Ponderosa’s Cannon making noise in return to mat following medical scare

Brandon Cannon was at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio during the first part of 2021 when he started to think about his future. Despite the support from his family and friends, the aneurysmal bone cyst — a benign tumor — located on his sacrum that he was undergoing treatments for was still a factor. 

“It was definitely scary,” Cannon said. “I didn’t even know if I was even going to be able to wrestle again. Before (my family and I) knew what exactly I had, we were worried it could be cancer. Fortunately, it wasn’t. But it was really scary and worrying — not knowing if I’d ever be able to wrestle or do anything again.” 

It had been months since Cannon, a sophmore and wrestling star as a freshman at Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, had started treatments after Colorado doctors discovered the tumor the previous August. A post-surgery MRI around November 2020 revealed the tumor had grown back to 70% of its size after it was removed, causing more angst and confusion for Cannon and his family. 

He was barred from physical activity, of course, as he underwent constant treatment. He suffered a setback around March 2021 — a part of the tumor refused to shrink and calcify. The doctor, though, reported that spot had just been missed during a previous treatment. His recovery was going as planned. 

It wasn’t until September that he was cleared to return to wrestling despite feeling like he was himself again that summer. 

“It was just exciting,” Cannon said of being cleared to return to the sport. “I had just changed schools, too, and I really liked being around the team. It was enjoyable being back at it.” 

Today, Cannon is again a rising star, this time for Ponderosa High School. In fact, he’s the No. 1 ranked wrestler in 5A in the 136-pound weight class, according to weekly wrestling rankings from On the Mat. 

Earlier this season, he defeated Pomona’s Jakob Romero, who ousted Cannon in last year’s state semifinals and is the reigning 5A state champion in the 126-pound class. Romero currently is ranked No. 2 at 136 behind Cannon. 

“(His journey) says a lot about his character,” said Jarion Beets, Brandon’s head coach at Ponderosa. “I can imagine most people would have been done wrestling and with a lot of things when you have those circumstances. But he’s just a tough kid. In practice, every time I see him, he’s always willing to get better.” 

Cannon is nearly a season removed from his third-place finish at state last year, a time in which he and his coach say he was wrestling at 50% of his ability. 

Around a month before regionals, Cannon experienced yet another physical setback. Doctors discovered a kidney infection that eventually sidelined him for weeks. 

He was later cleared by his doctors the day before regionals. But he had missed significant time, considering the conditioning level required to compete for a state title. 

Cannon, despite the lengthy layoff, shined at regionals and bulldozed his way through the state bracket before losing to Romero. 

“I was impressed with how resilient he was and his ability to do anything and everything he can not to let his teammates down and give it 100%,” said Beets, who’s in his second year leading Ponderosa. “He knows his abilities and he’s a great wrestler. I think it just came down to him deciding to do it. It was pretty remarkable.” 

Cannon’s late-season surge was just a taste of what was to come in what is now his senior campaign. 

In early December, free from physical ailments that plagued him over the past two years, Cannon finished second in the 138-pound weight class at the 2022 Ironman Finals. To reach that point, he defeated five nationally-ranked opponents, including Nasir Bailey, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock commit who earlier this year was ranked the No. 2 138-pounder in the country. 

“I feel like I’m definitely a lot better than what I was last year, but I’m still getting better,” Cannon said. “I’m not where I want to be yet.” 

Cannon, unlike at some points in 2021, is sure of himself now. He’s thankful for his doctors, family, friends, coaches and teammates that have supported him to this point. He’s grateful for the opportunity to wrestle. He wants to win a state title and he wants his team, Ponderosa, to win, too. 

“If he keeps this mentality and attitude, the sky’s the limit,” Beets said, “and he’ll be on track to do something remarkable this year.”