{gallery}11_27_09/austoncarter{/gallery}Auston Carter, pictured during his finals match last season, will be looking for his fourth state title this season with the Powell Panther wrestlers. Tribune file photo by David DickeyEight state qualifers return to wrestle for PanthersThe wrestling room at Powell High School is crowded as the Panthers load up to take aim at a third straight team title this year.Coach Nate Urbach greeted 40 prospective wrestlers last week when practice began, including eight state medalists, and a bunch of young wrestlers hungry to make their mark on the mat.Leading returnees include senior Auston Carter, who will be seeking to join an elite group of four-time state champions, and sophomore Olie Olson, whose championship season last year as a freshman earned a shot at following in Carter's footsteps. Also returning are silver medalists Cole Kary and Colt Nix and bronze medalist Monte Nickles along with Jimmy Seckman, Randy Andrews and Joe Lujan, who finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Eight other state qualifers also return as do Trent Gillette and Jesse Craig, who were out with injuries last year.

A band of JV wrestlers will be pushing to find spots on the varsity team as well, Urbach said, listing Luke Wozney, Zach Thiel, Charles Wittick, Waylon Bays, Luke Cannon, Danny Harris, Beau Williams and Clay Saldana as wrestlers looking to move up. Joining them will be Devin Jordan, a newcomer from Oregon.

“We have a ton of sophomores and juniors that will look to make an impact this year,” Urbach said.

Nine freshmen are also out for the team.

The big turnout means Urbach has a chance to field a full line-up this year. Jordan, Lujan and Trevor Griffith are all candidates to fill the upper weights this year, and Wittick and freshman Dylan Rood can fill the 103 slot.

Carter will likely sit out early competition while strengthening an injured shoulder, but Urbach said he may wrestle later in December. Everybody else should be ready to go for the team's traditional season opener, the Powell Invitational.

Last year the Panthers dominated the West Region, but Urbach expects the competition to be stiffer this year.

One reason is that Lander, coached by PHS graduate Nick Fulton, returns to the West region this year after spending the last two years wrestling with the East. Urbach said the Tigers, who finished fourth at state last year, lost state champion Alex Klopp to a move, but should still “beef up the 3A west region,” and Worland, fifth at state last year, is also going to be improved.

“They (Lander) are young, and Nick Fulton will bring them along throughout the year,” Urbach said. “I think Worland is being overlooked by many, but they lost zero people from last year and I know Coach (Dean) Barent will do a good job getting them ready.”

Urbach also expects Cody to be more competitive this year.

“Coach (Trev) Wood is getting more kids out and he has had time to get his technique and skills ingrained in his kids,” Urbach said.

The West region this year also includes a newly-formed wrestling program at Pinedale High School.

State competition will be much like the last few years, with Wheatland, Torrington and, especially, Douglas providing the power from the East Region.

“Douglas returns a ton of medalists and talent from last year,” Urbach said. “They are well coached and they will be gunning for the state title.”

Tougher competition, though, only means the Panthers will have higher expectations in their quest to repeat as the champions.

“We have high expectations for this year. We lost a very good group of seniors from last year, but return a good core of leaders,” Urbach said. “I think improvement is the key this year. We need to get better every practice so that, by the end of the year, we can be in the hunt for a third state title in February.”