Dust off the headgear, search the back of the closet and pull out the mat shoes, stretch out the singlet, and mom, buy a gross of Advil. That's right everybody-- it's time to wrestle.

Anxious to get back in the saddle, head coach Dave Clark welcomed this year's version of the Dons varsity team into the practice room and back onto the mat's with renewed enthusiasm and a double dose of determination.

Led by last year's state placers David Sorenson, Kyle Weight, Rodney Cox and Kaleb Ashworth, the always tough Dons look to improve on last year's ninth place state finish and battle their way into the top five of the elite 5A ranks come February. Add to that mix a bevy of talented returning starters and by the time region and state roll around, don't be surprised to see Clark's charges make that goal a reality.

The Dons are not without their share of challenges to overcome as they begin to build this year's team. For several years now, the varsity has benefited from a strong junior high team sending a host of both ninth grade and sophomore kids all ready to compete at this level. Such is not the case this year leaving coach Clark to look to his upper class pool to step up to the plate. The return to the program of Jordan Edwards should help fill that void as well as several other underclassmen who are working hard to win time on the mat.

Another challenge for Clark is finding wrestlers to fill in at a couple of empty weights. With the number of wrestlers down this year, he is faced with the possibility of forfeiting two or three weights, 112,140 and 215.

On the bright side for the Dons, not only do they return four horses who placed at state last year, but they also bring back four additional potential state placers in Kyle Sanford, a four year starter, Tom Clark, Eric Kitchen and Brock Wilson, all starters from last season. Look for this corps of talented and tough as nails grapplers to give the Dons a starting line-up that should compete with any program in the state.

One huge advantage for the Dons which has been a staple for the Red and Gray for more than a decade is a peerless staff of coaching professionals. Fred Rowland is a former head coach with multiple state championship rings. Jed Ashworth has been in the program for several years now and is a two time state champion himself. JD Shepherd has been an assistant for two state championship teams and was a quality wrestler himself. Add to this mix, Joe Hernandez in his first year with the Dons, and few programs anywhere in the state can field a more qualified and quality stable of respected coaches.

I look for the Dons to be in another dog fight with traditional power Pleasant Grove and possibly Lone Peak for region gold. Defending state champ Viewmont will be tough for anyone to overtake, but a top five finish is not out of the realm of possibility for the Dons.

Don't be surprised to see four and maybe five Dons take the mat in the finals match for individual gold on the last night of wrestling at the state tournament. A lot of matches will go under the bridge between now and February, but with a bit of luck and an absence of injury, me thinks this could be a special year for both the team and several individual wrestlers.

The Dons open the season with a non-region dual at powerful Springville on Tuesday the 20th.