Despite an eighth place finish and graduating an individual state champion from last year’s team, things are looking up for the Powell wrestling team this season. The Panthers are returning three placers on the boys’ side and one on the girls’ side.

“A lot of our younger kids wrestled quite a bit of varsity last year,” coach Nick Fulton said. “We bring back a solid group with some varsity experience.”

That returning group is spearheaded by senior Jimmy Dees, who is in pursuit of his third state medal after a difficult finish to last season’s state tournament at 195 pounds in which he dislocated his shoulder in the semifinal match.

The other two returning medalists for the boys’ team are Gabriel Whiting, who placed third at 106 as a freshman, and Wyatt Nicholson, who finished fifth at 106 as a sophomore.

In addition to those three, the Panthers return a wealth of talent throughout the roster that includes 18 total juniors.

“We are spreading out a little bit which is kind of nice,” Fulton said. “A summer of kids growing and coach (Chase) Kistler does a great job with our weights program. Some of those kids have bought in, not as many as I’d like to see, but we are spreading out a little bit.”

He said that with the team spreading out in weights, there will still be an abundance of options at the lighter weights with the Panthers bringing in strong freshmen to the program.

“In those lighter weights they are pushing kids in the room every day so I am excited to see how those kids develop,” Fulton said.

A new development this season for wrestling in the state is a change to the weight classes, giving a new thought process to lineups.

Lower weight classes 106, 113, 120, 126, 132 and 138 remain the same. The changes come at 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215 and 285 pounds — adjusting several weights in the middle and towards the top around the state.

“We all play by the same rules. There’s no sense in complaining, we can’t change it,” Fulton said.

He added that the team should have good depth throughout all the weights this season, which will include adding juniors Cody Seifert and McKale Foley back into the mix this year after they were unable to compete in wrestling last year due to injury.

In the team race at state, the traditional teams are expected to lead the charge in defending state champions Green River, along with Cody, Pinedale, Worland, Douglas and Evanston.

“I try not to think too much about what other teams are doing,” Fulton said. “I’ll put the best product on the mat that I can and have fun doing it. I think this bunch will have a lot of fun — they are a team that will improve.”

On the girls’ side, the program has seen significant growth heading into its second year, quadrupling in size to eight wrestlers in the room this season.

Leading the way for the girls’ program is sophomore Allison LeBlanc, who is the lone returner after finishing second her freshman year at 110 pounds.

“She is kind of leading the charge. We have some young girls coming in that we are awfully excited to see how they grow. Not a lot of experience right now but they work and hang right in there,” Fulton said. “We are excited to see that program grow. The room is crowded, and that’s a good problem to have.”

Both teams will have the opportunity to show out for the home crowd opening weekend, with the Powell Invite taking place on Friday and Saturday.

“Powell is a pretty tough tournament,” Fulton said. “We want to get a lot of matches. Our staff look at this as a measuring stick.”

The Panthers will welcome in 25 teams from Montana and Wyoming from all levels of competition, with the varsity kicking off at the high school on Friday at 11 a.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. while the junior varsity will compete at Powell Middle School.