The Big Lake Wrestling Team will have plenty of newer faces as the 2024-2025 season begins.

The Hornets sent four wrestlers to the state tournament last season, but only two are back this time around.

Carson Gellerman took third in the 189-pound division. The senior will likely be moving up in weight class this season.

Senior Cash Stortz went to the state meet at 127 pounds and didn’t place, but had an overall record of 44-4 last season.

Senior Dallas Sibbet took third at sections last season. The seniors are expected to set an example for the rest of the team.

A few good wrestlers from last season are no longer on the team. State entrant Zach Smith graduated. CJ Mikely also went to state, but transferred to another school. So did 107-pounder Kale Westgaard.

“We lost some good athletes, so we have a couple of holes to fill,” says Coach Ryan Prom.

The Hornets have eighth-graders Chris Omann and Hayden Bessette at 107 this season, and there are a number of freshman and sophomores throughout the lineup.

“We’ll be young this season,” says Coach Prom.

Some of those younger wrestlers have varsity experience, like sophomores Grant Volk (121 pounds) and Alex Omann (139).

But  there are lots of athletes without much varsity experience. A number of the them are freshman coming in after wrestling in middle school.

“Our middle school coaches did a nice job of recruiting last year,” says Coach Prom, “It’s always good to start out young and keep them.”

But it’s too early to have any expectations of how the season will turn out, especially for the younger wrestlers.

“Right now we’re getting them in shape and showing them the techniques,” says Coach Prom.

But everyone on the team is expected to put in the effort and improve.

“This is a sport where you have to set the baseline and get better every day,” says Coach Prom. “Whether you’re a ninth grader or a senior, you want to do better at the end than you are at the beginning.”

The Hornets competed in a triangular meet against Foley and Annandale-Maple Lake Thursday, then hosted their own Invitational Friday, results next week.