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Tiger wrestlers upend No. 9 Grizzlies
2/15/2009
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Fort Hays State University coach Chas Thompson knew No. 9 ranked Adams State (Colo.) College had a couple of holes in its lineup.
The first-year coach also knew his 19th-ranked Tigers would do a good job of taking advantage of those matches it looked like they should take -- on paper.
"They have six really solid kids," Thompson said. "We thought if we could clip one of those guys or at least keep them close ..."
Mission accomplished -- times two.
Juniors Danny Grater (157) and Tyler Gonzalez (184) came away with upset victories Friday night, vaulting the Tigers to a 23-15 win over the Grizzlies at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
"What a great dual to end our regular dual season at home on," Thompson said.
It was the second dual upset the Tigers have posted, as they defeated No. 5 Central Oklahoma, 21-19 earlier this season.
Grater, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II, lost twice over the weekend at Mesa State (Colo.) College and Western State (Colo.) College last week. Friday, he came out firing against No. 2 ranked sophomore Noomis Jones. Grater scored a takedown just 30 seconds into his match, and held on late for a 3-2 victory.
The win came right after Oakley junior Levi Younkin put the Tigers on the board for the first time, after they had fallen in a 12-0 hole.
At 184, Gonzalez held a 3-1 lead after the second period thanks to a late takedown, but held on to beat No. 6 ranked Kyle Sand, who scored just an escape in the third.
The victory was seventh straight for Gonzalez, who boosted his record to 20-10. Sand, a junior college national champion, dropped to 14-11.
Younkin, who was accepted into chiropractic school and will not return for his senior season, scored a major decision victory to get things started. Fort Hays (8-3 overall, 5-1 RMAC) scored wins in six of the last seven matches for the win.
Before the match, Younkin was honored along with seniors Troy Lussenhop and James Annon, who wrestled their final matches at GMC.
On one of the most anticipated matchups, Annon, the Norton native, and a fifth-year Tiger, couldn't quite get the one-up on top-ranked Raymond Dunning of Adams State (5-3-1, 5-3).
Annon, ranked No. 3 in Division II, scored first in the bout, and had a 4-3 lead after one period, but fell in the third period, surrendering three back points to Dunning (25-7). The win snapped a nine-match streak for Annon, who suffered his first loss in dual action.
"I know this is the first of two or three matches," Annon said. "And, I know as good of a competitor as he is, I know this match itself isn't as big as it will be maybe at nationals or regional."
Annon's loss was the third straight for the Tigers to start Friday's dual. At 125 pounds, No. 2 ranked Arsenia Barksdale of Adams needed overtime to get by TIger junior Tommy Edgmon, scoring a takedown 30 seconds into the extra session. Then, at 133, redshirt freshman Travis Kuhn was pinned.
Younkin's victory spawned five straight for the Tigers before redshirt freshman Ben Evans dropped a 5-4 decision. Lussenhop, another fifth-year Tiger, pinned his opponent at 165, and junior Shawn Kuhlmann won by major decision at 174.
Going into the final match of the night, Tiger redshirt freshman heavyweight Justin Glenn only need to not be pinned to salvage the dual for the Tigers. Glenn scored a takedown as the last few seconds ticked off the third-period clock for a 4-2 decision.
Fort Hays has a quick turnaround as it will compete today in the MIAA Dual Championships in Warrensburg, Mo. The Tigers will face Truman State (Mo.) University, No. 18 Central Missouri, and No. 1 ranked University of Nebraska-Omaha.
"We have quite a few matches left, but we're looking good and we're excited about what we've done so far," Thompson said.
Nebraska-Omaha has six of its 10 wrestlers ranked in the top two in the nation (133, 141, 157, 165, 174, 184), with one top ranked wrestler, Todd Meneely at 157.
The only weight class the Mavericks do not have a ranked wrester is 125.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |