The American Fork wrestling team opened the season with a big home victory over Orem on Tuesday, which the coach hopes is only the beginning of good things to come.

American Fork Coach Stan Kitchen said, "We started out with 28 guys coming out for the team. We are adding a few more now that football and marching band have ended."

Kitchen pointed out that he expected eight to 10 seniors to come out for the team when football ended.

"We have a good corps of wrestlers back from last year," the coach said. "We also have two move-ins wrestling for us, Mike Hartman from Texas and Jaxson McGeary from Lehi. Hartman placed in his state's tournament last year.

"We lost both of our state placers last year to graduation. Still, we have back this year five guys who did wrestle at state last season.

"We're looking forward to the kind of leadership they will show. They understand what our philosophy is and what we expect of them." That tournament experience is bound to help strengthen the program.

The five returning state veterans include Jason Day, Jake Horan, Andy Kitchen and a pair of twin: Jason and Justin Ballantyne.

Coach Kitchen said a lot of the wrestlers spent the off-season at freestyle tournaments and wrestling camps.

"We didn't start out in wrestling shape, but we are getting closer," Kitchen said.

He said the overall competitiveness of the Region 4 wrestling scene promises to be really strong.

Kitchen said, "Though Lehi has taken Mountain View's place in our region, they are going to be tough. Lone Peak is bringing back a lot of talent. Pleasant Grove lost a lot of seniors last year, but their underclassmen are expected to do well in region.

"Spanish Fork has a really young team this year. Timpanogos was really young last year, but their wrestlers are coming back with a lot of experience."

Kitchen's assistants this year are Cole Kelley and John Kelly.