By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Playing his home games in Claflin throughout high school, it was easy to see that Myles Menges was good at football. Menges was the quarterback for Central Plains High School when the Oilers went undefeated and won the state championship in 2018.
When the Bushton native signed to play at Fort Hays State University, one might expect more success but few would have imagined the success Menges had playing as a defensive lineman for the Tigers.
Eagle Media Sports Director in Hays and radio “Voice of the Tigers” Gerard Wellbrock said Menges is a player that continued to build the culture for FHSU football.
"He's a great leader, on and off the field," said Wellbrock. "He was a COVID kid. He got the extra year. He's been in the program for a long time. He's a big reason why FHSU was able to build the program back up. He led by example."
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Menges was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year this fall, becoming the fourth Fort Hays player to earn the honor. He recorded 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery.
"He's one of those players that the stats don't even show what he does, with the disruption he did," said Wellbrock. "He played a lot of linebacker, defensive end and even interior lineman. They moved him around everywhere on the defense. There's no one more deserving to be named Player of the Year defensively."
Menges went from being listed as 210 pounds in the signing day press release in 2019 to 260 pounds in his final year collegiately.
Former Larned High School player Mason Perez was also recognized as an All-MIAA first-team selection at defensive back.