The Atlantic/CAM Wrestling team has set lofty goals for the new season with an experienced group returning.  The Trojans return five state qualifiers and four state place winners from last years squad, and they are all hungry to get back to the big stage.  Kole Hansen finished 5th at 106 last year and will compete at 113 this season. Carter Cox was a State Runner-Up at 113 last season and will wrestle at 120.  Zac Stork placed 8th at 182 and will stay there. John McConkey was also an 8th place finisher at heavyweight last year and will be there again.  Chase McLaren was also a state qualifier last season and he will hit the mat at 126 this year.  All of those wrestlers, along with Drake Roller, have been ranked in the top 10 in the preseason by multiple wrestling publications and that has the team believing they can earn both individual and team titles. Atlantic Head Coach Tim Duff said they have seen the opportunity to have success with this group coming for a while.

Coach Duff knows this squad has the physical talent to accomplish big goals if they keep working hard in practice and taking care of themselves off the mat, but he thinks the mental component is going to be the deciding factor for how far they go.

Many of the wrestlers during a preseason chat talked about wanting to achieve the ultimate individual goal and win a state championship, but they have big team goals as well.  Coach Duff wants to get back to the State Team Duals, but he also has his sights set on accomplishing something he has never had a team do, place in the top three teams at the traditional state tournament.

Atlantic/CAM gets the new season underway on Thursday with a home Quad at CAM High School with Audubon, East Union, and Griswold.  Action is set to begin in Anita at 5:30pm.