By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

First-year Fort Hays State University wrestling coach Chas Thompson knows his team looks good -- on paper.

He will find out today how it looks on the mat.

After a couple warm-up tourneys and the annual Black & Gold scrimmage, the Tigers are in Warrensburg, Mo., today for the Central Missouri Open, the first of many tough tests for the Tigers.

"We're looking good," Thompson said. "Our lineup is very solid.

"On paper, we're a pretty good team. We've got to see how we do against (better) competition," he added.

Thompson has a couple wrestlers -- redshirt freshman Dustin Dooley and junior Tommy Edgmon -- battling fo the No. 1 spot at 125 pounds. Dooley was scheduled to make the trip to Warrensburg.

At 133, sophomore Blake Fisher was a starter last year, but lost his challenge match at the Black & Gold scrimmage to redshirt freshman Travis Kuhn. Neither wrestler was to make the road trip this weekend.

Senior James Annon, a returning All-American and preseason All-American, returns at 141 pounds.

"He's definitely a leader on this team," Thompson said.

Newcomer Levi Younkin, a junior from Oakley, will be at 149 pounds. Younkin wrestled for two years at Colby Community College before being a club wrestler at Wichita State University last year. He will wrestle this weekend.

Junior Danny Grater, another returning national qualifier and preseason All-American, is back at 157 pounds. The Black & Gold scrimmage was Grater's first time in action this season.

Senior 165-pounder Troy Lussenhop has been battling knee injuries, but was expected to wrestle this weekend.

Blake Malloy, who was a national qualifier last year at 174 pounds, is taking a redshirt year and will wrestle at 165 next season as a senior.

Wrestling at 174 pounds this weekend will be Oakley junior Shawn Kuhlman, who was a starter at 184 last year.

Junir Tyler Gonzales also is moving down a weight. Gonzales, a returning national qualifer at 197, will wrestle at 184 this season, where is a preseason All-American.

Gonzales' move makes room for redshirt freshman Ben Evans at 197. Last year, Evans wrestled unattached, going 16-7 while beating some NCAA Division I opponents.

Redshirt freshman Justin Glenn is at 285, but is coming off football season, where he is a fullback for the Tigers. Thompson plans to gradually work him into the lineup. Glenn won't wrestle this weekend.

Thompson is anxious to see his team in action this weekend.

"We're looking to see some major open competition this weekend," Thompson said. "A lot of high-caliber competition.

"Good competition -- good way to evaluate your team," he added.