EPHRATA - It is not always easy to build a program to heights either unattained or not reached in many years past.

One building block after another, throw in some determination, and toss in a spoonful of patience, and one has a top program in the making.

At Ephrata, the Tigers wrestling team is not yet amongst the giants of Class 2A but two of their seniors will walk among the throngs of greatness at the Tacoma Dome this weekend when Mat Classic XXIII kicks off Friday morning.

So on one hand, having Tyler Childs (119 pounds) and Deion Ducksworth (215 pounds) advance to the final weekend of the season is a great positive for Ephrata and head coach P.J. Anderson.

Yet, two qualifiers is only two, and to become a power, more wrestlers need to get through to the Classic.

Still, Anderson believes the groundwork has been laid out for a Tigers resurgence.

"We are currently at a point in the program where higher standards are being put in place," Anderson said. "We have a small group of older boys who have done the things needed, but two or three committed kids don't give you a shot at big titles. The coaching staff has refocused their efforts from recruiting the most athletic kids to kids who love to work hard and pride themselves on building toughness. This has resulted in a great group of younger wrestlers." 

Ephrata finished eighth in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) regular season, sixth at districts, and 14th at last week's regionals. In all instances the Tigers saw glimpses of the future through their younger competitors while Childs and Ducksworth fought their way through to Tacoma.

"I'm excited about working with this group and watching them close the gap between now and next season," Anderson said. "Ephrata is going through a little rough spot and taking our lumps, but don't get used to it. We'll be right back where the program has been in the not-so-distant past."

Ducksworth sees the fruits of the coaching staff's labor. 

Last year, the senior couldn't perform on the mat and has come back to show what he is made of.

Part of that comes from the program's philosophy.

"Our freshmen right now will be extremely good if they stick with it," Ducksworth said. "They have heart, determination, and the willingness to fight. It's definitely the coaches who inspire us to fight and not quit. Also the top wrestlers lead by example and the coaches really emphasize fighting hard. It's a combination of both."

But the present still provides the current state representative Tigers and both seniors could make things interesting before the weekend's conclusion.

"Both of our boys will be wrestling for a state title," Anderson said. "The season starts over each week in the post season. Crazy things happen and the wrestlers who come prepared to win progress through the bracket. Both Deion and Tyler made it through a very tough region with this idea. It is important to have boys like Deion and Tyler making a strong run at the end of the season for the young guys to see how it is done."

Anderson believes that if his guys stay focused and prepared, rely on their talent, and get a little bit of luck in the right spots, anything could happen. 

"Great wrestlers don't finish well or get upset every year by looking past a kid or being a little starstruck about being on the floor of the Tacoma Dome," Anderson said. "It is our focus this week to clean up a few techniques and polish up the mental imagery of winner in the dome. They need to know what it feels like to win at this venue.

"It will be all about who has the best weekend in both of those brackets," Anderson said. "Mental imagery is huge. They will have their eye on winning and expect to beat every wrestler put on the mat against them."

Despite having only the two seniors advance, the Tigers feel the season has been a successful one to this point.

"You want to put a week of good practice together and go out and beat everybody up, but that isn't the way it happens with a young team," Anderson said. "You fall back on seniors like Curtis Treiber who set a high standard in and out of the wrestling room and focus on the younger kids who embrace those expectations. I'm very pleased with the growth of the program this year and look forward to seeing our boys develop."

For Ducksworth, he knows that how he performs for the final time as a Tiger, could resonate within the program for years to come.

"I want to show the younger guys, I want them to see, that don't let people tell you, you can't do something," Ducksworth said. "If you want to do something it is in your hands. I just have to go hard every second of every match and never stop working hard."

Once the Tacoma experience has ended for Ephrata, the Tigers and their coaching staff hopes to build on whatever comes out of it to set the tone for a bigger 2012 visit west. 

"It is important for our older guys to compete like they have this post season," Anderson said. "There will tremendous growth this off-season. This group of boys returning are fun to work with and love to be pushed. Physical strength will be a primary focus for us. Youth wrestling programs are huge in building a strong high school team. We have surrounded our youth program with great guys and are seeing young guys get excited about being a part of something great."

In order to build something great, Anderson points out a community effort.

"Wrestling is truly a family sport between teammates, coaches and parents," Anderson said. "Having parents who understand the amazing qualities developed through wrestling lays a foundation for great wrestlers."

EPHRATA TIGERS

Head coach: PJ Anderson

2010-2011 State Finish: 19th in Class 2A

2010-2011 Dual Record: 3-6

2010-2011 League Finish: Eighth in CWAC

2010-2011 District Finish: Sixth

2010-2011 Regional Finish: 14th

2010-2011 State Qualifiers (Name, weight class, first round opponent, time): Tyler Childs (senior, 

119 pounds, vs. Nolan Takemura, Bellingham, 10:40 a.m.) and Deion Ducksworth (senior, 215 pounds, vs. Caleb Richards, North Thurrston, 1:20 p.m.).