The season is still set to start on or about Jan. 2, and to conclude about three weeks later than usual — March 5-6.

That weekend will mark the only tournament of the year: State. No Jug Beck Invitational is in store, no marathon Mining City Duals and no all-class state tournament for that matter. Each classification gets its own championships.

Those are the knowns about the upcoming high school wrestling season, which will play out as the COVID-19 pandemic (we hope) tapers off. If it’s not the rosiest picture, it hasn’t hurt the numbers at Flathead or Glacier.

“I think the biggest thing right now is we’re just taking it day to day,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. “One step at a time - though sometimes it seems like we’re going one step forward and two steps back.”

The Braves’ Brawlers won’t reach last year’s duals record of 24-4, because they only get 14 duals this coming season: Two each against the rest of the Western AA schools.

Same with Glacier, which went 13-9 in head-to-head battles a year ago.

“Home and away duals,” said Wolfpack coach Ross Dankers. “That’s kind of a big piece of the sport we haven’t done enough with — getting two teams together and putting a mat light on it and making it a fun event.”

Thompson has 60 wrestlers out and Dankers puts his number at 57 or 58. Both coaches are counting 20 or so girls, out in the first year that girls’ wrestling is a Montana High School Association-sanctioned sport.

“I’m excited to watch it kind of grow and blossom,” said Dankers. “It’s a sport that definitely has a place at Glacier.”

Thompson feels fortunate that among his coaches is Amber Downing, who wrestled in Helena’s youth program and helped in Kalispell’s youth programs in the past.

“It’s been a great transition,” Thompson said. “She’s just passionate about it.”

Eight state-placers return for Flathead’s boys, which finished second to Great Falls at state in February. One returns for Glacier but he’s a dandy — Teegan Vasquez, who won at 113 pounds as a freshman.

Both programs managed to put the miles in over the summer, finding out-of-state competition. Glacier ran its summer camp.

“Really good attendance,” Dankers noted. “We had a really big emphasis on lifting this summer and had a huge turnout, boys and girls. And I think that will pay off.”

One other potential pay-off: Since there won’t be an all-class meet, there is a movement to have the State AA in Kalispell. Flathead has two gyms and Glacier one, inside an enthusiastic wrestling community. County health department aside, who could refuse?

“Maybe Billings has to make the eight-hour bus ride,” Thompson said. “Instead of us.”

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 758-4463 or at fneighbor@dailyinterlake.com