Things look good for the Enterprise High School wrestling squad, which includes returning state qualifiers Shane Lund and Cole Farwell. The team lost no seniors from last year and picked up several wrestlers as well.

Coach Troy Farwell said he is pleased with this year’s turnout.

“We’ve got 14 or 15 out, up from 11 last year,” he said.

As to why the program is growing, Farwell doesn’t take all the credit for himself.

“I’d like to think it’s all me, but I know better than that. I think some kids having some success, making it to state last year helped.”

Farwell’s squad includes only one senior and two juniors, which he considers a plus for his program’s future. He said he is keeping his fingers crossed for the addition of two seniors he has his eye on, both still recovering from football injuries.

One newcomer is freshman Jacob Falk.

“I did cross-country, and I heard the team dynamic was the same, more like a family than a team,” Falk said. “Plus, I really wanted to stay in shape for track, and this is a great way because they do a lot of cardio. I really love it. It’s a fun sport.”

The increasing amount of Outlaw wrestlers is a positive in other ways.

“As numbers increase it makes us more competitive as a team,” Farwell said. “We’re starting to look at how we compete at both regular-season tournaments and district. We should be in the running for the district title this year.”

Farwell said the team will compete in the Oregon Classic meet, a precursor to the state tournament at Redmond in January.

“I don’t have any grand illusions about placing down there, but going is huge. Because it is 2A, we’ll see 15 or 16 teams we may never see again, except for the kids who go to state. Being able to see those teams early in the season helps out.”

Like last season, the team’s strength is in the lower weight classes.

“We are a little more spread out this year,” Farwell said. “My experience is in lightweights, and we cover all the lightweights up through 132 (pounds) and should place at district.”

He said that when his heavier wrestlers who are freshmen and sophomores get more experience, he expects them to be contenders as well. And if the senior football players recover and return, he said there’s a great chance they’ll place at districts.

“Individually, all our kids have a legitimate shot at a district medal and a decent shot at going to state regardless of their level.”

The Outlaws’ season gets underway at home at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, with the Enterprise Kickoff.