By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Fort Hays State University second-year wrestling coach Chas Thompson has had a depleted roster at the start of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, the Tigers will have three wrestlers compete for the first time when No. 14 Fort Hays hosts sixth-ranked University of Central Oklahoma in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The dual starts at 7 p.m.

"It's just part of the process," Thompson said. "It is early in the year. If it was later in the year, like close to regional time or conference duals, those guys would be wrestling. We are just taking our time. I don't want to throw them in there when they are not (ready)."

Thompson called Thursday's dual "huge," a match that can have long-term ramifications for the Division II national duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Jan. 9-10. Fort Hays defeated Central Oklahoma 21-19 last season; a win Thursday could move the Tigers into the top eight of the national rankings. The national duals seed the top eight teams in the country.

"There are 16 teams, they only seed the top eight," Thompson said. "I can remember a few years back and I was assistant coach and we were ranked ninth in the country. They draw the other eight teams. We drew the No. 1 seed. We are ranked 14th right now, and if we can beat a team that is ranked as high as UCO, maybe we can possibly, in theory, get a seed at the national tournament."

Senior 125-pounder Tommy Edgmon, the defending national runner-up and ranked No. 2 in the nation in the preseason, has not competed yet because of an MCL strain suffered in his knee during the preseason Black and Gold scrimmage. He will not compete Thursday or at this weekend's Bob Smith Open at Gross Memorial Coliseum and will likely wrestle for the first time at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Open on Dec. 12.

"That's a perfect example right there," Thompson said. "He is not injured. We just kind of tweaked his knee. Just want to make sure."

Senior Tyler Gonzales, a three-time national qualifier, has missed all season with a shoulder injury. He will start Thursday versus UCO. In addition, sophomore Aldon Isenberg will see his first match of the year on Thursday. Sophomore Dustin Dooley, who finished 20-7 a year ago, also will see action for the first time. Dooley, who wrestled at 125 pounds in 2008-09, bumped up to 133 pounds. However, he will drop weight to 125 and take Edgmon's spot for the dual. The top early-season wrestlers include senior 157-pounder Danny Grater (5-3), a former national qualifier, junior 141-pounder Andre Harrison and senior 149-pounder Levi Younkin (2-2).