With high expectations after last seasons success, the wrestling team is prepared for another big year. Four seniors on the roster as well as a host of new freshmen make for a team with a lot of potential. Strong leadership by senior captains Garrett Griffith and Forest Saunders will help the team through the challenging start to the season, as well as throughout the winter.

The team faces some challenges this year, one of which being the plethora of new players.

“We have a lot of rookies on the team this year, and lost a lot of seniors last season, so we’re going to have to work a lot harder to get them to the level of competition. It’s going to be kind of tough to have a new start with the team,” said Saunders. Not only that, but they also acquired a new coach, Mr. Corey Burns, a teacher at Dominion High School.

Opening their varsity season Dec.12, at the NOVA Classic at Fairfax High School, the Panthers hope to improve from last year’s 7th place finish. Using their offseason to prepare, hey had team conditionings and joined the Ashburn Wrestling Club to stay in shape.

“We conditioned as a team every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the beginning of the school year,” said Griffith.

The team goes to 11 different meets this season, sending 14 varsity players. The most challenging meet will be their first, the NOVA Classic, the players expect.

“It pulls 32 really good teams from Maryland and Virginia, so its going to be a tough tournament, we should probably finish top ten [there],” said Saunders.

“I think we are good at adjusting, so I think we’ll be alright, this season will still be a pretty good one,” said Griffith, who hopes to go undefeated and win a state championship.