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Annon ready for home finale
2/12/2009
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
For a preview of possible things to come, Gross Memorial Coliseum is the place to be Friday night.
That's the way Fort Hays State University wrestling standout James Annon sees it.
Win or lose in a matchup of two of the top 141-pounders in the nation, Annon, a fifth-year senior from Norton, knows he'll still have business to attend to this year.
Annon's matchup with No. 1 ranked Raymond Dunning of Adams State (Colo.) College will highlight Friday's final home dual for the 19th-ranked Tigers, a competition between two teams jockeying for position in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
"I know it's a big match, but I've been trying to not hype it up, or over-analyze things," said Annon, who has won nine straight matches and is ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II. "I've been just going at it the same way as any other match."
Only this time, Annon will compete for the final time in front of a home crowd. After nine years, counting tournament action and four years of high school in Norton, Annon will wrestle his final match at GMC -- and it will be against the top ranked wrestler in the country. After two Class 3-2-1A state championships won in the same building for Norton, and more wins than he could count as a member of the Tigers, Friday will cap a stellar home career.
"There's a little bit of emotion," Annon said. "But, like I've said, I've realized this is my last match here.
"I wouldn't call it sad or anything like that," he added. "But, I am just trying to enjoy it as much as I can."
Both wrestlers are undefeated in duals this year and have a combined record of 43-12. At one point in the season, they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2.
It's probable Friday will be the first of two or three matchups remaining this season -- depending on how things go at the RMAC/West Regional Championships in Kearney, Neb., as well as the national tournament. Annon finished fifth as a junior to earn All-America status.
"Whether I win or lose (Friday), I am going to see this guy again," Annon said. "I am going to have to pick it up after the match -- regardless of the outcome."
They are the two best 141-pound wrestlers to this point in the RMAC.
"We definitely have our eyes set on Raymond Dunning," first-year Tiger coach Chas Thompson said. "And, I am sure he does us. He's not overlooking James Annon."
Annon, one of four Tiger seniors, brings a 20-5 mark into Friday's dual, and is one of only two ranked Tigers (junior Danny Grater at No. 4) who will face higher ranked opponents from Adams State (5-1 overall, 5-1 RMAC), which is ranked No. 9 in Division II.
Grater (22-8 at 157), will face No. 2 ranked Noomis Jones (20-5) in another marquee matchup Friday.
Grater lost twice over the weekend, falling to No. 3 ranked Chase Walker of Mesa State (Colo.) College on Friday, and Western State (Colo.) College's Kyle Francis on Saturday.
"We're still sitting good in the conference, dual-wise," Thompson said. "So, if we can get a good win over them, we could possibly have it out for second place with Kearney. We'll have to get by Adams first."
Five teams (Adams State, Fort Hays, Nebraska-Kearney, San Francisco State and Chadron State) all have just one conference loss, with Fort Hays (7-3 overall, 4-1 RMAC) third behind Adams State. The Tigers are coming off a 25-9 loss at the hands at No. 5 ranked Western State over the weekend.
"(Adams State) is not a weak dual team, but they are a better tournament team," Thompson said. "They have five or six guys that can go out and score a lot of points in tournaments.
"Then they have a couple holes, but they are going to bring their 10 strongest guys at us, so it will be a tough dual," he added.
In addition, 125-pound Arsenia Barksdale is ranked No. 2 for the Grizzlies.
To add extra excitement to Friday's senior night, the mat will be elevated above the gym floor about 31âÑ2 feet, something the Tigers did for their home opener earlier this season.
"Adams State is real well-known in the midwest as a powerhouse, so we want to close the home dual schedule out with a strong showing against a very tough opponent," Thompson said.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |