The Glacier wrestling programs are young and a little lacking in numbers under a first-year coach. 

Sounds familiar to Mark Fischer.

Fischer isn’t actually a first-year coach, of course, since he guided the Wolfpack boys from 2007-13. But this is his first season back — he took over for Ross Dankers, who stepped down after 12 seasons — and with 27 boys in the wrestling room, well, this has a full-circle feel to it. 

“When I first started we had 27, and those might be the lightest numbers we had,” Fischer said this week. “It grew pretty fast.” 

The Wolfpack boys return three state placers: senior Aiden Sweat, who was third at 110 pounds last year; senior Noah Horn, who was fourth at 285; and junior Matthew Ahner, who was fifth at 165. 

Other than that, junior Daniel Pederson is the only Glacier grappler to make state this past February. Sweat is set to wrestle at 126 and Ahner at 175. 

“Actually we do have a great freshman class,” Fischer said. “They’re going to do some damage, I think. A lot of them will be breaking into the varsity ranks.” 

Fischer singled out Zander Feuhr, who at 132 matches up with Sweat in the wrestling room, and Dillon Sams at 150. 

“A number of them lifted all summer and worked with me in the fall,” Fischer said of the ninth-graders. “One of them I’m excited about is Dillon Sams — he’s really put in the time.” 

There are 16 girls out as well, including state placers Katelyn Sphuler, who was fourth at state at 100 as a junior, and Kylie Shine, fifth at 125 as a sophomore. 

Kaura Cole, a three-time state champion, moved back east with her family, Fischer reported. Her brother Niko Coles was a state champion as well, and Jerin Coles was a state finalist as a freshman. 

Like the boys, the girls are fortified by a strong freshman class. 

“We have an amazing group ... that if they stick together are going to have a super fun team,” Fischer said. “They’re hard workers. They just know what it means to battle.” 

Previously Mitchell Zander more or less led the girls team; he has switched to assisting the boys and Fischer. Chris Leck is leading the girls this season. 

“This is going to be a fun year to kind of establish the culture that we want,” Fischer said. “They had a great culture before; we just want to continue on that path.” 

It’s a change in leadership, but to a coach with a proven record: In 2012 Fischer’s Wolfpack won the State AA title.  

“I’m super grateful for the opportunity to do this,” Fischer said. “I feel blessed to have the coaches and kids we have in the room right now.”