LAKE COUNTY — With the beginning of the wrestling season on Saturday, each coach was sent a survey asking about their team and upcoming season. Following are the surveys received by the Leader:

Arlee

Arlee returns to competition this season after taking second at the Western B-C divisional tournament and taking a tenth place finish at state last year.

Graduate Jake Trujillo was a state champion at 119 pounds and junior Cole Rice was a runner-up at 130.

This year, the team motto is, “Work hard during the week, so you can have the most fun on weekends.”

With only one senior returning this year, Arlee will have a young team that will be rebuilding after losing four seniors.

“Good group of kids who look forward to wrestling and having fun,” head coach Ken Hill, who has coached for 12 years at Arlee, said.

Four returning wrestlers placed at divisionals, with one placing at state.

Logan Lefler took third at divisionals and Damon Cordier and Curt Seidel both took fourth.

Rice took first at divisionals and second at state. As a sophomore, Rice amassed a record of 83-13 in just two seasons. As a junior, he has the potential to make the century club.

“He is a great wrestler and has a fantastic work ethic,” Hill said.

Freshman Austin Rubel is a potential new starter, entering this season with “a lot of experience and a great attitude,” Hill said.

Standing in Arlee’s way will be tough conference competition. Florence won the division last year but Deer Lodge, Thompson Falls and Drummond will be good competition as well.

Mission/Charlo

The combined team went 11-2 last year, finishing third in divisionals.

The loss of four seniors will leave some open spots for the Bulldogs as all placed at divisionals.

Four returning individuals placed at the state tournament. Senior Jame Petersen and sophomores Scotty Gilleard and Russel Schultz each took sixth place at state. Junior Dakota Matt took fourth at divisionals. Chad Anderson and Casey Nitschke also return to the strong line-up.

Fifteen additional new faces will contribute depth.

“We are excited to watch them compete,” head coach Lyle Cronk said. “They are young but several of them love to scrap, so that is exciting.”

Upper weights are stacked three deep for the Bulldogs but the lighter weights have some openings. Filling all of the weight classes will be a challenge for the Western B/C team.

“I expect us to wrestle hard and improve on our opponents as the season progresses,” Cronk said. “My hope is that we can improve on last season’s accomplishments, even after graduating four great seniors.”

Polson

In his 35th season, head coach Bob Owen will once again take the helm of the Polson wrestling team.

The Pirates went 16-5 in duals last year and finished second in the divisional tournament. Sixteen wrestlers placed in the top-four of the tournament, which qualified them to compete at the state tournament. The Pirates finished eighth at state and four wrestlers placed.

This year, the motto is “no one said it would be easy, but we did say it would be worth it,” as 12 returning wrestlers look to lead Polson.

Senior Brock Picard is two-time state champion and a three-time divisional champion. He is looking to become the second three-time state champion in Polson’s history.

Senior Ty Fouty took fourth in state and was a divisional champion.

Senior Kaden Thomas took second in divisional, fourth at state and third in the Alaska State Tournament.

Senior Trae Fouty took fourth at divisionals and state but suffered a serious knee injury during football and is uncertain for competing this season.

Sophomore Nick Howell won the divisional tournament while senior Randy Kelley, juniors Jesse Alfiero, Jacob Young and sophomores Alex Nystrom and Josiah Clairmont all took third at divisionals. Junior Jose Quinnones and sophomore Brock Bleaszard each took fourth.

With the biggest group of freshman entering the program, several whom had much success in the Western Montana Little Guy Wrrestling program, are expected to contribute. Craig Feistner, Michael Devlin, Nick Grogan and new-comer Colton Lenz will all contend for varsity positions.

The youth will be on a quick learning curve but are surrounded by solid veterans to help nuture them along.

“It is always a struggle to get all of the best wrestlers in the line-up, as many are similar in weight right now,” Owen said.

Winning the Divisional crown and contending for a state title are very realistic goals for this team, he said.

“Our practice habits have to be above par to gain the competitiveness it will take to pull this off,” Owen said.

In order to do this, the Pirates will face one of the best conferences in Class A. Ronan finished third at state and returns two state champion wrestlers. Libby returns state placers while Whitefish and Columbia Falls experience good freshman talent.

Owen said there are three excellent young coaches, Jesse Schaffer at Columbia Falls, Ryan Hoffman at Whitefish and Dustyn Azure at Ronan, that will continue to make their wrestling teams stronger.

Ronan

Last year, the Chiefs took third at state and finished first at their divisional tournament.

An 18-3 record in duel competition added to the success of the team despite a small team with four open weight classes.

Only one goal was not met and that was going undefeated in duel meets.

Individually, Ronan had three state champions, one third place finish and one fourth state finish.

“We had several wrestlers fall short  of there goals, but I feel that with the off season work that was put in, and determination I am seeing in the practice room, they do not want to fall short of there goals again,” first-year head coach Dustyn Azure said.

This year, the team motto is “bonus points win tournament” putting emphasis on pinning, near falls and major decisions.

Nine wrestlers return from last year’s varsity squad, seven of which qualified for the state meet.

Cameron Neiss and Micky Cheff return after becoming 2009 state champions and honorable mentions for 2009-10 nation’s best seniors.

Toby Cheff took third at last year’s state tournament and is an honorable mention 2009-10 nation’s beest juniors.

The returning members are Riley Dennis, Dillon Starkel, Dustin Goldsby, Alex Greenfield, Cole McArthor, fourth in 2008 and Tyler Wheeler.

Depth will again play a factor as it has for the past few years.

“We are also going to be a young team with seven freshman and three first year wrestlers,” Azure said. “These young individuals will have to develop and learn  fast. I have confidence that our returning squad will lead, and help push these wrestlers in the right direction.”

Ronan will be counting on its state returners to set the tone for the season and the team looks to be in the thick of things in the conference.