Dodge City, KS –  We love celebrating the incredible achievements of our former students, and this month, all eyes are on Cooper Scheck. The Dodge City native has officially secured his name into Tiger history by becoming the first-ever men’s golfer in Fort Hays State University (FHSU) history to qualify for the final rounds of the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Cooper competed as an individual at the national tournament in Boulder City, Nevada, capping off a historic collegiate career.

Breaking Records on the Green

Cooper’s senior season was nothing short of legendary. Ranked No. 82 in the nation for Division II, he maintained a blazing 71.79 scoring average this past year—the best single-season average in the university's D-II era. Out of 33 rounds played, Cooper shot at-or-under par 19 times, including a career-best round of 66.

His incredible consistency earned him his third consecutive All-MIAA honor, making him the first Tiger golfer ever to achieve that triple crown. Adding to his postseason accolades, Cooper was also named to the prestigious PING All-Central Region Team for the second consecutive year, recognizing him as one of the top golfers in the entire region. He wraps up his time at FHSU holding the ultimate program record: the best career scoring average in Tiger history (72.44).

A True Scholar-Athlete

As dominant as Cooper is on the golf course, he is equally unstoppable in the classroom. Majoring in Health and Human Performance, Cooper maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout his college career.

His commitment to academics earned him a mountain of well-deserved accolades:

• FHSU Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• MIAA "A Game" Scholar-Athlete (awarded to the player with the highest GPA at the conference championship)
• Three-time MIAA Academic Excellence Award winner
• Academic All-American honors

Giving Back and Leading by Example

True to his Dodge City roots, Cooper has dedicated his spare time to helping others. In the classroom, he took his passion for sports science to the next level by presenting original research on the anatomy of a golf swing and injury prevention at the state KAHPERD convention. He also helped host the university's "Body Venture" exhibit, teaching local elementary kids about how the human body works.

Cooper has logged countless hours giving back to the community, including:

• Serving as an intern and volunteer at the FHSU Neuromuscular Wellness Center.
• Volunteering for local charity races, Tiger Field Day, and Habitat for Humanity.
• Coming home to Dodge City to coach youth golf camps and support the Special Olympics.

From the local courses in Dodge City to the NCAA National Championship stage, Cooper Scheck embodies what it means to be a student-leader. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and can't wait to see what he achieves next in the world of health and sports performance!

Quick Stats: Cooper's Historic Senior Season

Milestone	Detail
National Finish	First Tiger in history to qualify for the NCAA D-II Final Rounds
Regional Honors	2x PING All-Central Region Team Selection (2025 & 2026)
Tournament Highlights	4 top-5 finishes (Including winning the Hillcat Classic)
Under-Par Rounds	19 rounds at-or-under par (8 rounds in the 60s)
Academic Standing	4.0 GPA / FHSU Scholar-Athlete of the Year