SANDPOINT — Normally when three freshman come into a varsity program and are instantly among the top wrestlers, it isn’t necessarily a great sign.

But Casey Randles, Owen Stebbins and Scout Nash aren’t your typical freshmen, boasting a whopping 24 years of wrestling experience between the lot of them. They’ll join a strong group of returning varsity standouts with state tournament experience when the Bulldogs take to the mat for the first time tonight in a double-dual at SHS.

Leading the way will be senior 138 pounder Lewis Dunton, who brings a work ethic and leadership that filters down through the entire team. His dedication, including leading a group of wrestlers for sprints at 6 a.m., has earned the respect of longtime Bulldogs head coach Mike Randles.

“Lewis is our leader, and you just can’t make a complaint against the kid. He’s just flat out working,” describes Randles of his senior, who leads by example. “I don’t ask the kids to bring talent up to the wrestling room, but I do ask them to come up and work hard. Three years ago, nobody would have predicted that Lewis would be a state placer.”

Joining Dunton in a leadership role is 6-foot-5 senior Josh Travers (220), whom Randles describes as a big, athletic kid with a competitive nature. Travers was less than one minute away from placing at state last year, winning multiple matches and gaining invaluable experience in the process.

Also one match away from placing at state was junior 132 pounder Tanner McNelley, who attended an intensive 14 day camp over the summer and begins the season with high expectations.

“He’s consistent, and so competitive,” says Randles of McNelley. “Even though there is hiccups in technique, he’s grinding all of the time.”

The strength of the Bulldogs is at 145-160 pounds, with five or six varsity caliber wrestlers competing in those weight classes. The aforementioned trio of freshman are chief among them, and despite no varsity experience, each is capable of winning on any given night. Last year as an 8th grader, Casey Randles notched wins over the third place state finishers in both the 5A and 4A ranks in club competitions.

“All three have a shot at placing at state, they’re legitimate kids,” believes Randles, who has been coaching the talented trio since they were first graders. “This year I think we have six to seven kids that could win 20 matches.”

Senior Talon Egbers (285), Junior Tyler Brown (182), sophomore Mahonri Hunsaker (138), sophomore Tyler Presser (152), junior Alex O’Shea (152) and sophomore Jake Williams (170) bring varsity experience to a lineup that boasts more depth from top to bottom than is has since 2007, the last year the Bulldogs contended for a 4A state title.

After several years in a rebuilding mode, this could mark the first of many strong years for the program, once considered the best in the state. Despite  a lineup full of underclassmen, success could be in the cards thanks to experience and a blue collar attitude.

“There is a work ethic collectively that I haven’t seen since 2007,” says Randles. “There’s just energy, a real sense of dedication. It’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Setting the tone is Dunton, who has two goals this season: to make weight and not let things get in his head too much, like he did last year at state when he failed to medal. He believes that everything leading up to a match is 99 percent physical and one percent mental, while the day of the match is 99 percent mental and one percent physical.

“What I’ve worked on in the past will show up in competition,” says Dunton. “The state finals is what I’m aiming for. I just need to go out there and wrestle, do what I do best.”

Sandpoint hosts Riverside tonight at 5:30 p.m., followed  by a second dual against Timberlake at 7 p.m. at SHS.