nebraska-Kearney in 2012. Jensen has been the head coach for the Lopers for the past three seasons.

Wyatt Hayes