The past few years have been filled with individual and team successes for the Wabash wrestling program. This year, they are looking to continue that progress and make that next step.

A year after finishing second at the Midwest Regional and sending one wrestler to the national meet, the Little Giants return a deep, talented roster to the mat this season.

Senior Greg Rhoads, fresh off his eighth place finish at last year's national meet, headlines a roster that only graduated two seniors from a year ago. Rhoads was one of nine Little Giants to finish fourth or better at last year's regional meet.

Eighth-year head coach Brian Anderson sees this as a group who can build on last year's success.

“We certainly have high goals for this season,” Anderson said. “We had a successful season last year with a young group. We return nine starters and have added another solid freshman class to the mix.”

Anderson has brought in ten newcomers to the mix who will bring competition at nearly every spot.

“We have young guys who are ready to step in and compete right away, and we have the program that can help them reach those goals,” Anderson said. “When we recruit guys, we tell them that we are looking for guys who are not going to take a backseat.

Drew Miles, Logan Cooper, Justin Dickey, Tim Dunkel, Alex Fischer, Robert Johnson, Cody McKinnon, Pat Parham, Thomas Poynter  and Justin Taylor will all be looking to make an immediate impact during their first season in the Wabash program.

“When you come in, and the supposed starter is a senior, we want those freshmen to come in and compete for those spots. That level of expectation has been set, and it has been there since I have been here. We now have the depth to really put that philosophy to work. ”

Competition for those spots will be particularly difficult this year, as nine starters return from a year ago. Rhoads highlights that group, coming off a 40-win season last year. Fellow seniors Jake Strausbaugh and Jake Moore will be threats to reach the national meet this winter as they posted 45-win and 34-win seasons a year ago, respectively. Josh Boyer, Pat Clegg, Garrett Payne, and Dalton Stanley will all be looking for a breakout season after each reached the 20-win plateau a year ago.

One strength the Wabash program holds is the difficult schedule its wrestlers face throughout the season in preparation for the conference and regional meets.

“That schedule does nothing but benefit them,” Anderson said. “The schedule we are able to put together is huge. When our guys get to the national meet, they have been on stages that big and have, in some cases, wrestled stiffer competition. When we get to that level, our guys have performed at a high level, and that is due in large part to our schedule. It's a tremendous advantage in getting our guys prepared.

With the experience, talent, and preparation the wrestling team possesses, Anderson believes all the pieces are in place for a standout season for the Little Giants.

“We are going to train hard and try and stay healthy,” Anderson said. “We want our guys to be doing the right things both on the mat and in the classroom so that at the end of the year we can let those guys just go out there and compete and hopefully achieve some things.”